AEQUS IS WELL PLACED TO TAP INTO THE ODM SERVICES MARKET WITH ITS OWN IDEAS AND DESIGNS

Dr. Ravi Guttal, Aequs' Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President, discusses Koppal Toy Cluster's pivotal role in reshaping North Karnataka's future, its impact on India's socio-economic growth, and the significance of vertical integration and robust supply chains for Original Design Manufacturing (ODM) success in India. He also addresses key policies and initiatives for ODM growth in an interview with Nisha Shukla.

- Nisha Shukla

How does Koppal Toy Cluster aim to cater to the international toy market demands by manufacturing in India? How is it also reshaping North Karnataka's future and contributing to the growth of India and the manufacturing sector?

Spread over 400 acres, the Koppal Toy Cluster (KTC), India's first toy manufacturing cluster, is built to cater to global players. It comprises an exclusive Special Economic Zone (SEZ), apart from a Domestic Tariff Area (DTA).

KTC offers end-to-end infrastructure and services as a one-stop manufacturing solution. It is set to play a key role in India's quest to become a dominant player in the global toy market. Built to house up to 100 units when fully occupied, the industrial cluster offers a viable option for global manufacturers and toy brands seeking to diversify their manufacturing and supply chains away from other production centres like China and Vietnam.

For instance, one of the first occupants in the SEZ makes rubber components used in toys made by other units within the cluster. Aequs, one of the largest exporters of toys in the country today, is an anchor participant in the KTC.

Exporting to over 60 countries, Aequs boasts of one of the largest manufacturing spaces in the country, making it one of the biggest toy makers and exporters in India.

Understandably, KTC is expected to transform the socio-economic scenario in North Karnataka, and particularly in Koppal, which is the most backward district in Karnataka. With few jobs available locally, the Koppal district is characterised by rampant migration of labour and is an ideal location for setting up new industries. When fully occupied, the KTC is slated to provide direct employment to 25,000 people, subsequently generating another 1,00,000 indirect jobs in the region. Many of these jobs will require semiskilled workers, including women from the region.