US firm to set up plant in Haryana; move to generate 2,000 jobs in state

The Haryana government has signed a deal with a leading US firm to manufacture air conditioners at an eight-acre facility in Gurgaon that will generate about 2,000 jobs.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Connecticut-based firm United Technologies and Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Monday.

Under the MoU which was signed at the company's headquarters, the firm will expand its facilities in the city and set up an eight-acre unit to manufacture air conditioners, creating 2,000 jobs in the process.

The unit will be in addition to the existing facilities United Technologies already has in Gurgaon which is 35 km from New Delhi.

United Technologies provides a broad range of high-technology products and support services to customers in the aerospace and building industries worldwide.

Khattar and his delegation held meetings with Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy and business leaders and CEOs. He extended an invitation to the Governor to visit India and Haryana that was accepted by Malloy.

The Chief Minister, during his visit will also travel to San Francisco where he is expected to hold discussions with senior executives of major IT companies like Google, Facebook, Oracle and IBM.

"All these companies have large country-level and regional presence in Haryana. We are looking at further opportunities of growth and will be signing a couple of MoUs with these companies in San Francisco also," Principal Secretary to Khattar, Sanjeev Kaushal said.

Later talking to reporters at a press conference organised by the Consulate General of India, Khattar said the state government is focused on improving infrastructure and transport facilities to better serve its business community and citizens.

"Haryana has good infrastructure but it is our endeavour to improve it further in the coming years," Khattar, said during his 10-day visit to the US and Canada.

Highlighting some of the infrastructure projects in the offing in the state, Khattar said a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility is being set up in Hisar. 

"A special purpose vehicle signed between the state government and the Railways Ministry is aimed at creating various facilities in Haryana to improve the transportation system and distribution of goods. A smart grid power facility is also being built in Gurgaon at a cost of Rs 9,500 crore," Khattar said.

Kaushal said some American companies have expressed interest in establishing solar power projects in Haryana during their interactions with the Chief Minister.

"Interest has also been shown by investors to partner the government in areas of IT and service providers. The investors are very keen about the kind of opportunities available in Haryana," Kaushal added.

He highlighted that projects like the Western and Eastern Peripheral Expressway are aimed at decongestion of routes near Haryana to ensure better flow of goods and services.

"On these corridors, we have identified specific areas for investment such as IT and medical hubs," he added.

Kaushal also noted that two major Chinese companies are in talks with the Haryana government, looking to invest huge sums of money and buy 3,000 acres of land from the Haryana State Investment and Infrastructure board.

Kaushal however did not give further details about the discussions citing confidentiality requirements.

Khattar said his trip is focused on attracting investment and expertise in a host of sectors, particularly food processing, IT, solar energy, mass rapid transport, defense, aero space, auto, industrial parks and pharma.

He said the new Industrial Policy known as 'Enterprises Promotion Policy 2015' announced by him is aimed at ensuring ease of doing business, enhancing competitiveness of the industry and lays special focus on manufacturing and services enterprises and on balanced regional growth and MSMEs.

The new policy aims at attracting investment of over Rs one lakh crore, create four lakh jobs and accelerate economic growth to over eight per cent in the state. It would also make doing business hassle-free through a new industrial regime of automatic approval and decentralisation.

Khattar also highlighted Haryana's developed infrastructure and said the state has investor-friendly industrial policies and transparent investment procedures aimed at ensuring ease-of-doing business, giving a fillip to existing units and taking the industry to the hinterland.