Aequs Infra, India’s leading industrial infrastructure provider, launched its FMCG Manufacturing Ecosystem at the Hubballi Consumer Goods Cluster (HDC), at Hubballi in North Karnataka.

 

Shri M.B. Patil, Hon’ble Minister for Large Industries and Infrastructure, Government of Karnataka, unveiled the Ecosystem at a special curtain raiser ceremony on Tuesday in Bengaluru in the presence of potential investors, senior Government officials and other dignitaries.

 

“The FMCG manufacturing ecosystem at Aequs Infra’s Hubballi Cluster is a significant step for North Karnataka growth in the sector and is crucial for driving GDP growth and creating jobs”, the minister said at the event attended by industry captains, senior government officials and potential investors in the Ecosystem. I commend Aequs Infra for their leadership, and I am confident Hubballi will set a benchmark in industrial growth,” the minister said lauding Aravind Melligeri, Chairman & CEO, Aequs for his visionary approach and thinking ‘Beyond Bengaluru’ much before the government did and setting up mega industrial parks in North Karnataka.”

 

The FMCG manufacturing ecosystem at the Aequs’ Hubballi consumer goods cluster is a unique initiative aimed to establish North Karnataka as a key destination for fast-moving consumer goods manufacturing sector for domestic and exports markets.

 

This Ecosystem will significantly boost production scale and the efficiency of manufacturing units helping them target export markets more effectively. Aequs Infra is excited about the potential of the FMCG Ecosystem considering manufacturers in a radius of 400 kilometres of its location account for more than 35% of the market share in India.

 

K. Ullas Kamath, Chairman, FICCI Karnataka State Council, and Vision Group-FMCG-Dharwad, Chairman,  expressed his happiness at the development and said: "The Hubli-Dharwad region is the most attractive investment destination for industries offering the best of skilled people, educational institutions to train more of them, and the best rail, road and air connectivity to the rest of the state and country. It has all the potential to emerge a major manufacturing hub in the years to come paving the way to “Make in Karnataka, Make for India and the World”. I wish the FMCG Cluster all the very best and welcome all FMCG companies to come to Hubballi-Dharwad region to get the best from the first FMCG Cluster in Karnataka. This initiative, by creating the infrastructure for the sector, also leads to social upliftment and creation of thousands of jobs for our youth in the region, and development of North Karnataka in general. 

 

Vikram Annappa, Managing Director, Aequs Infra, shared his vision for the project, stating, "This ecosystem aligns with our broader goal of transforming the region into a global manufacturing hub. We are committed to developing world-class infrastructure that sets the standard for global excellence, enabling businesses to operate efficiently and sustainably in India. With the launch of this project, we are establishing the foundation for long-term growth and job creation, expanding the government's mission for region’s growth."

 

The Government of Karnataka is providing a comprehensive package of incentives that include a Capital Investment Subsidy of 20% of the Value of Fixed Assets (VFA), subject to a maximum of Rs 250 million and a performance linked incentive of 3% of annual turnover to units setting up operations at Aequs’ FMCG Ecosystem at the Hubballi Cluster. These incentives will be available for a period of five years.

 

Aequs Infra specialises in offering advanced plug-and-play and built-to-suit infrastructure at its industrial clusters at Belagavi, Koppal and Hubballi cities in Noth Karnataka. The FMCG Ecosystem at its existing Hubballi Consumer Cluster is the only one of its kind in this part of India and seeks to put the country on the global map as a leader in FMCG manufacturing.