Japanese Mitsubishi Pencil Company is looking at creating a joint venture with Indian writing instrument manufacturer Linc Pen and Plastics Ltd, according to local press reports.
Mr Deepak Jalan, Managing Director, Linc Pen and Plastics, said: "We have been talking to Mitsubishi Pencil Co to invest in India and use our facilities in Kolkata. Considering labour is cheap in India compared to Japan, a joint venture might help in bringing down costs.”
Linc Pens and Plastics has a marketing and distribution arrangement with Mitsubishi Pencil Company for the Uniball brand of writing instruments. Though import duties have been brought down to 15 per cent, local manufacturing through a joint venture is expected to improve margins.