PM inaugurates GE manufacturing facility

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated US based GE Corporation’s first multi-modal integrated manufacturing facility in India set up at an estimated cost of $200 million (about `1,250 crores).

The 2,50,000 sq feet facility at Pune — that will manufacture a range of diversified products for sectors like energy, aviation, oil and gas transportation — has come up at a time when the government is promoting manufacturing under the Make in India campaign and will generate 1,500 direct and indirect jobs.

As much as 50% product output from this facility will be used for exporting to other GE sites across the globe.

Speaking at the manufacturing site, Modi invited GE to manufacture ships in India and to modernise the Indian Railways.

“India offers immense opportunities for the ship-building sector,” PM Modi said at the inauguration ceremony — which was also attended by Maharashtra governor Vidyasagar Rao, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and the GE leadership team, represented by vice-chairman John G Rice and South Asia president & CEO Banmali Agrawala.

Endorsing India as a major global manufacturing destination, GE vice-chairman John Rice announced the second phase expansion of this manufacturing facility saying that it was a testimony of GE’s commitment to the Indian market.

In the first phase of operations, the facility named ‘Brilliant Factory’ at Chakan, will manufacture products and solutions for power sector, oil and gas and transportation industries, while in Phase II, the facility will include manufacturing capability for new generation aviation engine components and machining and sub-assembly for the latest rail locomotives and diesel engines.