Alstom to make India global manufacturing hub

Wednesday, 07 July 2004, 19:30 IST
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NEW DELHI: French power equipment maker Alstom on Wednesday said it would set up an R&D centre in Bangalore and upgrade its Vadodara and Delhi operations as part of plans to make India its global manufacturing hub and exports base. "The company would set up an R&D centre most likely in Bangalore and would upgrade its Vadodara factory to make it one of the global engineering and manufacturing centres for hydro-power equipment," Alstom's executive vice-president Phillippe Joubert told a press conference. Joubert, who led a 10-member team to India, said the R&D centre would undertake activities linked to information technology for products like turbines and generators, and technology control of power plants. However, he did not specify the amount of investment the company would make in India. It would hire "several hundred engineers in the next one to two years," he added. Identifying India as one of the key growth areas for the company, Joubert said it would initially consolidate its India presence and then focus on exports. "Indian engineers are comparable to the best in the world, including USA and Europe, and we will use this strength to leverage our position in the world market," he said. The country also has a good network of industries to sub-contract for components, he added. The Vadodara factory would be reorganised to make it the company's global centre for engineering and manufacturing of turbines and generators, he said. Alstom would also enhance its plant engineering, project management and procurement functions located in Delhi, he added.
Source: IANS
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