Friday, July 8 2005 18:25 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Blue Star Limited, India's leading air-conditioning and commercial refrigeration company, is exploring the Pakistan market for a foray, its Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Suneel M Advani said today (July 8, 2005).

"Yes, we are looking at Pakistan, our teams paid an exploratory visit (to the neighbouring country)", Advani told sources in Bangalore in response to a question.

But he hastened to add that it would take sometime before the company moved in the direction of entering Pakistan markets.

"Pakistani economy is doing well, the market for air-conditioning is very good there", Advani said but added, "Despite improving bilateral relations between India and Pakistan, the economic barriers (in Pakistan) still exist".

Meanwhile, he said the company's software services arm Blue Star Infotech Limited hasn't had a "great year" in 2004-05 and profitability was lower. Advani said he has taken over a month ago as Managing Director of Blue Star Infotech, replacing Pramod Bhalla.

Advani said Blue Star Infotech intends to acquire a software services company next year.

Blue Star today launched a new range of energy efficient screw chillers used in central air-conditioning of large spaces.

These screw chillers come in both air-cooled and water cooled versions, said officials of the company, which clocked a turnover of Rs 920 crore in 2004-05.

The screw chillers incorporate compressors from Taiwan-based Hanbell Precise Machinery Co Ltd, one of the world's largest manufacturers of such compressors.