Sanand continues to attract multinational firms

During the last six to eight months has seen firms like Maxxis Group of Taiwan, Singapore-based TongGarden decide to set up their facilities in Sanand.

In the last few months, Gujarat's vibrant motown Sanand, has seen several multinational firms make a beeline for this upcoming industrial town.

According to senior officials in the state government, Sanand has been able to attract a lot of attention off late from multinational firms. 

Apart from big names like Ford India, Nivea, P&G, apart from India's Tata Motors, the last six to eight months has seen firms like Maxxis Group of Taiwan, Singapore-based agri-processing company TongGarden decide to set up their facilities in Sanand.

"The industrial hub of Sanand has become quite a brand and with the 'Make-in-India' campaign of the Centre, several of the multinational firms who are planning to invest in India, are eyeing Sanand. Companies from Germany, Switzerland, Taiwan and Japan have already set foot in Sanand," felt a senior official in the state government.

He further added that with the upcoming South Korea visit of the Prime Minister, Gujarat was expecting queries to start flowing from that country as well. 

While the exact investment figures were not known, according to government sources, at least Rs 2800-3,000 crore (Rs 28-30 billion) of investment commitments have flown into Sanand in the last six to eight months.

"The demand for land in the area had seen a dip in the last two years, however, 2015 has started on a good note. It has been a good year so far," said a senior industries department official. 

Among some of the other companies who are interested in Sanand include a subsidiary of South Korean Posco, is planning to invest a few hundred crores to set up a metal products fabrication unit in Sanand.

Another Indian firm Uflex Industries that is into developing pakaging solutions has also decided to set up a manufacturing unit in Sanand, informed the official. 

Senior industries department officials felt that once the Suzuki subsidiary's manufacturing unit at Mandal region comes up, many more automotive ancillaries would be looking at setting up shop at Sanand.

Already vendors of Tata Motors and Ford India are present in the industrial hub and have together invested in the upwards of a few thousand crore here.