Ratan Tata eyes Punjab as hub for small car project

New Delhi, July 7 (UNI) Tata Steel Chairman Ratan Tata is eyeing Punjab as a hub for setting up a major manufacturing plant for his small car project that will cater to the Northern part of India.

This was communicated to reporters by Minister of State for Industry Ashwini Kumar, who was with Mr Tata in a closed door meeting that lasted almost an hour.

''Mr Tata is seriously looking at Punjab for setting up a major unit. He is also looking at huge investment in the state.

He will be sending top officials to survey the possibilities, the state has to offer,'' Mr Ashwini Kumar said.

He added that Mr Tata was keenly looking at Ropar and Ludhiana as these districts are well developed.

''There are no problems with this proposal, as the Punjab government has been very supportive. The only issue is zeroing in on the right place. The moment that is done, the unit might just come up in a year,'' Mr Kumar said.

Among the other things discussed at the meeting were the creation of ''white collar'' jobs by the private industry in the hinterland.

''There should be a collaborate effort by the industry and the government to promote white collar jobs in the interiors,'' the MOS said.

Promotion of the OBCs and other backward classes also figured in the meeting. Mr Kumar said that they were looking at ways as to how the industry, through a voluntary code of conduct, can upgrade the skills of these classes to help them survive in the competitive market.

''There should be a vertical and horizontal integration of employmet opportunities, and Mr Tata is very committed to pursuing the same path the government has in mind,'' Mr Kumar said.

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