Videocon se to start operations in Manamadurai facility

The electronic consumer durables manufacturing facility of Videocon Group at Manamadurai in Sivaganga is likely to start operations in the next three to four months, said Rajkumar Dhoot, managing director of Videocon Industries. The project has been proposed with an investment of around Rs 1,600 crore.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of Vision Tamil Nadu, a seminar organised by Assocham, he said, “The plant would be ready to commence operations in the next three to four months. We have so far invested Rs 800 crore in the plant.”

The new facility would be manufacturing various consumer electronic products, including washing machine, refrigerators and colour televisions.

There was some delay in the completion of the project due to the economic slowdown and related issues. However, work is in full pace now, he said.

The company would also look at exporting the products from the facility. It has identified demand for export of electronic consumer durables to countries like Indonesia and Malaysia.

According to reports in 2009, the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT), the government agency that allots land for industrial projects, had allotted around 70 acre to Videocon to set up the plant in Manamadurai. The company currently has a manufacturing facility in Hosur.

The company is the largest manufacturer of colour televisions in India and though the market for cathode ray televisions are shrinking, it still has shortage in supply in states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, said Dhoot.