Arabian nights

Having set up India8217;s first independent power plant and its first new generation private steel plant in the eaerly 1970s, the Essar experience in infrastructure and industrial projects and greenfield projects of international size will come in handy for this venture. But to what heights Ruias are ready to take their Oman advantage is to still be seen.

Sunshine for Mahindras

Mahindra Holidays, part of the Rs 6,000 crore Mahindra Group, is firmly on the growth path, with over 22,000 members. The latest 8212; Club Mahindra in Madikeri in Coorg 8212; is all set to raise the bar in services and facilities in the hospitality sector in and around the region. Arun Nanda, the Mahindras8217; honcho, now wants to target a staggering 1 lakh members in five years. This, Anand Mahindra believes, is possible thanks to the aspirations of the middle class who were not targets till recently.

Encouraged by the good response to his new resorts, Nanda may even acquire properties to achieve the objective of becoming the undisputed leader. Given Anand Mahindra8217;s ability to acquire with finesse, he and Nanda may have many resorts to share soon. Resorts after all are in over supply in many parts of the market and if the target of customers is to be taken seriously, that8217;s going to be the way to go.

Going with the wind

Rakesh Bakshi, Managing Director, Vestas India Ltd, hopes to inaugurate his facility to manufacture blades for wind turbines before the end of this financial year. He wants to invest about Rs 30 crore in this facility, which will come up near Chennai, where most action in this sector is centered.

Bakshi says local manufacture of the wind turbine controllers, which are the brains, might not result in a price cut. But his blade-manufacturing unit, for which the company has acquired about 18 acres in Chennai, will ensure the cost of wind turbines falls substantially. If India decides to draw up a national-level renewable energy policy, Bakshi expects a considerable number of private investments in the sector, especially windmills. Well, hopes make the world go round and Bakshi is hoping for the best.

Denim Dreamer

While Gautam Singhania thinks it8217;s time to make some announcements, what better than the fast-growing speciality denim market, where a Rs 100 crore investment is being made in his Yavatmal denim unit.

The investment will help enhance Raymonds8217; denim capacity by another 10 million metres per annum. As its denim goes to brands like Levis and GAP, denim seems to be a core growth product for the company.

The tycoon8217;s Italian connections have also kept him in the news. He has agreed to invest Rs 2 billion in a joint venture with one of the top Italian cotton textile groups, Gruppo Zambaiti, to set up a greenfield facility in Maharasthra to manufacture cotton and shirting fabric. So, while his highflying father Vijaypat prepares for his newest expedition of flying 70,000 ft above sea level to 8216;8216;touch the face of God8217;8217;, the tycoon prepares himself to touch Indian purse strings for his denim wear.

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