Gandhinagar: In a major boost to Gujarat’s digital infrastructure, the state government, GIFT City, and Sharjah-based Henox IT & Data Centers Pvt. Ltd. on Thursday signed an MoU to set up a Cable Landing Station (CLS) project at Dhuvaran in the Khambhat region of Anand district. The agreement was formalised at Mahatma Mandir during the Regional AI Impact Conference, in the presence of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi.

The project, with an estimated investment of ₹1,317 crore, is expected to generate more than 1,300 direct and indirect employment opportunities. Officials said the CLS will significantly enhance data center capacity, strengthen IT infrastructure, and position Gujarat as a preferred destination for hyperscale and enterprise data centers.

Henox IT CEO Masood M. Sharif Mohammed, Rashid Al Ali, and UAE Ambassador to India Dr. Abdul Nasser Jamal Alsali also held a one-on-one meeting with the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, and the Minister for Science and Technology after the signing.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said the CLS project will accelerate the development of AI, machine learning, startup platforms, and Global Capability Centers (GCCs) by ensuring fast and robust international connectivity. He added that Gujarat will emerge as a key gateway for global data traffic, strengthening India’s digital self-reliance.

Henox IT & Data Centers said the upcoming cable landing station will serve as a crucial link between India and the global internet ecosystem, acting as a backbone for high-bandwidth applications, including smart city systems.

Senior officials including Revenue Department Additional Chief Secretary Jayanti Ravi, Industries Department Principal Secretary Mamta Verma, Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Avantika Singh, Secretary Dr. Vikrant Pandey, and Science & Technology Department Secretary P. Bharti were present during the meeting. DeshGujarat