VADODARA (TIP): Australian firms will invest US $100 million in Vadodara region between Surat and Ahmedabad. This investment will generate close to 10,000 jobs. This was claimed by New South Wales (NSW) Labour Party secretary Hassan Kureshi here on Wednesday.

“The investments will be made in five sectors including pharmaceutical, chemical, electrical, tourism and education,” he said. Kureshi said the proposals are in their final stage and are awaiting the final nod from the central government.

A three-member delegation including members of NSW parliament – leader of opposition in NSW parliament Luke Foley and Labour upper house and NSW parliament member Daniel Mookey – along with Kureshi met chief minister Anandiben Patel on Tuesday.

Projects based on nine proposals have been identified as the starting point of an improved trade relation, Kureshi said during his visit to the city.

“During the Vibrant Gujarat summit of 2014, as many as 383 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) were signed between the two countries. We are hoping to put 43 MoUs in effect, of which these nine will be the first to go on the floors,” Kureshi said.

“Gujarat and New South Wales can be sister states. Vadodara region is an ideal point to start because of the student base and it already has an industrial set-up which has been explored enough globally,” he added.

The NSW delegation also announced the setting up of special skill development and training centers in the region. Kureshi said, “The centers will focus on producing globally accepted skilled labour.

They will be based on the Industrial Training Institutes that India has.”

“The plans include a Narmada museum near Sardar Sarovar Dam along with a state-of-art water treatment laboratory. Multiple spots along Narmada will be developed to offer water sports. The pilgrim sites on the Reva belt on Chandod-Karnali belt will also be developed,” he said.

Indian companies are also planning to approach the Australian government with export proposals including pharmaceutical and chemical products.

Federation of Gujarat Industries will be the nodal point in these deals.