Neemrana is more Japanese

Have you heard of Neemrana? Well, it was a sleepy little town  on the Dlehi-Jaipur Highway in Behror Tehsil. It is famous for its fort. That was about it. But have you travelled lately around this town? If you have, then you would know that it is becoming more Japanese than Indian! There are restaurants abound having Japanese names and having Japanese food on the menu.

This sudden transformation has happened due to the scores of Japanese companies setting up factories in this town. It was first started by Daikin, the largest AC maker in the world and once that company got established all followed suit and now Toyota Motor, Unicham and some 40 more auto anicilliary companies have set shop. This was started by Rajasthan Govt through a JV between  Rajasthan Industrial Cooperation (RIICO) and the Japanese External Trade Organization, which set up  apart from other industrial zones a Japanese zone in 2006. This zone has helped create nearly 10,000 jobs for Indians and with another Japanese zone planned across 500 acres in Giloth, more Indians are expected to get employment.

But our favourite Japanese company, Suzuki went to Gujarat and not Neemrana. Does this mean that other Japanese companies will also go now to Gujarat? Not likely as Gujarat is a dry state and drinking in public places is not allowed. This may sound very trivial but for the Japanese having a drink or two before/after dinner is a habit and if that is not allowed in Gujarat, it a big game change for the Japanese.