JEDDAH, 23 February 2005 — Saudi Arabia’s import of engineering goods from India has turned a new leaf with an agreement between the Kirloskar Group, one of the biggest manufacturers of engineering products, and the Jeddah-based Abdullah Hashim Co. Ltd. (AHCL).
AHCL held a presentation at Jeddah InterContinental yesterday to announce its representation of the Indian group’s products including diesel engines, generating sets and portable air compressors.
“AHCL has progressed well in various fields of its business activity that includes engineering items and automobiles,” Mohammad Abdullah Hashim, managing director of AHCL, said. “AHCL has a wide network of sales and service throughout the Kingdom,” Hashim Abdullah Hashim, deputy managing director of AHCL, said at the ceremony that also marked the launch of some of Kirloskar’s products.
Kirloskar is one of the oldest business groups in India having experience of more than 100 years. “It has enjoyed the reputation of manufacturing and exporting quality products backed by warranty and service,” P.M. Damle, senior general manager export of the Pune-based Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd., said in his presentation. “All the products offered by the group are manufactured in its companies having ISO 9001-2000 certification,” he said.
Addressing the gathering, Ashok Kumar, consul (commercial), gave an overview of India’s trade with the Kingdom. “The volume of bilateral trade has been on the increase over the years,” he said. The two-way trade reached $6.63 billion, with Indian exports to the Kingdom accounting for $1.12 billion, he said hoping that with an “excellent track record” of partnerships and joint ventures between the business communities of the two countries the bilateral trade potential would further expand.
The event also marked a demonstration of Kirloskar’s products, including generating sets and portable air compressors, by Shrikant Pataskar and Ashish Date, both Kirloskar’s executives.