BEML Ltd and Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC) Ltd will jointly manufacture and market heavy engineering and mining equipment in India. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) to this joint initiative has been signed recently by the two companies. The joint venture will also include installation, commissioning and after-sales support for the mining machinery. The two companies are also looking for funding from the Department of Heavy Industry for projects like development of 20 cu m rope shovel. According to Deepak Kumar Hota, CMD, BEML, the collaboration would help the existing MSME ecosystem, especially those around Tamil Nadu. Avijit Ghosh, CMD, HEC, termed the move as a landmark one.