Big Dutchman, the €625-million German housing and feeding equipment for poultry and piggery industries, will start an Indian subsidiary next year to serve the domestic and other markets, according to Hindu Business Line.

Bernd Meerpohl, Chairman of Board of management of Big Dutchman, said: "We had started our Indian operations 15 years ago through a joint venture. But that did not work. Seeing good opportunities in the Indian poultry industry, we are seriously exploring setting up a venture of our own here."

Mr Meerpohl was in India last month in connection with the three-day international poultry expo being organised by Indian Poultry Equipment Manufacturers Association from 24 November. The company has a representative office in India.

It supplied a range of systems that included floor management system, manually operated feed chain and computer-controlled feeding systems for pullets and layers.

The 62-year-old family-run company would set up a logistics centre in India to address the domestic market. At a later phase, it might consider exporting products to other markets as well.

"We are in the process of hiring people. We will invest a few millions into the company. It will be up and running by next year-end," Mr Mr Meerpohl said, refusing to specify the exact investments that could come to India.

He said the company out-sourced the equipment parts, based on the designs it provided, from suppliers. In India too, it would follow the same model.