JNPT SEZ will create 1.25 lakh jobs, says Nitin Gadkari

Mumbai: A multi-national IT company will be investing Rs 6,000 crore in the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the next two years, according to Union minister Nitin Gadkari. The Centre will create 1.25 lakh jobs in the SEZ in the next three years and give priority to local youths in employment, Mr Gadkari said. “We are signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in a few days,” Mr Gadkari said.

Out of 68 SEZs in Maharashtra 49 are notified and 28 are functional. Now, a new SEZ is being developed at JNPT in which many companies have shown interest.

Mr Gadkari said 300 acres of land would be given to the IT company.

Stating that the firm could be Foxconn, sources from the industry department said the company is interested in starting a mobile manufacturing unit here.

“There is always a demand that jobs be given to locals. Taking this aspect into consideration, we are asking companies who are investing in JNPT SEZ to give priority to local youths. I am confident that we can give jobs to almost 1.25 lakh local youths. So youths from Thane and Raigad districts will be benefit,” Mr Gadkari said.

“The Centre is building a coastal road from Raigad to Goa. We saw a beautiful coastal road connecting Los Angeles and San Francisco in America. We are doing work on that basis and I assure you that it will boost tourism in the Konkan. It will be an attraction for international tourists also,” he added.