ALSTOM Chairman and CEO says ALSTOM will grow its Indian
operations

New Delhi, Nov 03, 2004: ALSTOM Chairman and CEO, Mr.
Patrick Kron concluded his packed and eventful three day visit to
India on an upbeat mood about further growing business
opportunities for the infrastructure major in energy and
transport.

 

Mr. Patrick Kron had fruitful meetings with
the Finance Minister, Mr. P. Chidambaram, Power Minister, Mr. P.
M. Sayeed and Commerce Minister, Mr. Kamal Nath. Mr. Kron had a
first hand account of Indias liberalisation process and
the governments emphasis on accelerating private and
foreign investments for growing capacities in the power and
transport sector to match the needs of a fast growing
economy.

 

Indias GDP growth rate is projected at
over 6.0 per cent this fiscal and the government are aiming for
an 8 per cent growth in subsequent years.

 

ALSTOM Chairman and CEO also met with senior
bureaucrats and technocrats in the power and transport sector. He
held separate meetings with Chairman CEA, NTPC, NHPC and BHEL. He
also met with the Managing Director of DMRC, Mr. E Sreedharan and
Chairman of the Railway Board Mr. R K Singh. The meetings
focussed on ALSTOMs technological prowess and its
willingness to bring them to India by participating in feasible
ventures.

 

Mr. Kron had a business luncheon with the
French Ambassador in India who gave an overview of the growing
economic prospects of India and the business opportunities thrown
up for participation by French industry and trade.

 

ALSTOM has the unique distinction of erecting
Indias 1st IPP at Jegurupadu in Andhra Pradesh for the GVK
industries which has been recognised by IFC Washington as a model
power plant for IPPs. It has erected or been associated with a
number of thermal and hydro power plants for customers in the
private and public sector including the countrys biggest
1500 MW Hydro Power plant for the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd. in
Himachal Pradesh.

 

ALSTOM has been associated with the erection
of the 250 MW Neyveli IPP in Tamil Nadu, 160 MW Hazira CCPP in
Gujarat, 420 MW Anta CCPP in Rajasthan, 650 MW Gandhar CCPP
besides undertaking a number of refurbishment programs upgrading
existing power plants.

 

ALSTOM has also installed the signaling and
train communications systems for the Delhi Metro in its first
phase. It sees opportunities for growth in this area with the
possibilities of more metros coming up in different parts of
India.

 

ALSTOMS focus is now to substantially
strengthen and widen Indian operations and towards this end it
is:

•  

• Making its Vadodara (Baroda) factory one of the global
  engineering and manufacturing centres for Hydro Power along
  with China and Brazil

   

   

• Enhancing the Vadodara facility, ALSTOMs Centre in
  India for engineering and manufacturing of rotating machines
  (turbines and generators)

   

   

• Enhancing the capabilities for boiler engineering and
  manufacturing

   

   

• Substantially increasing the plant engineering functions in
  Delhi

   

   

• Growing substantially the Delhi based project management
  and procurement

   

   

• Locating some R&D activities for the group in
  Bangalore. These activities would include both in-house and
  out-sourced components

   

 

Mr. Patrick Kron visited some of the key
installations of ALSTOM in India such as the Vadodara facility in
Gujarat.

 

Mr. Krons visit to India was preceded
by the top management team of power turbo systems in early July
this year headed by Mr. Philippe Joubert which decided to create
a R&D Centre in Bangalore and also to enhance engineering in
Delhi.

 

Mr. Krons visit to India reinforces
ALSTOMs plan for growing its Indian operations and its
commitment to being an important player in the countrys
infrastructure and economic development. ALSTOM has been in India
for over a hundred years and is here to stay.

 

 

ALSTOM is a global leader in energy and transport
infrastructure. The company serves the energy market through
its activities in power generation and transport market through
its activities in rail and marine. In fiscal 2003/04, ALSTOM
has annual sales in excess of Euro 17 billion.

 

ALSTOM is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange.

 

In India, ALSTOM companies have together a turnover of
about Rs. 1600 crores with about 6500 employees. ALSTOM is the
majority shareholder in ALSTOM Projects India Ltd