Ahmedabad, July 20 (IBNS): Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is likely to meet top officials of automobile major Maruti Suzuki during his five-day tour of Japan starting Sunday, media reports said on Friday.
Modi is likely to meet Maruti Suzuki Corporation managing director Shinzo Nakanishi during his visit to Hamamatsu.
State government sources said he is likely to convince the company to increase its annual production capacity in Gujarat from the proposed 2,50,000 units.
According to reports, Maruti Suzuki has proposed to build a green field project in Mehasna district.
The company has proposed to invest Rs 4,000 crore in the state to build the project and it will have a capacity to produce 2,50,000 cars.
Modi will visit Japan with an aim of expanding business ties with the Asian nation.
He is scheduled to address three seminars and attend top functionaries of Japan government during the five-day tour.
His visit to Japan and meeting with Maruti Suzuki's top officials will take place in the wake of the recent violence at the company's plant at Manesar near New Delhi.
Violent clashes between workers and management broke out at the plant on Wednesday evening.
At least 91 people were arrested so far on various charges, including of murder.
The company said it was still assessing the total damage to property and facilities from the acts of arson.
Police said at least 85 people were injured in the clashes which also included about nine cops.
A person was burnt to death in the violence on Wednesday, He was identified as the top car maker's HR manager Awanish Kumar Dev.
Maruti said the workers’ union was demanding reinstatement of a worker who had been suspended for beating up a supervisor.
The company said it is extending full cooperation to the police and government authorities in identifying the guilty and taking suitable action.
Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL, formerly Maruti Udyog Limited) is a subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation of Japan.
The company has two manufacturing facilities located at Gurgaon and Manesar, south of New Delhi. Both the facilities have a combined capability to produce over a 1.5 million (1,500,000) vehicles annually.
In June last year, a 13-day strike demanding the recognition of the erstwhile Maruti Suzuki Employees' Union (MSEU) had brought production to a standstill at the plant and was followed by a month-long standoff in August and a 14-day strike in October.
