NOVEMBER 20268TOP STORIESZinc manufacturing is set to gain a downstream boost as Hindustan Zinc signs 11 MoUs with industry partners to develop its proposed Zinc Industrial Park in Bhilwara, Rajasthan. The agreements cover manufacturing, engineering and industrial services across galvanising, die-casting, zinc alloys, zinc oxide and advanced zinc applications. Located near the company's Chanderiya, Dariba and Debari operations, the proposed park aims to connect metal production with value-added industrial activities.The development also comes amid rising domestic zinc consumption, creating opportunities for manufacturers to expand India's downstream processing capabilities and strengthen industrial supply chains. The proposed 111-acre park at Khankhala will be developed with support from the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO), which is responsible for infrastructure such as roads, water and electricity. Auto manufacturing investment is gaining momentum in Andhra Pradesh as South Korean automaker Kia India plans to invest USD 1.5 billion to expand its Anantapur manufacturing facility. The proposed expansion could increase annual production capacity from 3 lakh to approximately 5 lakh vehicles. The development also comes amid Rs 1,614 crore in investment commitments from three Korean automotive component manufacturers.Together, these developments highlight the potential for a wider automotive manufacturing ecosystem in the state, spanning component localization, ancillary units, employment generation and export capabilities. Government incentives under Andhra Pradesh's industrial and electric mobility policies could further support this manufacturing momentum. Andhra Pradesh IT, Electronics and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh said the investments followed his team's engagement with automotive component manufacturers during a July visit to South Korea. Manufacturing GVA in India remained concentrated in five states during FY2024-25. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh collectively contributed more than 54 percent of the country's total manufacturing Gross Value Added (GVA), according to the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) released by the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation (MoSPI).Maharashtra led with a 15.92 percent share, followed by Gujarat at 14.10 percent and Tamil Nadu at 10.90 percent. However, the distribution of registered manufacturing establishments presents a different picture. Tamil Nadu has the largest factory base, raising questions about differences in industrial scale, production mix and value addition across states. Maharashtra accounted for 15.92 percent of India's manufacturing GVA in FY25, while its share of registered manufacturing establishments stood at 10.26 percent. Power equipment manufacturing could gain strategic importance as India's electricity demand rises with the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI), data centers and digital infrastructure. Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Pralhad Joshi, highlighted the growing need for affordable, reliable and clean electricity while addressing a press conference during the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo (BRESE) 2026 in New Delhi. His remarks, made alongside India's re-election as president of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) for a third consecutive term, underline an emerging industrial requirement: strengthening the equipment and grid infrastructure needed to deliver clean power reliably.This could create opportunities for domestic manufacturers of transformers, switchgear, substations and other electrical systems. The expansion of AI infrastructure is expected to increase electricity requirements from data centers, cloud computing facilities and high-performance computing systems. This could open opportunities for India's power equipment manufacturing industry, particularly as the country expands renewable generation and transmission capacity. WHAT DOES KIA'S USD 1.5B AUTO MANUFACTURING INVESTMENT SIGNIFY?MANUFACTURING GVA: MAHARASHTRA LEADS WITH 15.92 PERCENT SHAREPRALHAD JOSHI: AI BOOST FOR POWER EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURINGCAN HINDUSTAN ZINC'S 11 MOUS BOOST ZINC MANUFACTURING?
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