Auto industry passing through difficult time is cause of concern: Gadkari

Nagpur: Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday said that the industry, particularly automobile, was passing through “difficult times” and it was a “cause of concern”, but said it was a passing phase due to global meltdown and would “get over soon”. He said this at the Vidarbha Industries Association’s (VIA) 56th foundation day celebrations here on Saturday.

Gadkari, who arrived about 90 minutes late, said Vidarbha can’t be developed unless people here become entrepreneurs and start new companies. “India is fastest growing economy and we’ve set a target to achieve 50% growth of which medium and small scale industry would contribute about 29%. Our government has also set a target to create 5 crore jobs and take exports to over 50%. It’s possible through research, innovation and use of new technology.”

Speaking on the ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), Gadkari said the government was planning to take action against big companies which didn’t release payment of small and medium industries for over 45 days. “MSME sector has huge potential to grow, but delay in releasing their payments is hampering their growth. I recently met Amazon president who told me that China has developed due to its Ali Baba portal where all products manufactured by their enterprises are highlighted. Our government is soon coming up with such a portal for India products.”

On Mihan, the minister said it would soon emerge as a manufacturing hub and he has had talks with Tata Group in this regard. “By 2022, Falcon, the 11-seater aircraft, manufactured by Dassault would fly from the city. At Sindi in Wardha, coaches for Metro would be manufactured in a joint venture. Already TAL is producing aircraft parts where local youths are employed. The HCL has already employed over thousand professionals and its chairman Shiv Nadar has plans to expand the capacity to over 10,000 in three years.”

Exhorting VIA to focus on agriculture, the city MP said unless villages were developed, the country can’t progress. “Even leading industrialists like Reliance chairman Mukesh Ambani are ready to invest in this sector. I am ready to touch feet of anyone employing at least 500 persons. Unemployment is a major problem and VIA can play an important of a catalyst for the region’s development.”

Deliberating on his own experience in working in the agriculture sector, Gadkari said he had floated the concept of running buses on bio-CNG which had become successful. “We plan to stop plying of diesel buses in Nagpur, Chandrapur, Bhandara and other districts in five years. We’re also seeking permission from the petroleum ministry to run helicopters and fighter jets on bio-fuel made from bamboo. Such fuel can also be generated through Jatropha plant in Gadchiroli. I had also advised Mother Diary to produce Orange Barfi where it will be using 25% orange juice which would ultimately benefit the farmers.”

VIA and Solar Vidarbha Udyog Gaurav Awards were distributed to leading industrialists. Over 194 nominations were received in eight different categories for these awards.

MP Vikas Mahatme, mayor Nanda Jichkar, MLA Sunil Kedar, ex-MP Datta Meghe, socialite Girish Gandhi, former minister Nitin Raut were seated in the audience. Former HC judge MN Gilani, Solar Group chairman Satyanarayan Nuval, Tata Astrum marketing head Sanjay Sahani and VIA president Suresh Rathi shared the dais.