New Delhi, March 12 – Vedanta Limited, the mining conglomerate, has repaid $900 million of high-cost debt using a combination of proceeds from a Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP) and a new $350 million facility secured at a lower interest rate. As a result, the company’s net debt has been reduced by $550 million, strengthening its financial position, as per agency report.

According to agency report, a subsidiary of Vedanta, THL Zinc Ventures, had taken a loan in May 2023 at an interest rate of 13.9 percent. This debt was partially repaid using funds raised from Vedanta’s $1 billion QIP in June 2024.

Additionally, the company secured a new $350 million loan from JPMorgan and other bankers at an annual interest rate of 9.6 percent. This refinancing initiative is expected to reduce Vedanta’s annual interest cost by $90 million, further improving its financial health.

Tokyo/Mumbai, Oct 17 (IANS) The state government of Gujarat, in a strategic move aimed at fostering collaboration and investment prospects between Japan and India, invited Vedanta to the roadshow targeting Japan’s major electronics players, ahead of the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit.

Vedanta, a global natural resources and technology conglomerate, highlighted the tremendous investment opportunities in India, especially in Gujarat, and urged Japanese companies to partner in India’s electronics manufacturing revolution.

Akarsh K. Hebbar, Global Managing Director of Vedanta’s Semiconductor and Display business, addressed a gathering of Japanese industry leaders at the Embassy of India in Tokyo and Osaka over the two-day roadshow. He underscored the investor-friendly climate in India, particularly in Gujarat, emphasizing the nation's commitment to providing Japanese companies with exceptional opportunities to engage in India's flourishing electronics manufacturing industry. He complimented the Government of Gujarat for their policy stability, good governance, excellent infrastructure facilities, and hand-holding for ease of doing business at every step by the State’s proactive and efficient team.

Talking about the huge opportunities in the country, Akarsh Hebbar said, “The demand for electronics in India is fuelled by the Indian government's initiatives such as Make in India, Digital India, and 100 Smart Cities Mission, which aim to promote local manufacturing, digitalization, and technological advancement across various sectors. Additionally, the growing penetration of the Internet and increasing adoption of e-commerce have further boosted demand for electronics. With a population of more than 1.4 billion, India presents a huge market opportunity for global electronics companies.”

He outlined Vedanta's ambitious plans to establish semiconductor and display fabs in Dholera SIR, Gujarat, and invited Japanese companies to partner with Vedanta in helping build the country’s first electronics manufacturing hub in the state. He also pointed out that the hub has the potential to attract hundreds of SMEs and create more than one lakh jobs.

Addressing the Japanese industry, he said, “There is an $80-billion opportunity for companies willing to come and invest in this electronics manufacturing hub, and Vedanta will be the anchor for Japanese companies interested in investing in India.”

Vedanta has a longstanding relationship with Japan, with group company AvanStrate Inc. headquartered in Japan. Late last year, the company signed agreements with 30 Japanese technology companies to foster the development of India's semiconductor and glass display manufacturing ecosystem.

The event was hosted by Sibi George, Ambassador, Ambassador of India to Japan and Nikhilesh Giri, Consul General, Osaka Kobe. The Indian delegation was led by Vijay Nehra, IAS, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology and facilitated by Takehiko Furukawa, Director General, JETRO. Leading Indian and multinational companies based in India were part of the delegation.