Japanese air-conditioning giant Daikin Industries Limited has pledged Rs 1,000 crore to establish a state-of-the-art research and development (R&D) centre in Haryana, focusing on cutting-edge technologies and sustainable industrial solutions. The investment, announced during Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini's ongoing official visit to Japan from October 6 to 8, aims to create substantial employment opportunities for local youth and position the state as a nexus for global innovation. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalising the commitment was signed in Osaka, underscoring deepening economic ties between Haryana and Japan amid the latter's push for eco-friendly manufacturing amid global climate pressures.
The agreement was inked by Amit Kumar Agrawal, Haryana's Commissioner and Secretary for Industries and Commerce, and Shogo Endo, Daikin's Deputy Managing Director. Saini, accompanied by a high-level delegation including Industries Minister Rao Narbir Singh, Chief Principal Secretary Rajesh Khullar, Principal Secretary Arun Kumar Gupta, and Haryana State Industrial & Infrastructure Development Corporation MD Yash Garg, hailed the partnership as a milestone.
"Our government is committed to promoting innovation, research, and advanced manufacturing," Saini stated, emphasising how the R&D facility will integrate Haryana into international tech ecosystems. Daikin officials described the centre as one of the company's premier global research hubs, enhancing bilateral business relations and fostering advancements in energy-efficient HVAC systems, a sector where Daikin holds a 20% global market share.
Haryana's appeal lies in its investor-friendly ecosystem, including a single-window clearance system that streamlines approvals under the "Ease of Doing Business" initiative. The state boasts well-developed industrial clusters, robust transport infrastructure like the Delhi-Mumbai Motorway, a skilled workforce from institutions such as IIT Delhi's extension centres, and an uninterrupted power supply, making it an ideal base for high-tech ventures.
This move aligns with India's Atmanirbhar Bharat vision, promoting self-reliance in sustainable tech, and follows Daikin's existing footprint in India—where it operates manufacturing plants in Neemrana, Rajasthan, and Manesar, Haryana, producing over 2 million AC units annually. The R&D centre, expected to break ground within the next fiscal year, will prioritise green solutions like low-global-warming-potential refrigerants, addressing India's rising demand for energy-efficient cooling amid urbanisation.
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In a parallel development, the delegation's visit to Kubota's tractor plant in Osaka yielded another major win: a Rs 2,000 crore investment announcement for agricultural equipment manufacturing in collaboration with Escorts Kubota Limited. Discussions centred on technical synergies to modernise farming tools, vital for Haryana's agrarian economy, which contributes 18% to the state's GDP through crops like rice and wheat. Kubota, a leader in precision agriculture with over 50 years in India, expressed enthusiasm for local production, potentially creating thousands of jobs and introducing AI-driven machinery to boost yields.
Saini extended invitations for on-ground setups, highlighting policy incentives like subsidies under the Haryana Enterprise Promotion Policy 2020. These pacts, totalling Rs 3,000 crore, signal Japan's growing confidence in Haryana's potential, potentially catalysing further inflows from firms like Suzuki and Honda and reinforcing Indo-Japanese strategic partnerships in defence and trade.
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