P&G, Cogent open Telangana plants, Johnson & Johnson begins work

Global FMCG major Procter and Gamble Thursday opened its manufacturing plant, Cogent Glass Ltd inaugurated its world-class glass manufacturing plant while global pharmaceuticals and consumer goods manufacturer Johnson & Johnson laid foundation stone for its biggest plan in India, all in Telangana's Mahabubnagar district near here.

Participating in the series of functions, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao vowed to make Telangana India's number one state.

Promising to roll out a red carpet for domestic and global investors, he said the newly-created state will shortly announce its industrial policy, which, he claimed, will be the world's best.

KCR, as the chief minister is popularly known, said the draft industrial policy was ready and a bill to give legislative backing to the policy will be passed in the coming budget session of the state assembly.

The chief minister said a single window system to give all industrial clearances will be in place in two to three months.

Inaugurating the first phase of P&G's manufacturing plant, which is expected to be its biggest facility in Asia, KCR said it came to his notice that officials created many hurdles for the plant. He directed them to facilitate setting up such plants as they bring development to the state and create jobs.

P&G has invested $150 million in the first phase. It plans to make a total investment of $800 million in the plant coming up on 175 acres in Kottur.

KCR also laid foundation stone for Johnson & Johnson's biggest manufacturing facility in India at Penjerla village.

The American multinational is setting up the plant with an investment of Rs.400 crore.

Coming up on 48 acres, the plant will be operational from 2016 and will employ 1500 people. The plant will manufacture hygiene and consumer goods products.

In the same district, the chief minister inaugurated world-class glass manufacturing plant of Cogent Glass Ltd which has been built with an investment of more than Rs.200 crore.

The plant, which has come up at Vemula village, has the capacity of one million pieces per day for type I moulded vials and half million pieces for tubular containers for pharmaceutical industry.

Promoted by the directors of leading Hyderabad based pharmaceutical company Aurobindo Pharma Ltd, the plant is spread over 30 acres of land. It is expected to provide direct employment to 450 workers and indirect employment to another 1,000 people.

The chief minister said this plant is now Asia's best and the promoters plan to invest another Rs.200 crore to Rs.300 crore to make it the world's best plant in two-and-half years. The expansion is expected to provide direct employment to another 500 people.