₹1,500-crore investment MoUs inked in UK: CM
CHANDIGARH: Chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday said 10 memorandum of understanding (MoUs) were signed with various companies of the United Kingdom (UK) for various projects that will not only catalyse investment worth ₹1,500 crore to the state, but also provide direct employment to around 1,000 people.
Briefing the mediapersons in the context after the delegation led by him returned on Tuesday after its visit to Israel and UK, Khattar said six MoUs were signed during a meeting with Lord Raj Loomba at the House of Lords. “These were with the companies focusing on smart cities and emerging technologies; aerospace and defence sectors; undertaking internet of things (IoT) initiative and setting up a development centre at Gurugram; transfer of technology for energy storage devices and setting up of manufacturing facility in India; technology development of remote ID and tracking systems for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS),” he added.
Khattar said he had also met the government and business leaders from Leeds City Region and it was decided that in order to take the matter forward, the two sides will be in touch with each other through video conferencing on monthly basis.
ISRAEL VISIT
About his visit to Israel, Khattar said that he visited the headquarters of Hatzalah at Jerusalem that provides emergency medical services through operation of ambu-bikes and trained volunteers within 90 seconds of the call 24x7.
He said he also visited the headquarters of NaaNDanJAIN to understand the contribution of the biggest micro-irrigation implement manufacturing company to the Israel agriculture.
On the question pertaining to net investment so far following his and his ministers’ foreign trips, the chief minister said while work on a number of MoUs was in progress, 150 MoUs worth over ₹5,100 crore promising around 8,000 jobs were in final stage.
AN EXHAUSTIVE TRIP
On a question pertaining to the opposition leaders’ remark that it was a joy trip, he rebuffed it saying it was, on contrary, an exhaustive one. He said in lighter vein that it was for the first time ever any state delegation had travelled beyond London and reached out to manufacturing centres like Leeds, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Birmingham, besides various areas of Israel that even his own delegation members would think twice before accompanying him on the next trip.