Walchand Industries turns 100

Chairperson of Infosys Foundation, Sudha Murty, said India had achieved a place of pride in the international arena in the last three decades due to the sheer dedication of the people.

Speaking at a function to mark the beginning of the centenary year of Walchandnagar Industries Limited (WIL) and the 125th birth anniversary of its founder Seth Hirachand Walchand on Saturday here, she said the world has been recognising the inherent talent of Indians.

"We were seen as a backward country. But in the last three decades, the impression has changed. The transformation is entirely due to the hard work of the people of India," she asserted.

Chairman of Walchandnagar Industries Ltd (WIL) S S Gangavati said WIL has planned several programmes to mark its centenary year in 2008.

He said the company had achieved a sales turnover of Rs 637.41 crore in 2006-2007 and had declared a bonus one share for every share held by a shareholder.

It has also declared a dividend of 100 per cent to its shareholders during the centenary year.

WIL's senior divisional manager Anand Kamalapur said Walchandnagar Industries Ltd is amongst the leading hi-tech engineering project execution companies with engineering, manufacturing and project management capabilities like nuclear power projects, critical defence projects, various space launching programmes, steam generation and power projects, cement, nuclear processing, industrial marine gear boxes, sugar, oil and gas projects.

The company has a global footprint, having pioneered the export of turnkey projects from India and successfully completing projects in Africa, South East Asia, South Asia, West Asia and South America.

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, Bangalore, Hindustan Shipyard, Vishakhapatnam, Scindia Steam Navigation Company and Walchandnagar Industries are some of the companies founded by Seth Walchand Hirachand.