New Delhi, July 2 (IANS) In a major boost to India’s manufacturing ambitions under the ‘Make in India’ initiative, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi are set to jointly inaugurate Maruti Suzuki India’s new automobile manufacturing facility at Kharkhoda in Haryana.

The Kharkhoda unit marks Maruti Suzuki’s fourth manufacturing plant in India and represents one of the company’s biggest investments in the country.

Together, the automaker’s four manufacturing facilities have attracted a cumulative investment of around Rs 35,000 crore, underscoring its long-term commitment to the Indian market.

The new facility is expected to significantly expand Maruti Suzuki’s production capabilities and strengthen India’s position as a global automobile manufacturing hub. Once fully operational, the Kharkhoda plant will add an annual production capacity of 10 lakh passenger vehicles, making it one of the company’s largest manufacturing centres.

The inauguration is also expected to highlight the growing strategic and economic partnership between India and Japan. Maruti Suzuki, a collaboration between India’s Maruti and Japan’s Suzuki Motor Corporation, remains one of the most successful examples of Japanese investment in India’s manufacturing sector.

The Kharkhoda plant is expected to play a pivotal role in helping Maruti Suzuki achieve its long-term production targets while supporting the government’s efforts to position India as a global manufacturing base for automobiles and auto components. The expansion aligns with the Centre’s broader push to enhance domestic manufacturing, create jobs and boost exports under the ‘Make in India’ programme.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi at the Hyderabad House in New Delhi.

Prior to the meeting, the two leaders warmly greeted each other. PM Takaichi bowed to national flags of India and Japan while she and PM Modi were walking towards the meeting room.

PM Modi and PM Takaichi are scheduled to hold the 16th India-Japan Annual Summit-level talks, during which both sides will review and strengthen the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.

–IANS

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