Chennai, Oct 7 (IANS): Belgium-based Vermeiren Group's Indian plant rolling out wheelchairs and hospital beds went on stream on Friday at Sri City in Andhra Pradesh, around 60 km from here, said the group.

In a statement here, the group said the Rs 40 crore plant located in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Sri City expects to produce 1,00,000 wheelchairs and 25,000 hospital beds annually by 2020.

The Belgium group also has plans to open a research and development centre in India.

The state-of-the-art facility is fully equipped to deliver medical equipment like wheelchairs to hospital beds, shell chairs, comfort chairs and any other product that may assist a patient or user in maintaining his autonomy and mobility.

"Nowadays, rehab care products such as wheelchairs are essentially needed not only by the disabled, but also by the elderly people as a mobility aid. With the presence of Vermeiren, consumers have the choice of opting for high quality products," Kamineni Srinivas, Andhra Pradesh Minister for Health and Medical Education, said while inaugurating the plant.

"The Make in India call given by the Union Government motivates entrepreneurs from Belgium to invest in India," Bartde Groof, Consul General of Belgium in Chennai said.

"The commencement of this facility further strengthens our leadership position in the medical devices and rehab care equipment market in India," Patrick Vermeiren, Managing Director and CEO of Vermeiren Group, said.