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BILT Graphic upbeat on export performance

K.R. Srivats

NEW DELHI, Oct. 29

THE terrorist attack on the US on September 11 has not significantly impacted the export prospects for BILT Graphic Paper Ltd (BGPL) for the current fiscal, according to Mr Yogesh Agarwal, Vice President-Sales & Marketing, Ballarpur Industries Ltd (BILT) .

The impact has not been significant as by now. we would have felt the vibes. We are a small player in a niche market and BILT Graphic will continue to maintain its export value share even in the coming year despite turbulences such as September 11 incide nt and general demand slowdown, Mr Agarwal told Business Line here.

BGPL, which is likely to be eventually merged with BILT, registered an export sales of about Rs 150 crore during 2000, with main markets for its coated paper being net paper importing countries including the US and Australia.

Mr Agarwal said BILT was now in a position to leverage upon the complete product range of paper and paperboards arising from the acquisition of BGPL, formerly Sinar Mas Pulp & Paper India, by a privately held Thapar family concern in partnership with ICI CI Ltd in May this year.

From marketing point of view, the biggest advantage that we have got is an opportunity to both cross-sell and up-sell to a particular distributor, he said.

He also said that BILT was exploring the possibility of expanding its product range on stationery items. We feel that there is lot of domestic demand for value added products such as good quality notepads and envelopes and we will take advantage of this opportunity, he said, pointing out that BILT will leverage on its existing network of 70 distributors to distribute value-added products.

The BILT board has already given its in-principle approval for the acquisition of entire equity capital of BGPL. A proposal to eventually merge BGPL with BILT after the completion of the consolidation has also received the in-principle nod of the BILT bo ard of directors.