Swiss FMCG firm Nestle has announced its plans to invest Rs 600 crore in its Indian subsidiary in calendar year 2009, as part of its business strategy.

The company which has granted an investment of Rs 300 crore in the Indian market this year, would be doubling the investment in 2009, on the back of strong growth it witnessed in India during 2007.

According to the company, the investment would go in new research and development, advertising and capacity expansion at its factories.

With the intention to take the company’s growth to a new level, besides tapping the fast growing Indian FMCG market, Emami, beauty and health products maker, is looking at overseas acquisitions in the recent year.

While addressing the company's annual general meeting (AGM) at Kolkata, Emami Ltd Chairman R S Agarwal said, “We are actively considering brand acquisitions abroad for which a blueprint has already been prepared.”

Mr. Agarwal said that during the first quarter of the existing year, Emami had purchased 27.5% equity stake in Zandu Pharmaceuticals as part of its major strategic investment with an aim to be part of management control together with the subsisting promoters.

FMCG major Emami Ltd has raised its equity stake in the 100-year-old

Indian FMCG major ITC has informed that its Q4 net profit zoomed 14%, helped by higher cigarette sales of its premium brands including India Kings and Gold Flake.

ITC, India's largest FMCG company, has registered a growth of 14% in the net profit for t