Vedanta chairman Anil Agarwal on why Gujarat was picked for semiconductor plant amid Maharashtra row

Amid a political row created over Vedanta-Foxconn choosing Gujarat over Maharashtra for a multi-million dollar project, Vedanta Group chairman Anil Agarwal said that they “have to start in one place & based on professional & independent advice we chose Gujarat”. Further, he said, Vedanta is fully committed to investing in Maharashtra.

 

Earlier on Tuesday, Vedanta announced that the Vedanta-Foxconn semiconductor plant would be set up in Gujarat. It signed two memorandum of understanding (MoUs) with the Gujarat government to set up a semiconductor fab unit, a display fab unit, and a semiconductor assembling and testing unit entailing an investment of Rs 1.54 lakh crore and employment to around 1,00,000 people.

 

 

This triggered massive outrage from Maharashtra political leaders. Explaining why Gujarat was chosen, Agrawal in a series of tweets, said, "Vendata-Foxconn has been professionally assessing site for multi-billion dollar investment. This is a scientific and financial process which takes several years. We started this about 2 years ago."

 

 

He said, "Our team of internal & external professional agencies shortlisted few states viz., Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, TN etc to help achieve our purpose. For last 2 years we have been engaging with each of these govts as well as central govt & have received fantastic support. We decided Gujarat few months ago as they met our expectations. But in July meeting with Maharashtra leadership, they made a huge effort to outbid other states with competitive offer. We have to start in one place & based on professional & independent advice we chose Gujarat."

 

 

Further, he added, "This multi billion dollar long term investment will change the course of Indian electronics. We will create a pan Indian ecosystem and are fully committed to investing in Maharashtra as well. Maharashtra will be our key to forward integration in our Gujarat."

 

Tagging Agarwal’s post, Fadnavis tweeted, "We welcome your decision to choose #Maharashtra for forward integration. We will always remain competitive and extremely business friendly."

 

Further, he slammed the Opposition. "It is disappointing that negative, false & baseless claims are being spread to gain political mileage. This is only to hide their own incompetence. I want to ask opposition leaders, who sent back ₹3.5 lakh crore refinery from Maharashtra? My advice to these leaders is to focus on becoming competent & efficient and not negative & desperate." Here, he was referring to the proposed refinery project at the Nanar village in the state’s Ratnagiri district to counter the Opposition attack.

 

 

Besides, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said Wednesday he had spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and was assured that the Centre would help bring “big projects” to the state.