Gujarat ready for DMIC Project; create mini Japan: Modi

New Delhi, Aug 22 (UNI) Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today put up a proposal with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for the creation of a ''mini Japan'' in his state and assured him that his government was fully prepared for the implementation of the 100 billion dollar Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) project.

Pointing out that 38 per cent of the proposed dedicated railway freight corridor would pass through Gujarat, Mr Modi said more than one-third of the investments envisaged in DMIC would also take place in the western state.

During his high-level meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister, organised by the India Centre Foundation of Tokyo, the Chief Minister recalled his visit to Japan in April this year and said there was a tremendous response for DMIC from Japanese industry and business.

''The project is going to generate huge investment opportunities,'' he said and invited Japanese companies and investors to Gujarat.

''They are welcome not only to invest in the state but also to create a mini Japan in Guajrat,'' he said.

Citing Gujarat's strong fundamentals and tremendous industrial strides, Mr Modi assured the Japanese companies that their investments would be both comfortable and rewarding.

Welcoming the Japanese Premier who is here with a large business and government delegation, Mr Modi said that during his visit to Japan he could feel that there was a tremendous enthusiasm everywhere in that country to partner with India.

''This is thanks to the historic initiative taken by Mr Abe,'' he said, adding that India and Japan had the potential to script ''a modern story'' on the strength of their shared rich cultural heritage.

Mr Modi said Gujarat has emerged as a leading industrial state and its contribution to the national economy is immense. In the last fiscal, it attracted over one-fourth of the country's total investments.

Further, Gujarat, which has been clocking a growth rate of around 12 per cent since the past few years, tops among the states in the implementation of industrial and infrastructure projects.

Pointing out that his government's initiatives in the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) were viewed as a model in the country, he said Gujarat's ports were its biggest strength.

He said the state has the longest coastline in the country and its ports handle one-third of India's cargo. They are best suited to service the northern and central hinterland of the country and also service a vast foreign market, including West Asia, the Far East, Europe and Africa.

''We are setting up 39 SEZs around these ports. Our ports are linked with robust road and railway links and will thus be connected to the Dedicated Freight Corridor,'' he said, adding that plans were afoot to develop five logistics parks.

''We expect huge investments in the Industrial areas proposed in the DMIC project and we have already started preparing for the situation,'' the Chief Minister said.

UNI