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Tatas look beyond Indian shores

August 25, 2004 14:41 IST

The Tata Group is looking beyond Indian shores to expand the companies under its fold, even as it has received a 20-year gas supply contract from the government of Bangladesh.

"We are planning to grow our companies across the globe and would be looking for both organic and inorganic growth," Tata Group Chairman Ratan N Tata told reporters on the sidelines of Tata Consultancy Services Ltd listing on the Bombay and National stock exchanges in Mumbai on Wednesday.

At present, the group has a presence in Nepal, Sri Lanka, the United States and Singapore, among other countries, through its subsidiary companies, and Tatas would be looking at new geographies including China.

Meanwhile, speaking on the 20-year oil contract in Bangladesh, Tata said the neighbouring country has confirmed the contract.

However, he did not divulge the financial aspects of the contract, but added that the details would emerge after his visit to Bangladesh next month.

Bangladesh had earlier agreed to guarantee a 20-year gas supply for a power plant, fertiliser factory and steel unit to be built by the Tata Group in that country.

The guarantee came after the Bangladesh government studied a proposed $2 billion investment by Tata, earlier this month.

This was hailed as the single largest foreign investment in that country, even as the state is wooing foreign investors in a bid to lessen its dependence on international aid.

On the proposed merger of the Tata Group information technology companies with TCS, he said it would be considered at a later stage.

"We will go for a merger only if it makes sense to TCS and other companies, and at present the group will concentrate on growing business in the right direction," he said.

Tata also said that he was overwhelmed by the interest shown by individual investors for the TCS IPO.

Talking on the cut in steel prices by Tata Steel, he said that steel prices were ruling high and this has had a cascading effect on other industries in the country.

Justifying the slash in steel prices, Tata said most of the steel manufacturers were making 'good profits' and this would not have a 'great impact' on their revenues.

TCS managing director S Ramadorai said the company would look at an overseas listing at a later stage. The company would also expand its presence in other countries, he added.



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