Haryana turns to golf to tee up Japanese investment

Sumedha Sharma

Tribune News Service

Gurugram, February 12

Swaying away from its usual entrepreneur/investment summits, Haryana is looking at golf to bring potential investors into the state. To strengthen economic ties with Japan and attract more investments, especially in the auto sector, the state government will organise a golf networking event on February 15 at Classic Golf & Country Club, located on the Hasanpur-Tauru Road near IMT, Manesar.

The event will be organised in collaboration with Invest India — a National Investment Promotion & Facilitation Agency under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce. The state government is banking on Japanese business leaders who are avid golf lovers. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar will also participate in the event.

“Since golf is a popular sport for Japanese business leaders and investors, we think it is the best way to reach out to them. The event shall provide a perfect environment for the investors as well as the state government,” said TVSN Prasad, Additional Chief Secretary, Industry and Commerce Department.

It may be noted that Japanese are key investors in the country and Haryana but of late reports of these investors seeking or moving out to other states have made the government to take a call.

“Haryana is one of the best investment options for Japanese investors. Due to certain natural constraints in other states, suppliers to anchor units are increasingly looking towards Haryana for more conducive environment. The ease of living and familiar attributes are important for Japanese when they identify sites for their facilities. The proposed event will put on display one of the greatest pastimes and indicator of easy living for the Japanese while giving them the opportunity to interact with government officials at the golf course,” Prasad said.

He said there is an increasing presence of Japanese companies in Haryana for both manufacturing facilities and corporate offices. Additionally, several companies from neighbouring states are also looking to Haryana for their expansion plans. Prasad said officials of the Haryana Government, Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, DPIIT, senior officers from embassy, JETRO, JCCII, Japanese Business Community and CEOs of various companies from Japan would play in this Golf Networking Event. He said Haryana is home to units and corporate offices of many Japanese companies, including Nidec, Somemiya Holdings, Keihin, TDK, Terra Motors, MUFG, SMBC, SoftBank, Fast Retailing, Nitto Denko, Panasonic, Daikin, Toshiba, Hitachi, Suzuki, Honda, NEC, Toyota, Murata, Mitsui Chemicals, Rohto Pharmaceuticals, to name a few.