State-run Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) plans to open an after-sales service centre cum depot at the coal mining belt of Kalimantan in Indonesia this fiscal, according to company chairman Mr V. R. S. Natarajan. Efforts are also on to appoint a dealer in Australia.

Mr Natarajan said BEML had so far sold earth movers to four miners in the South East Asian nation. The company's Indonesian outfit is expected to record a turnover of Rs 50 crore this fiscal.

Admitting that penetrating the developed equipment market of Indonesia in the face of Japanese and Chinese competition was never easy, he said following market practices in Indonesia, BEML had started offering credits against supplies.

Stating that the company has been steadily increasing its presence in the market, he said BEML had so far sold 25-odd equipment in Indonesia.

“We have recently approved a proposal for setting up the service centre. The facility will be in place before March 31, 2012,” Mr. Natarajan said.

On the possibility of opening an assembling unit in Indonesia, he said that any such investment should wait for at least another year to ensure adequate sales.

pratim@thehindu.co.in

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