CHENNAI: The Tatas have identified banking infrastructure, healthcare, education and food as thrust areas for the group in the emerging industries category.

Disclosing this at a press conference here on Tuesday, Kishor A. Chaukar, Managing Director of Tata Industries Ltd. (TIL), said the banking industry would undergo a metamorphosis.

He felt there could be a stage when banks would be unwilling to invest heavily in infrastructure. This could present a huge opportunity for others, he said.

In this context, he said the Group had been talking to the Reserve Bank of India to permit non-banking companies to own banking infrastructure. Asked to specify the area of interest in the banking infrastructure field, he said the Tatas would be keen to get into telecom-related infrastructure.

Mr. Chaukar said TIL, another holding company of the group along with Tata Sons, would be the vehicle for the Tatas to enter these emerging industries category.

Further, TIL would facilitate the Tatas' foray into technology areas like biotechnology, advanced materials, alternative energy and sustainable technologies.

The Managing Director said the emergence of the nuclear family would increase the need for convenience food. "This could become a huge business," Mr. Chaukar said.

Presenting an overview of TIL business and its future strategy, Mr. Chaukar said the company had invested around Rs.800 crore thus far in various businesses.

Over a five-year period, it would invest around Rs.2,500 crore in the aforesaid thrust areas, he added.

The Managing Director said the Tatas would never get into movie production, cigarette/tobacco business and liquor field as a matter of policy.

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