The Hindu Business Line : Salim Group ropes in Chinese partner

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Salim Group ropes in Chinese partner

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Two-wheeler to be sold under `Arjun' brand name

MR BENI SANTOSO

Kolkata , Nov. 3

The Salim Group of Indonesia, which has lined up a slew of investments in diverse businesses in West Bengal, today said it has roped in a Chinese partner for its two-wheeler project in West Bengal.

Being set up at Uluberia in Howrah district, under the banner of Mahabharat Motors Manufacturing Pvt Ltd, the project will be the first two-wheeler manufacturing facility in eastern India.

It will be spread over 65 acres of land provided by the State Government and entail a cumulative investment of $250 million. Earlier this year, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, had laid the foundation stone of the project.

Two-wheelers manufactured at the Uluberia plant of Mahabharat Motors Manufacturing Pvt Ltd would be sold under the `Arjun' brand name. In the first phase, an investment of $60 million has been planned even as the factory would be equipped to manufacture 60,000 motorcycles per annum. This would gradually be ramped up to 5,00,000 units per annum. From 500 people initially, the plant would engage 6,000 workers when it operates at peak capacity.

A delegation of the Salim Group comprising its Chief Executive, Mr Benny Santoso, and the local partner, Mr Prasoon Mukherjee, on Friday met the State Chief Minister. Speaking to newspersons after the meeting, Mr Bhattacharjee said the progress of the projects undertaken/proposed to be undertaken by the Salim Group was discussed at the meeting. These included a road project, construction of a bridge and the setting up of two special economic zones and two townships.

In his interaction with newspersons after meeting the Chief Minister, Mr Mukherjee said a "designer" for the road project had been identified even as one for the construction of the bridge would be identified shortly. He said, work on the two-wheeler project would begin by March next year. He also said, the Salim Group had asked the State Government for 400 acres of land for setting up a food park in Howrah district where noodles and baby food would be made.

The Kolkata West International City, the Salim Group's integrated satellite township project in Howrah district, is making progress. Spread over 390 acres of land, the Kolkata West International City would have 6,900 dwelling units, along with a host of other facilities.