Foreign companies eager to set up plants in India: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said here today that a number of foreign companies are eager to set up their plants in India, for which there is a need to put in place facilities of international standard.

He said efforts are on to provide all facilities to the international industries and develop 'Walk to Work' culture.

Fadnavis was speaking after the 'bhoomipujan' (ground breaking) ceremony of Auric-Bidkin Industrial Area.

Aurangabad Industrial City (Auric) is a greenfield smart industrial city being developed across nearly 7,900 acres as part of Shendra Bidkin Industrial Area. It is collectively a part of the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC).

"As part of the DMIC, various smart industrial cities are being established in different states. However, the Shendra Bidkin Industrial Area is ahead of others in this corridor," the chief minister said.

"People's representatives and the residents of the region should be congratulated for making their land available for the project. Huge industrial activities will be carried out through the DMIC, which is a joint venture of the Centre and the state government," he said.

"A number of foreign industries are eager to set up their plants in India, but unless and until they are provided with the international standard facilities, they cannot be inspired," he said.

"Efforts are on to provide all facilities to the international industries and also develop 'Walk to Work' culture. Earlier, the facilities and infrastructure used to be made available after the establishment of the industry, but this is the first time that it is being made available before the industries arrive," the CM said.

Fadnavis said that infrastructure, communication facilities and port connectivity are key to industrial development.

"We could provide the first two and efforts are being made to make the product reach to the port within 4 to 5 hours," he said.

Fadnavis said the 'bhoomipujan' ceremony of Auric was performed last year. "We expected that the city would be completed by December 2018, but now it seems it would be completed much before the schedule," he said.

He expressed confidence that in the coming five to six years, the DMIC would be the fastest growing industrial area is the state.