AHMEDABAD, India, Aug. 24 (Kyodo) — Suzuki Motors Corp. Chairman Osamu Suzuki said Friday the Japanese carmaker plans to set up a skill development institute in western India to help train Indian workers and improve their professional skills.
Suzuki unveiled the plan in a meeting in Ahmedabad with Narendra Modi, the chief minister of the western Indian state of Gujarat, where Suzuki is planning to build a new production facility, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., Maruti Suzuki chairman R.C. Bhargava said.
Bhargava said Suzuki urged Modi to improve the infrastructure of Gujarat in order to attract foreign investment.
Suzuki also proposed sending 500 Indian workers at Maruti Suzuki to train in Japan under Suzuki Motors engineers.
Suzuki was visiting India as the violence-wracked Maruti Suzuki plant in Manesar in the northern Indian state of Haryana resumed production after a one-month lockout.
Suzuki said he plans to visit the car plant in Manesar and meet with the chief minister of Haryana for talks related to Maruti Suzuki's operations in the state.
The Manesar plant was wracked by rampaging workers who scuffled with plant supervisors on July 18 following a labor dispute. A plant manager was killed and more than 100 people injured in the incident.