Bengaluru, Sept. 10 (Daily Mail Online): Karnataka’s Large and Medium Industries Minister M.B. Patil has initiated discussions with Japan’s JFE Shoji Corporation (is a global group of companies specializing in the distribution and processing of electrical steel for transformers) on the revival of the prestigious New Government Electrical Factory (NGEF) in Hubballi under a joint partnership model.
Leading a high-level state delegation to Japan to attract investments, Patil met senior executives of JFE on Wednesday and extended an invitation to visit the Hubballi unit for preliminary talks.
“JFE is a global leader in transformer manufacturing. We have invited their top management to explore revival possibilities for the state-owned NGEF in Hubballi through a partnership,” the minister said after the meeting.
The talks were attended by Hiroshi Lijima, General Manager of JFE Shoji’s Machinery Department, Hidekasu Yoshioko, Manager of Electrical Appliances Steel Planning Division, and other executives.
The company also assured the delegation that its ₹400-crore project to manufacture motor cores for battery-operated and electric vehicles will soon be operational.
On the third day of the Japan visit, the Karnataka team also held discussions with Sumitomo, Yaskawa, and JFE Shoji leaders.
Koppal Investment:
Sumitomo confirmed a ₹2,345-crore investment at its steel manufacturing unit in Koppal, through its partnership with Bajaj Group’s Mukand Sumi. The facility, expected to be commissioned by 2028, will have an annual capacity of 3.5 lakh tonnes of steel. The company also expressed interest in setting up a biomass power plant in the state.
Bengaluru Expansion:
Yaskawa has committed to establishing a Motion Control and Variable Frequency Drives unit in Bengaluru, strengthening Karnataka’s position as a hub for advanced manufacturing technologies.
The delegation also included Dr. S. Selvakumar, Principal Secretary, Industries Department; Gunjan Krishna, Commissioner of Industries; and other officials.
