Singur the best place for the Tata plant : Swraj Paul

Kolkata, Apr 12 (UNI) The UK-based Caparo Group of Lord Swraj Paul has decided to set up more automobile component plants in India, including three in Singur, for the Tata Motors'small car.

''We are very bullish about India. Caparo, currently, has 22 plants in India and 16 are under construction,'' he said here today.

Lord Paul, who was leading a four-member delegation of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), told a press conference that the manpower of Caparo in India had increased to 4,000 from 600. This included 1,400 qualified engineers.

He said Caparo could have supplied auto components for Nano, the Tatas' small car, from its plants located outside India. ''But as soon as the Tatas came, we were the first to come to Singur and are setting up three plants there,'' he said.

He described Singur as the best place for the Tata plant and the Caparo's component units.

In reply to a question, Lord Paul said Caparo UK was in the process of designing a city car for the European market.

Supporting the Tatas' venture, he said the people in Singur had lot of expectations and ''I have not come across anybody in West Bengal who is not in favour of industry''.

''Industry is for the well-being of the state and the country. If some political party thinks that they do not want industry and get elected, it is not my problem. As far Caparo is concerned, we are doing our job,'' he said.

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