Ahmedabad, 13 January 2013

Inaugurating the newly built industrial manufacturing unit of Messrs Hitachi Corporation’s premier air-conditioned plant at Kadi Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi said the inner strength of bouncing back from adversity is the key of success and Gujarat has proved it.

Mr. Modi said that 6-crore people of Gujarat have time and again showed their will power and inherent strength to overcome any crisis.

He recalled that this Japanese MNC had commissioned its air-conditioned manufacturing plant within seven months of signing memorandum of understanding in Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors’ Summit-2009. But it incurred heavy damage in accidental fire in July 2012, necessitating rebuilding the plant. The newly refurbished plant was erected in 175 days flats, thanks to Gujarat Government’s initiative and co-operation.

Related story from archive: In photos:Hitachi’s AC manufacturing plant in Gujarat gutted; Loss worth crores estimated

Keeping in tune with Hitachi’s reputation as a brand in electronics home appliance manufacturing, he said, the plant virtually arose from the ashes without compromising on its hallmark quality-production. Whenever a nation, province or society rises from scratches it shows toil and determination.

The Chief Minister said that entire Gujarat has also shown similar determination to rise from the debris after the unprecedented earthquake that devastated Kutch in 2001. Many had then raised question as to if Gujarat could ever come out of the tremor or not, but the people rebuild a stronger New Kutch in three years. Kutch is now on a steep trajectory path.

Mentioning that Gujarat is receiving accolades from all directions for the grand success of Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors’ Summit (VGGIS) the Chief Minister said that VGGIS is a proud event not only for Gujarat but for India too, as the event of such a global scale and influence has never taken place in India before.

“Japan and Gujarat is working hand in hand on the path of development. The contribution of Japan’s ambassador is commendable in this. The partnership between Japan and Gujarat will set a new example of relationship in coming years”, he said.

Mr.Modi said that Hitachi’s workforce is worthy of commendation for reestablishing the plant in just 175 days. It is worth mentioning that this unit of Hitachi is considered as one of the biggest AC manufacturing plants of India. Hitachi is a leading AC manufacturer of India with manufacturing capacity of 6,00,000 units.

On the occasion, Japan President and CEO of Hitachi Appliances Harooki Yamamoto and the company’s MD Matumorimoto gave information about the company’s products like AC, refrigerator, chillers etc. which are going to be launched in the market in 2013. He thanked all who cooperate for the reestablishment of the company’s second unit in short span.

Hitach MD donated a cheque of Rs.15 lakh to the Chief Minister’s Kanya Kelavani Fund.

More about the reconstructed plant

-The company spent about Rs 100 crore for reconstructing of the unit.
-In a reconstructed unit, Rs 3 crore have been spent for installing safety devices like smoke sensors, heat sensors and construction of water reservoirs. The lack of a water source near the unit had added to the woes when fire broke out last year in July 2012. The nearest source of water was five km away. But now, in the reconstructed version of the plant, the company has built water reservoirs in the factory campus.
-The company had halted its production for six months due to fire incident in which the plant was gutted.
-The plant has a capacity to produce six lakh window and split AC, ductable ACs, water cooled chillers and more per year.