Govt to make India global workshop: PM

Hardwar, Oct 19: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the UPA government will do everything necessary to realise the goal of making India 'the workshop of the world'.

''We are targeting a 9-10 per cent annual growth rate in the next five years which would be the basis for generating resources needed for the massive investment we plan make in agriculture, rural development, infrastructure and poverty alleviation. The government will do whatever is necessary to realise this goal of making India 'the workshop of the world, just as Britain once was,'' the Prime Minister said while laying the foundation stone of Hero Honda's third plant here.

While lauding the auto major's contribution to the Indian auto industry, the Minister said, firms such as the Hero group represents the future of Indian business and manufacturing as they can power India into an automative and industrial giant, making it a global maufacturing hub.

Dr Singh also said that Uttarakhand is one of the fastest growing states in the country and it has seen an all round development in all areas of economic and developmental activities.

''The state has the potential to be a power giant. The Tehri project is already under operation and as more power projects are in the pipeline, it can earn a lot of income by supplying electricity to the country,'' he said.

He said his government is taking steps for the six-laning of the Delhi-Dehra Dun Highway, which is the main artery of the state.

''We are also taking up the development of roads along the India-China-Nepal borders, which are not only strategic but a great utility to people living a in remote areas.'' The minister announced a special grant of Rs 100 crore to Haridwar for preparing the Kumbh Mela in 2010. The total budget of the event is Rs 300 crore.

The newly inaugurated manufacturing plant spread over an area of 250 acres, will be operational by mid 2007, and will generate direct employment opportunities to 7,000 people in the state in the next three years.

The initial production capacity of the unit, involving an investment of Rs 400 crore, will be 5,00,000 units. However, this capacity will be expanded to 15 lakh units by 2010 with a combined investment of Rs 1,900 crore by Hero Honda and its ancillaries. Of this Rs 1,900 crore, Hero Honda will put in a sum of Rs 800 crore and the rest will be contributed by its ancillaries.

UNI