Maruti Udyog Ltd., the country's largest carmaker, Monday announced the laying of the foundation stone for the company's new car plant at Manesar in Haryana.

The new car plant is being set up under a joint venture company Maruti Suzuki Automobiles India Ltd., said a statement issued here.

Maruti Udyog will hold 70 percent equity in Maruti Suzuki Automobiles India, while Japan's Suzuki Motor Corporation will hold the remaining 30 percent stake, added the statement.

The capacity of the plant will initially be 100,000 cars per annum, with scope to scale it up to 250,000 cars per annum.

"Our investment in a new car manufacturing plant underlines our parent company Suzuki Motor Corporation's continued commitment to India," said Jagdish Khattar, managing director of Maruti Udyog.

"It also reflects the Maruti's optimism about the future of the Indian car market and the critical role that the company has to play in the motorisation of the country," he added.

The new car plant is part of a larger investment plan finalised by Maruti Udyog and Suzuki for the medium term. Fresh investments are also being made in an engine and transmission facility, upgradation of the company's existing plant in Gurgaon and in new models.

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Som Distillers extends arrangement with UB

Som Distilleries and Breweries Ltd. said Monday it has extended the arrangement with United Breweries for the bottling of Kingfisher beer in Pondicherry.

United Breweries already uses Som Distilleries' bottling facility for of Madhya Pradesh. As a result of this partnership, the company expects a quantum jump in its turnover, the company said.

Som Distilleries' manufacturing facilities are spread over 20 acres in Bhopal and the company is equipped with modern brewing, storing and lagering facilities.

The company is among the few Indian firms that have the production and marketing infrastructure for Indian made foreign liquor as well as beer products, said the statement.

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Larsen and Toubro bags $19 million order

Larsen and Toubro Ltd. said Monday it has received an order valued at $19 million from Oman Cement Company for setting up a cement grinding plant at Rusayl, Oman.

The one million tonnes per year capacity plant will be executed by Larsen and Toubro on a total turnkey basis and expected to he commissioned in a year, said a statement issued to the Bombay Stock Exchange.

The new unit will boost capacity at Oman Cement's existing 1.2 million tonnes per year capacity cement plant. Larsen and Toubro is already executing a 1.2 million tonnes per year capacity cement plant in Bangladesh.

The new order from Oman will enhance its engineering and construction business in the field of cement projects in the Middle East. The company's Oman-based subsidiary will carry out on-shore construction and erection.

In India, Larsen and Toubro is the largest player in cement plant machinery business and has supplied plants to most cement majors with an aggregate production capacity of 42 million tonnes per year of Ordinary Portland Cement.

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Konkan Tyres gets order from Dubai firm

Konkan Tyres Ltd. said Monday it has received an order from Dubai-based Mirador Traders for the supply of 20 containers of procured tread rubber.

The order has to be executed over a period of three months, said a statement issued to the Bombay Stock Exchange.

This is the first major export order for Konkan Tyres. "This is the result of the company's decision of focusing potential export market for the rubber industries," said the statement.

In near future, Konkan Tyres has decided to open its marketing outfits in some other regions like the Middle East, Australia and Britain. The company is expecting for more business from the overseas and the domestic market.