State-owned mining major, Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation Ltd (GMDC) is planning to set up centres of excellence for the stone industry in North Gujarat. The company is also searching for an industry partner to set up an international centre on mining safety and automation, top government official informed on Monday.
"The board of directors of the company has decided to set up an international centre on mining safety and automation in Gujarat. Also, at Ambaji in North Gujarat, we are trying to set up centres of excellence for the stone industry, to provide skill enhancement for the youth in the mining sector," said M Sahu, principal secretary, department of industries and mines, Government of Gujarat.
North Gujarat is considered to have rich stone reserves, hence the centre of excellence in the region is expected to provide skill enhancement to entrepreneurs and youth in the mining sector. While the international centre on mining safety and automation would bring advanced technologies and methodology of mining.
Sahu further maintained that the state government is looking for better exploration practices in mining sector, as well as judicious administration for exploration of mineral reserves in the state.
"We are currently looking for the suitable partner from the industry as well as domestic and international universities for establishing the international centre on mining safety and automation, which will be unique in the country," he added while speaking at an industry seminar here on Monday.
The seminar on 'Mining Conclave - sustainable mining cities, stone industry' was jointly organised by as a part of the pre-event seminars for the sixth edition of Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summit (VGGIS) to be held on January 12-13, 2013.
He also stated that the government is keen on strengthening its initiative of International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology (Icreate) under Gujarat Foundation for Entrepreneurial Excellence (GFEE), a joint venture of Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation Limited (GMDC) and Gujarat Entrepreneurship and Venture Promotion Foundation (GEVPF). The centre is aimed at identifying and nurturing entrepreneurship and innovation amongst the youth.
The centre is under the mentorship of an advisory board led former Infosys chairman, N R Narayana Murthy.
