Karnataka industries minister holds talks with Japan’s JFE Shoji to revive NGEF Hubballi

Karnataka Industries Minister MB Patil on September 10 held talks with Japan’s JFE Shoji Company on the possibility of reviving the New Government Electrical Factory (NGEF) in Hubballi under state partnership.

Patil, who is leading a high-level Karnataka delegation to Japan to attract investments, said JFE is a global leader in transformer manufacturing and has been invited to visit the Hubballi unit for preliminary discussions.

During the meeting, JFE Shoji confirmed its commitment to set up a Rs 400 crore project in Karnataka to manufacture motor cores used in battery-powered and electric vehicles. The company said land options are being finalised and the project will be grounded soon.

On the same day, the Karnataka delegation also met senior officials from Sumitomo and Yaskawa.

Sumitomo reaffirmed its Rs 2,345 crore investment in a greenfield integrated steel-making facility at Koppal through Mukand Sumi, its joint venture with the Bajaj Group.

The plant, with an annual capacity of 3,50,000 tonnes, will include iron-making, steel-making and blooming mill units. More than 95 per cent of its energy requirements will be met through renewable sources. The unit is expected to be operational by early 2028. Sumitomo has also shown interest in setting up a biomass energy unit in the state.

Meanwhile, Yaskawa confirmed plans to expand its motion control and variable frequency drives unit in Bengaluru. The minister said the project will consolidate Karnataka’s position as a hub for advanced manufacturing and automation technologies.

Apart from these major announcements, the delegation also received commitments from other Japanese firms. Shinko Nameplate will establish a Rs 100 crore greenfield facility near Bengaluru to manufacture automotive decorative plastic components such as emblems, key fobs, and interior parts. Cataler, a Toyota Group company specialising in emission control catalysts, will expand its Bidadi operations with an additional Rs 140 crore investment by 2030. Saginomiya, a global leader in automatic control devices and energy-efficient test systems, expressed strong interest in setting up a plant in Karnataka.

Patil said the series of meetings have significantly boosted Karnataka’s prospects in the EV, steel, and manufacturing sectors. “These investments reinforce Karnataka’s position as India’s premier destination for global investors,” he added.