Gujarat seeks to attract small modular reactor manufacturing projects

On the fifth day of his visit to the United States, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel met with executives from several global companies in New York to advance investment outreach for the "Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2027." The meetings included Kyndryl, BlackRock, and Holtec International.

During the talks with Holtec International, the two sides focused on nuclear technology and manufacturing cooperation. Holtec International primarily provides spent fuel storage and related solutions for nuclear power plants and has already established a precision manufacturing facility in Gujarat to meet growing demand for air-cooled condensers. According to the official statement, the company plans to expand this facility in 2025.

The statement said Holtec International also expressed its intention to build a small modular reactor (SMR) manufacturing plant and research and development center in Gujarat. If these plans move forward, Gujarat is expected to further expand its industrial footprint in nuclear technology equipment manufacturing.

During his meeting with Kyndryl, Patel stated that Gujarat is enhancing its appeal as a destination for next-generation industrial investment, covering sectors such as semiconductors, electronics, digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, data centers, and advanced manufacturing. Kyndryl expressed interest in collaborating with the state government on AI strategy, knowledge sharing, and skill development programs for students and startups.

In his meeting with BlackRock executives, Patel presented the financial ecosystem of Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) and explored opportunities for the company to expand its exchange-traded fund (ETF) and asset management operations in Gujarat.