Sri City, 25 September 2025: Kobelco India marked a significant milestone on Thursday celebrating 120 years of Kobe Steel’s global legacy and 15 years of Kobelco Construction Equipment India Pvt. Ltd. (KCEI) with a landmark CSR initiative in Sri City. The event brought together dignitaries including H.E. Mr. Muneo Takahashi, Consul General of Japan in Chennai; Ms. Naoko Yuzawa, Consul at the Consulate-General of Japan; Dr. Ravindra Sannareddy, Founder Managing Director of Sri City; Mr. Kasamori, Managing Director of Kobelco South East Asia Ltd.; and Mr. Hayama, Managing Director & CEO of KCEI.
To commemorate the occasion,, KCEI launched a large-scale Tree Plantation Drive in collaboration with Aarde Foundation. The initiative targets planting 10,000 Palmyra saplings across the KCEI campus in Sri City and the Pulicat Lake region, reflecting Kobelco’s commitment to sustainability, biodiversity, and climate resilience. The drive began with dignitaries planting saplings at the Kobelco premises.
Chief Guest H.E. Mr. Muneo Takahashi inaugurated the celebrations, congratulating the Kobelco team on its achievements in India. He lauded the company’s legacy of innovation and social responsibility, noting its dual focus on industrial growth and environmental stewardship.
Dr. Ravindra Sannareddy, Founder MD of Sri City, emphasised that the milestone represents both manufacturing excellence and global collaboration. He credited Sri City’s ecosystem for enabling KCEI’s success and praised the ecological vision behind the initiative. “In Sri City, we don’t just build factories—we nurture ecosystems. The Palmyra tree is not just heritage; it’s climate resilience. Let’s grow from 10,000 to one lakh trees, proving that industry and ecology can thrive together,” he remarked.
Mr. Kasamori, Managing Director of Kobelco Southeast Asia, highlighted the significance of 2025 as both Kobelco’s 120th year and KCEI’s 15th anniversary. He framed the plantation initiative as a meaningful tribute to this legacy, symbolising global cooperation and shared responsibility.
Adding an ecological perspective, Mr. Xavier Benedik, trustee of Aarde Foundation, called the Palmyra a keystone species vital to the northeast monsoon. “Reviving native trees like the Palmyra isn’t just about ecology—it’s about restoring climate, culture, and economy. The more we plant, the more we rain, the more we grow,” he said.
The plantation drive reaffirms Kobelco’s ethos: growth anchored in responsibility, innovation, and lasting community engagement.