Why in news?
In July 2025 a high‑level Japanese delegation visited the Dholera Special Investment Region in Gujarat to explore cooperation in semiconductors and smart‑city development. Dholera is India’s first greenfield smart industrial city.
What is Dholera SIR?
- Dholera SIR is a 920 sq km special investment region located about 100 km southwest of Ahmedabad. It was created under the Gujarat SIR Act 2009 as part of the Delhi–Mumbai Industrial Corridor project.
- The region is managed by the Dholera Special Investment Region Development Authority (DSIRDA) and implemented by Dholera Industrial City Development Ltd., a joint venture between the central and state governments.
Key features
- Smart infrastructure: Equipped with an Integrated Command and Control Centre, e‑governance portals and plug‑and‑play industrial zones.
- Connectivity: Linked to Ahmedabad via a six‑lane expressway and a proposed mass rapid transit system; a greenfield international airport is under construction.
- Targeted sectors: Hosts India’s first semiconductor fabrication plant under the Semicon India Programme and aims to attract electronics, pharmaceuticals and renewable‑energy industries.
- Urban planning: Six town‑planning schemes have been prepared to guide phased development with sustainable living standards.
- Sustainability: Designed as a platinum‑rated industrial smart city promoting non‑polluting industries and aiming to generate more than 800,000 jobs.
Significance
- Supports India’s vision of becoming a global manufacturing and innovation hub by 2047.
- Serves as a model for future smart and sustainable cities across the country.
- Strengthens India–Japan strategic cooperation in industrial corridors, semiconductors and high‑tech investments.