Talking to The Financial Express, Hannu Rossi, who is looking after Indian operations, said that some companies had shown interest and soon the Konecranes would finalise the agreement and announce its partner in India.

The Konecranes, which is the world leader in the cranes business, has supplied cranes for the Essar Steel project and is eyeing more business in India.Rossi said that erection of heavy cranes was undertaken with the help of local companies. The Indian partner, he added, would not only manufacture cranes under the licence agreement, but would also provide other support services.

Pointing out that India was a difficult market with high duty structure, he said, local partner would help in overcoming these impediments.

Rossi said that the company was hopeful of increasing its presence in the country as the need for quality and reliablecranes would grow with the Government trying to expedite development of infrastructure facilities. The cranes being produced by the company would fulfill the needs of shipyards, container yards, shipping line, steel mills, power house, paper mills etc.

The areas of special interest to the companies are ports and power plants. Although the company executives are sore over the tedious tendering process which is followed by the public sector companies, it is generally felt that power projects being set up by IPPs will provide business opportunities.