Sunday, 17 December 2006

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia is the fourth largest market in the Mideast for generator sets and air compressors, according to a leading Indian industrialist who was here on a two-day visit to the Kingdom.

Rahul C. Kirloskar, director of the leading Indian firm Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd, said the demand for generator sets and air compressors in Saudi Arabia is constantly increasing as the Kingdom is witnessing construction boom.

Kirloskar group, which has 16 plants in India with an annual turnover of more than $1 billion, has set up a base in UAE from where it supplies to the entire Mideast.

In terms of volume Saudi Arabia absorbs more than SR450 million worth of generator sets and air compressors.

Jeddah-based Abdullah Hashim Company Ltd. is the sole dealer of Kirloskar products in the Kingdom.

"The association between Abdullah Hashim Company Ltd. (AHCL) and Kirloskar was launched in February 2005. The cooperation has strengthened in the last two years with more than 500 gensets manufactured by Kirloskars' and imported by AHCL in the Kingdom are working to the satisfaction of end-customers. AHCL is providing the necessary after-sales support," he said.

Kirloskar said spare parts availability, prompt and effective service and training of Saudi manpower by the AHCL and periodic visits by Kirloskars' senior executives are increasing the brand awareness of Kirloskar in the Kingdom.

AHCL and Kirloskar have ambitious business plans for future in the generator sets and air compressors markets and are gearing up with necessary business tools to achieve the same, he added.

"We export about 20 percent of our production and the figure is increasing every year," he said.

Rahul Kirloskar was accompanied by H.R. Mustikar, managing director, Kirloskar Pneumatic Co. Ltd, UAE-based P.M. Damle, chief operating officer, Kirloskar Middle East FZE and Sales Manager Mangesh Joshi.

"We have worked out a road map for marketing and sales of gensets in the Kingdom as the demand is ever increasing," said Muhammad Abdullah Hashim, managing director of AHCL.

According to him Kirloskar products are of high international quality and AHCL provides total solution to its customers.

"We started with importing 29 units of generators and we plan to sell more than 500 units a year," said Aziz Urrab, general manager, AHCL machinery division.

Kirloskar said besides Saudi Arabia their main buyers are Kuwait, Iran, Oman and Qatar.

By Irfan Iqbal Khan

© The Saudi Gazette 2006