Vishal Group acquires Kobelco dealership
KATHMANDU, FEB 27 -
Pooja International, a subsidiary of the Vishal Group, has been appointed as the sole authorised distributor of Kobelco Construction Machinery for Nepal. Following the deal, Pooja International will be importing construction equipment manufactured by Japan-based Kobelco. The company has been dealing in Volkswagen automobiles in Nepal.
The entry of Kobelco in Nepal will increase competition among brands like Komatsu, Hyundai, Tata, CAT and JCB, which have been competing in the country’s heavy equipment market. Pooja International has stated that it seeks to secure a market share of 10 percent within the first year of its entry in the Nepal market.
“The country’s construction sector has remained in a dismal state since the past few years. Major infrastructure projects have remained in limbo. However, we are venturing into the construction business , eyeing the market in the future,” said Bibek Bijukchhe, general manager of Pooja International. “Apart from this, a crash in the real estate sector has hurt the market for heavy equipment.”
Initially, Pooja International will roll out two models of excavators—the Kobelco SK140 LC and the SK210 LC. The machines have a capacity of 15 tonnes and 21 tonnes respectively. Both these models will be imported from Kobelco’s manufacturing unit in India.
Bijukchhe said that these new products would be launched in the Nepal market within four to five months. Since these products are manufactured in India, the company claims that they will be suitable for Nepal as the two countries have similar requirements in terms of capacity and handling techniques.
Kobelco Construction Machinery has two mega factories in Tokyo and Hiroshima, Japan. The company also maintains manufacturing units in China, Thailand and India. Similarly, it has sales and service operations all over Asia including Singapore and Australia. The company has been operating in Europe and America since the 1980s.
According to Bijukchhe, Kobelco is one of the most widely selling heavy equipment brands in Asia, and the company is confident about its run in the domestic market. “Kobelco is a renowned name globally, and it has a very good track record in the Asian market. This is an advantage for us, and we are sure that the brand will score heavily in the local market,” he added.
Another factor that makes Kobelco superior to its competitors, especially in the excavator market, is its highest digging force, efficient heavy duty bucket, high pulling capacity, heavy duty undercarriage and wide frame, which generates more utility than any other competing brand in the segment, said Bijukchhe.
As Kobelco is primarily known for excavators, the company will be focusing primarily on excavator models. Pooja International has stated that it will gradually increase the product range, depending on market demand. Kobelco excavators cost around 10 percent more than its competitors, the company said.
Meanwhile, Pooja International will also offer efficient service and spare parts support. The company will maintain spares outlet in Kathmandu, where most of the spare parts will be made available. Likewise, there will be mobile service teams located in Kathmandu for the central region, in Itahari for the eastern region and in Butwal for the western region to offer on-the-field service.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
