Kirloskar keen to set up plant in Odisha

Kirloskar Brothers Limited (KBL), the flagship company of the $ 2.5 billion Kirloskar group, is keen to set up a valve and pump manufacturing unit in Odisha.

“Keeping in view the large scale industrialization taking up in the state the company has evinced interest in setting up a valve and pump manufacturing unit here,” said an official source familiar with the developments.

Of late, top officials of IPICOL (Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Odisha Limited), the nodal agency for investment promotions in the state, have met KBL officials.

KBL is a global fluid management solutions provider and a leading manufacturer and exporter of centrifugal pumps and valves. The core businesses of KBL are large infrastructure projects (water supply, power plants, and irrigation), project and engineered pumps, industrial pumps, agriculture and domestic pumps, valves, motors and hydro turbines.

The company is scouting for a suitable location in the state for setting up the manufacturing plant, said the official.

The company feels that the demand for the valves and pump sets may burgeon as Odisha is emerging as an industrial hub.

It may be noted that Odisha has attracted investments worth Rs 12.08 lakh crore across sectors till the end of 2011, grabbing 10.04 per cent share of the overall investment in the country estimated at Rs 120.34 lakh crore.

Odisha has bagged the top slots in manufacturing and mining sectors with a share of 17.5 per cent and 31.2 per cent respectively of the total investments.