Modi going to Japan to steer Maruti Suzuki to Gujarat
20 Jul 2012
Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi is leaving for Japan on Sunday and is slated to meet Shinzo Nakanishi, managing director of Maruti Suzuki and Osamu Suzuki, chairman of Suzuki Motor Corporation, to convince them of the need to move production to Gujarat, to avoid deadly disruptions like in Manesar, Haryana.
Modi's move comes at a most opportune time when Maruti Suzuki's Manesar plant is almost shut down after a bout of union violence.
Modi, who will pitch for his state as the company's best destination, also seems confident of convincing the car giant's bosses to shift focus to Gujarat.
With the Manesar plant facing continuous unrest, Modi is expected to persuade Suzuki Motor Corporation to substantially scale up production at its Gujarat facility from the existing 2,50,000 a year.
Maruti Suzuki is setting up a new manufacturing facility spread across 700 acres near Mehsana in Gujarat. The initial investment in the facility has been pegged at Rs4,000 crore.
Maruti Suzuki's plant at Mansesar remained closed today and company officials said it was difficult to say when production would restart.