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`Coimbatore poised for further growth'

Staff Reporter

Companies in the region ready to face challenges: Elgi group Chairman; industrial trade fair begins

INNOVATION ON DISPLAY: L.G. Varadarajulu, Chairman, Elgi Group of Companies, examines an equipment on display at `Intec 2006', the 9th International Industrial Trade Fair organised by Coimbatore District Small Industries Association (CODISSIA), at CO DISSIA Trade Fair Complex, in Coimbatore on Friday. Looking on are K.V. Ganapathi, chairman, INTEC 2006 (left) and K. Balachandran, president, CODISSIA (second left). — PHOTO: S. SIVA SARAVANAN

Coimbatore: Industrial growth in the engineering sector is likely to continue in Coimbatore because of the spirit of enterprise, innovation, and willingness to face challenges, said speakers at the inauguration of `Intec 2006', the 9th International Industrial Trade Fair organised by the Coimbatore District Small Industries Association (CODISSIA) at the CODISSIA Trade Fair Complex, here on Friday.

Declaring open the event, L. G. Varadarajulu, Chairman, Elgi Group of Companies, said that during the time of the Second World War (1939-45), textile spinning mills had dominated the region and agriculture had been a major occupation with farmlands irrigated with water drawn from wells. At first, diesel engines installed at ground level had powered the pumps but after the implementation of the Pykara Project, electric motors had replaced the engines as a power source for the pumps.

By the time the country gained Independence, several foundries had sprung up and the accent had been on manufacture of pumps. At that time, PSG and DPF had been the famous names for pumps, and UMS for electric motors.

He said that the Elgi Group had been one of the earliest industries in the region, which had ventured into manufacturing. It now did business with 16 foreign countries. Besides being enterprising and innovative, companies in the region continued to be ready to face challenges and risks, with engineering colleges generating the talent to develop industries.

Mr. Varadarajulu expressed confidence that there would be much more growth as a result of the efforts of organisations such as CODISSIA, Southern India Engineering Manufacturers' Association (SIEMA) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). With the boom in outsourcing, the software industry was also likely to pick up.

Jayakumar Ramdas, Chairman, CII, Coimbatore Zone, observed that the agricultural sector was expected to do well this year. Growth was likely in the manufacturing and service sectors. Oil and water consumption would rise steeply and industry needed to exercise responsibility in using these resources.

Innovation

"Growth in competitiveness has to be on the basis of innovation. Coimbatore can lead through innovation and we must become product developers," he said, and underlined the need for policies and practices to conserve natural resources for development.

C.R. Swaminathan, president, SIEMA, said that planning and team spirit had made it possible to organise the international event. Every forthcoming trade fair could be dedicated to one of the pioneers who had developed the industry, so that the younger generation would remember them.

K.V. Ganapathi, chairman, INTEC 2006, said that the fair had drawn participants from 11 foreign countries, besides exhibitors from 14 States in India, including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Haryana. CODISSIA had organised the trade fair for the first time in 1988, followed by similar events in 1991, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2005.

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