Krones, a German packaging and bottling machine manufacturer, has begun construction of a new $36.33m bottling manufacturing plant in Vemagal, within the Indian state of Karnataka.

The initiative, which is expected to create approximately 550 jobs in the region, is part of the wider $118bn investment proposals from this year's Global Investors Meet (GIM) Invest Karnataka event.

The ground-breaking ceremony for the new Krones manufacturing plant in Karnataka was conducted by the state's Large and Medium Industries Minister M B Patil.

The government of Karnataka, represented by Patil, has expressed its commitment to realising investment projects.

In preparation for the GIM event, Patil led a delegation to Germany in December last year.

The visit included discussions with Krones at its headquarters in Neutraubling, where a preliminary memorandum of understanding was signed.

The Vemagal plant is not only anticipated to boost Krones' production capabilities but also to play a role in the local community.

In April 2024, Krones revealed its strategy to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to net zero across its entire value chain by 2040.

In line with Science Based Targets initiative standards, the company aims to reduce its GHG emissions by 90% across the entire value chain (scopes 1 to 3) and offset the remaining 10% by 2040.