Birla: Expanding horizon

Calcutta, Nov. 23: Sidharth Birla-led Xpro India is expanding its operations in Bengal.

The company, engaged in the business of manufacturing polymer films, is looking to invest Rs 200 crore to set up a new unit beside its existing plant at Barjora in Bankura district.

Bengal finance minister Amit Mitra today said at a conference of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) that Birla was looking to expand in the state.

“I was talking a few days ago to Sidharth Birla. He is putting up a plant with an investment of Rs 200 crore and would use international technological collaboration. His factory would open by the end of this month,” Mitra said.

Birla, who is the president elect of Ficci, was here in the city earlier this month for the annual meeting of the West Bengal State Council.

A delegation led by Birla and Ficci president and chief of HSBC Bank Naina Lal Kidwai met Mitra at Nabanna, the new state secretariat. Mitra was himself a former president of the national chamber.

When contacted, Birla, son of veteran industrialist Sudarshan K. Birla and chairman of Xpro India, told The Telegraph that the firm had a registered office at Barjora along with an existing manufacturing plant that produces packaging polymer films.

“We are utilising our additional land there to set up a new unit,” Birla said. He is also the chairman of the SK Birla flagship — Digjam Limited.

C. Bhaskar, managing director and chief executive officer of Xpro, said, “The plant will produce polymer films with a thickness of 3-4 micron against the 6 micron thickness films. These di-electric films will act as an import substitute (for itself) and will be utilised in electronic and electrical devices.”

“While the technology is indigenously developed, we are importing the equipment from German firm Bruckner. The plant will become operational within the next 7-10 days,” Bhaskar said, adding that the firm’s decision to expand was a “quick one” and the entire process took around 12 months.

At present, Xpro has five manufacturing units located in Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.

“Our turnover last year was Rs 250 crore and this year we are looking to reach about Rs 300 crore,” Bhaskar said.

Foreign interest

Mitra said many foreign firms were exploring investment opportunities in Bengal. “Many foreign firms are beginning to look at us, (and mulling) forming joint ventures with our people,” he said, adding that agro processing is an emerging segment.

Mitra said he had met officials of Coca-Cola who have expressed their intention to invest in the state.

“They have told me that they want to manufacture juices in Bengal and will work with our farmers. They want to invest Rs 200 crore,” Mitra said. He said US firm Pepsi was already operating in the state.