"We want to be more aggressive in India. We are looking at India more seriously. We are looking at areas like infrastructure, including roads, power, energy and water," Dheeraj Hinduja, vice chairman of Ashok Leyland, said in an interview to 'NDTV Profit' in London.
Talking about expansion plans of the Rs 4800 crore (Rs 48 billion) commercial vehicle major Ashok Leyland, he said the company plans to expand further. However, it would be a different company that would enter into the passenger car segment.
"We are open at getting into this (passenger car) segment but it will have to be under a different brand name. Passenger car segment is a competitive segment, and we won't use Ashok Leyland's name if we get into this area".
He also said the company is looking at expanding Ashok Leyland into neighbouring countries besides broadening its business within India.
His elder brother Sanjay Hinduja, co-chairman, Gulf International, said healthcare is another area which the group is focussing on.
"We will open a 100-bed hospital in Mumbai shortly", he said adding the company is also looking at acquisitions. "We recently acquired a bulk drug company in Hyderabad and are open to more such acquisitions within the country and abroad."
Sanjay said the group is expanding its business in India, Middle-East, Africa and South-East Asia. On Hinduja TMT, the group's call centre and BPO company, Dheeraj said, "Our BPO business has been looking up since its inception three years ago. Today, it employs 5000 people and we will continue to look at expanding it."
Hinduja TMT has been growing at 40 per cent and has now spread its operations beyond Mumbai and Bangalore to the US, Philippines and Canada.
According to industry estimates, India currently makes up 15 per cent of the group's business, but the Hindujas estimate this will go up to 25 per cent in the next five years.
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