The first unit at India’s First Women’s Engineering and Automotive Industrial Estate - COWE Automotive Industrial Estate inaugurated

Hyderabad|India|January'2011: Dr. J. Geeta Reddy, Minister for Major Industries, Sugar, Commerce & Export Promotion, Government of Andhra Pradesh inaugurated the first unit of COWE Automotive Industrial Estate here in the outskirts of Hyderabad at Kallakal Village, Toopran Mandal. Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs (COWE), a Hyderabad-based non-profit business organisation promoted to bring about social and economic upliftment of women force through entrepreneurship commenced the work at the 30-acre Automotive Industrial Estate alloted at the APIIC Automotive Park in 2008. Total 22units were allotted land in the park off which Sarada Industries is first to set up unit.

The Automation unit ‘Sarada Industries’ is the first unit at India’s First Women’s Engineering and Automotive Industrial Estate - COWE Automotive Industrial Estate. Mrs. Sharada Mohan Katta, Proprietor - Sarada Industies informed that their newly inaugurated unit is mainly into Automation catering to three sectors viz. Home, Agriculture and Industrial. Under the Agriculture segment they have automated systems that can be regulated with a simple mobile phone like borewell, drip system, etc. For the Home segment they have automated systems for Fountain, Lawn Sprinklers, Solar Fencing, Air Quality Management, etc. Energy Saving, a necessity of modern times is a global requirement. With our automation solutions which include sensors for humidity & temperature, ambient light in rooms and occupancy, AC systems, etc. can save a lot of energy compared to conventional systems.

Sarada Industries product line includes Analytical Instrumentation; Medical & biotechnology Instrumentation; Lab, Industrial & Process Automation; Environment, Weather & Pollution Monitoring; and Home automation & Security systems. The systems are modular and offer scalability.

Sarada Industries initially has invested Rs 65 lakh off which 50 lakhs was raised as loan from SBH.

Addressing the gathering Dr. J. Geeta Reddy said lot of companies are coming forward to invest in the state and detials of which will be made available as and when they take final shape. Stating further Dr. Geetha Reddy added that well over 26000units were set up across the state of Andhra Pradesh from 2004 till date with an investment of Rs 50,000crore providing employment to 5.5 lakh people. When compared this to the period from 1997 to 2004 two thousand units were set up with an investment of Rs 15 crore onlyu and provided employment to 3 lakh people.

Government has so far alloted 90 acre land in three industrial estates to the women entrepreneurs. Many women are coming forward to set up their units. In case of some other industrial estates lot of people have been allocated land but units are yet to come up. Such entrepreneurs need to start their industrial unite immediately in near future. In case if they fail to start their industry, Government will be foreced to take back the land allocated to them she said.

Shri T. Narsa Reddy, MLA - Gajwel; Mr. Anand Reddy, President - Automotive Park Assocation; Mr. A. Sundar Kumar Das, Superintendent of Police - Medak district and others were present on the occasion of the inauguration of the unit. With more units being setup in the coming times, the women entrepreneurs of Andhra Pradesh are sure to make their mark in the male dominated bastion of manufacturing of engineering and automotive parts.

Speaking on the occasion Ms. Sandhya Reddy, President - COWE thanked the Government of Andhra Pradesh and especially Dr. Geeta Reddy who pioneered this project for giving 10% reservation of industrial land in Industrial estates and SEZs for women entrepreneurs, which is is absolutely exclusive to Andhra Pradesh. This would go a long way in encouraging women in business. COWE has the distinction of being the foremost organisation in being allotted 90 acres of land in different parts of Industrial Estates. Ms. Sandhya Reddy informed that COWE has applied to Government of India under the Micro & Small Enterprises - Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP) to develop Roads, Power, Water sectors and training centre, designing centre, common facilities building, etc. to bring in the best infrastructure. This has been sanctioned in principle.

Adding further, Ms. Sandhya Reddy informed that under the Public Procurement Policy, the government’s annual procurement from SMEs is going to be 20 percent. This decision is reserved for approval. COWE has also applied to adopt the Medak district under a Central Government Scheme for four years wherein COWE will train women to become self sufficient. COWE has also requested the Government for Single Window Clearance for the units at the Automotive Park for water, electricity, pollution, power, etc.

Ms. P. Soudhamini, Senior Vice President - COWE and Chairperson of the COWE Automotive Park informed that COWE Automotive Industrial Estate is the First Women’s Engineering and Automotive Industrial Estate in the country. About 22 companies by women entrepreneurs are expected to set up ventures at the automotive industrial estate with an investment of about Rs 50 crore, Ms. Soudhamini informed. The industrial estate would have fabrication, manufacturing heating equipment, engine valve, automobile components, battery regeneration, and automobile painting systems units. It would also have access to common facilities centre, business information centre, incubators and others. The focus would be on training the youth, particularly women from rural areas, for employment in the estate in the initial years. Gradually, they would shift to research and development in specific areas like environment protection, she added.