The Hindu : Front Page : We will make India a global workshop, says Manmohan

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Sunday, Nov 05, 2006
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We will make India a global workshop, says Manmohan

S.Dorairaj

"Brand India has begun to make its mark on the world stage"

— Photo: PTI

A LOOK AT FINNISH FEAT: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Union Ministers P. Chidambaram and Dayanidhi Maran with senior executives of Nokia at the company's mobile phone manufacturing facility at Sriperumbudur, near Che nnai, on Saturday.

CHENNAI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said the success of the automobile and auto-components industry was a "proud symbol of the success of Indian enterprise in this new era."

He promised that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government would do whatever needed to realise the goal of making India the "manufacturing workshop of the world."

Laying the foundation stone for a Rs.470-crore Global Automotive Research Centre (GARC) at Oragadam, near here, he said: "Brand India has begun to make its mark on the world stage. This is just a beginning and the best is yet to come."

By demonstrating its flexibility in responding to customer needs, its ability to meet the challenges of competition, its drive to meet global standards of excellence and its ambition to be second to none, "our automotive industry has become successful beyond expectations."

Like a beautiful butterfly, the sector had come out of its protective cocoon, showing its wares across continents with virtually no state subsidy or support.

The industry had grown impressively to carve out a 7 per cent share in the global market.

"Our vehicles and components are being accepted in European and American markets, and by major firms such as BMW and Daimler Chrysler."

The Indian enterprises' success encouraged foreign companies to set up bases in the country. And they contributed to "making India an automotive and industrial power house; making us a global manufacturing hub."

Sonia Gandhi's appeal

UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi stressed the need for paying greater attention to public transport. The country's economic growth and people's prosperity would result in increased demand for private transport, she said.

Efforts must be made to harness alternative transport fuel. There was need to accelerate infrastructure development in regions where connectivity was poor.

Referring to the debate on global warming, Ms. Gandhi said though India was not a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions like developed countries, "we have to be mindful of the environmental implications of continued high economic growth."

The former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi said poverty was one of the worst pollutants. "As we tackle poverty, we have to tackle the consequences of rising prosperity," Ms. Sonia Gandhi said.

Nokia facility

Later at Nokia's mobile manufacturing facility at Sriperumbudur, Dr. Singh and Ms. Gandhi handed over the company's commemorative handsets to two employees.

The function was organised to celebrate the manufacture of the 20 millionth handset by Nokia since it began commercial production in January.

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