In auto mode, Narendra Modi plays Gujarat tune

On the third day of his Japan visit, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi played on a Japanese musical instrument and marketed his state as an emerging automobile manufacturing hub. In fact, he hinted that his government is planning to create space in the state for at least 100 automobile companies over the next five years.

Official sources in Gandhinagar said that on Wednesday Modi travelled to Hamamatsu region of Japan where he met representatives of nearly 400 companies of the automobile sector. He also visited the Suzuki museum at the Suzuki car manufacturing plant in Hamamatsu where he tried his hand at playing the Koto, a Japanese musical instrument.

From Tokyo, Modi and his delegation travelled to Hamamatsu by bullet train where he visited the Suzuki car manufacturing plant. He was welcomed by chairman and CEO of the company, Osamu Suzuki, and his team. During his visit to the Suzuki complex, the chief minister also met 135 Indian engineers working at the plant, the sources said.

Speaking during his visit, Modi welcomed Suzuki’s expansion plans for its manufacturing facility in Gujarat. He also said that after Suzuki’s announcement that it would set up a manufacturing unit in Gujarat, many other automobile companies had shown interest in coming to the state.

On the occasion of Modi’s visit, Osamu Suzuki made the announcement that for the company’s manufacturing plant in Gujarat, Suzuki Corporation will bring 500 young people to Japan for training. After visiting the Suzuki plant, Modi also attended a seminar organized by Japanese External Trade Organization (JETRO) in Hamamatsu.

Talking to representatives of 400 automobile companies who had come for the seminar, Modi described the opportunities available in his state for the automobile sector. It is here that he hinted that the Gujarat government intends to create space in the state for 100 automobile companies in the next five years, the sources said.

Modi and his delegation were welcomed by the Hamamatsu mayor and the chamber of commerce of Hamamatsu.

The chief minister also said that as Hamamatsu, like Gujarat, is famous for its kite flying competition, a similar competition should be organised between Gujarat and Hamamatsu.