Ingress Set To Expand Ops In Indonesia

By Dalila Abu Bakar KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 (Bernama) -- Ingress Corp Bhd is set to expand its operations in Indonesia in sync with the projected growth in the motor vehicle industry in the country. Executive vice chairman/group chief executive officer, Rameli Musa, said Ingress would expand its Indonesian operations together with its Japanese partners, Katayama Kogyo Co Ltd and Yonei Co Ltd. Rameli said Ingress had secured the manufacturing contracts for the new Suzuki multi-purpose vehicle, Daihatsu and Nissan new models and going forward, the company, together with its Japanese partners, would embark on a marketing drive for other Japanese makes. Yonei is an associate of Mitusbishi in Japan. Ingress currently has a unit, PT Ingress Malindo Ventures, in Indonesia. "Our focus of expansion will be in Indonesia. At the moment, we only have a small operation in Indonesia. "Beginning Feb 1, we will bolster our marketing team there. "It will undertake a drive to secure some projects in Indonesia," he told Bernama in an interview. Rameli, the single largest shareholder of Ingress, directly and indirectly owns 31.2 per cent stake. The expansion programme will see representatives from Katayama and Yonei stationed in Indonesia to undertake marketing activities and improve the operations. He said other car manufacturers had expanded their branches in Indonesia including Honda, Mitsubishi, Nissan and General Motors, which Ingress had business relationships in Thailand. On the company’s operations in Thailand, Rameli said, Ingress was revisiting its business model in view of the recent floods that had affected one of its three plants in Ayutthaya. "We are strategising our position in Thailand. "The other two plants in Rayong are not physically affected but their operations were disrupted for one month because of the supply chain disruptions. We are trying to rationalise our operations in Thailand," he said. Meanwhile, Ingress’ 40 per cent associate in India is looking at expanding its operations and marketing for new automotive products in the country. The company has secured manufacturing contracts for moulding components for Suzuki and Fiat. Rameli said Ingress was currently looking at other customers in India for moulding as well as sash businesses. He said the company was currently talking to its South Korean partner to work together in India. "Our counterpart in Korea is supplying parts to Hyundai in South Korea. We will work with them but it’s still a long way," he said. Maruti Suzuki holds 60 per cent share of the motor vehicle sector in India and the next largest is Hyundai. Ingress is also considering expansion in Turkey on the invitation by its South Korean partner. "Our Korean partner has been requested by Hyundai in Turkey to enter the market. "We are talking to them on the viability to enter the Turkish market together with our South Korean partner, but it’s still at very early stage," he said. -- BERNAMA