Reliance Industries (RIL), along with global firms, is planning to invest more than ₹60,000 crore in Maharashtra in the next 10 years for establishing an integrated digital industrial area for the ‘fourth industrial revolution.’
“RIL, along with other global companies, will invest over ₹60,000 crore in the next 10 years in Maharashtra which will be the first integrated digital industrial area in the country,” said Mukesh Ambani, chairman, RIL.
“I firmly believe that what China could achieve with its manufacturing revolution, India can achieve much more — and much more quickly — with the businesses and services of the fourth industrial revolution,” said Mr. Ambani, addressing the global investors’ summit ‘Magnetic Maharashtra: Convergence 2018’ here on Sunday. As many as 20 firms, including Cisco, Siemens, Corning, HP, Dell, Nokia and Nvidia are understood to have agreed to invest in the venture. Elaborating on the concept, Mr. Ambani said, “the fourth industrial revolution is a convergence of disruptive technologies in the physical, digital and biological spheres. It is going to transform the world and our society in unimaginable ways. It will make Maharashtra the birthplace and the cradle of the fourth industrial revolution in India.”
Harnessing AI, IoT
He said India couldn’t be left behind in the global race to harness artificial intelligence, robotics, blockchain, Internet of Things, next-generation virtual and augmented reality, life sciences, new materials and new sources of energy and other technologies of the future.
“India has an opportunity to be a global leader. The fourth industrial revolution will help Maharashtra and India solve the most difficult problems in socio-economic development. In healthcare and education, in water security and environmental security, in boosting agriculture production, in making all our towns and cities smart, [as also] our villages.
“Importantly, the fourth industrial revolution will generate millions of new attractive employment opportunities for the youth of Maharashtra and India,” he said.
Tata Trusts chairman Ratan Tata said the Tata industrial empire’s journey began in Maharashtra in 1877 when Jamsetji Tata built a textile mill in Nagpur. He added the group would continue to invest in Maharashtra as most of its firms are based in the State.
