Ahmedabad, Jan 28 (IANS): Automobile firm Suzuki Group Wednesday said its upcoming manufacturing facility in Gujarat is in line with the "Make in India" programme and will focus on high productivity and efficiency.

"For the Suzuki group, setting up of this new manufacturing facility in Gujarat is the start of a new era," Osamu Suzuki, chairman and chief executive, Suzuki Motor Corporation, said on the sidelines of the foundation stone-laying ceremony of its Gujarat plant.

"Under the 'Make in India' programme proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we will set up a state-of-the-art production plant here in Gujarat, with high focus on productivity and efficiency."

On the occasion, Suzuki called for deepening of ties between India and Japan.

"Thanks to this project, many more Japanese people will travel to Gujarat. Let us deepen friendship and mutual understanding between India and Japan," Suzuki added.

Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel laid the foundation stone for the new vehicle manufacturing plant at the Hansalpur premises.

The Suzuki Group intends to set up three plants at Hansalpur with a total annual capacity of 750,000 vehicles.

The first plant is scheduled to start production in mid-2017. It is being set up at an investment of about Rs.3,000 crore, and will have an annual capacity of 250,000 units.

The new vehicle manufacturing plant will come up on over 640 acres. It will also have an integrated suppliers' park.

According to the company, the vehicles manufactured at these facilities will be supplied exclusively to Maruti Suzuki India to support its objective of reaching annual sales of two million units in the medium term.