ETC to diversify into real estate

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| The company also proposes to establish a large foundry in a special economic zone (SEZ) in Visakhapatnam involving an investment of Rs 300 crore. |
| According to company president and chief executive officer Faizal E Kottikollon, a 15-acre site is being acquired for construction of the proposed mixed use complex comprising a retail mall, a five-star hotel, serviced apartments and multi-cinema centre. |
| "We are making fast progress and announcements in this regard are on the anvil," he said, adding that the company had approached London-based consultant WSP for designing the project. |
| ETC, which opened its India office here on Monday, is also approaching the Andhra Pradesh government for establishing a 50-acre SEZ at Visakhapatnam where a 30,000-tonne per annum capacity foundry has been proposed to be located. The foundry is estimated to cost $60 million (about Rs 300 crore). |
| "We got the approval for setting up a foundry in the Mangalore oil and petrochemical zone but are looking at Andhra Pradesh to locate the unit as the state has better infrastructure facilities," Kottikollon told Business Standard. |
| ETC has currently tied up with two foundries in India for outsourcing steel castings. After entering into a 100-per cent buy back agreement, it is extending technical know-how and management support to the two companies "� Seenaih & Company located in Nellore in Andhra Pradesh and Meera Alloys located in Coimbatore. |
| Kottikollon said plans were also on the anvil to shift the ETC group's ERP system operation and maintenance to India. "Phase-wise shifting of back office work of the ETC group will be initiated," he said. |
First Published: Apr 10 2007 | 12:00 AM IST