Kolkata, Friday, September 3, 2010: Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd plans to invest 18 billion rupees to set up 11 hospitals in the country over the next two years, a top official said on Thursday.

"Right now, our main focus would be India, where 90 percent of our capital would be utilised," Preetha Reddy, managing director, told reporters on the sidelines of a conference.

India's largest hospital chain operator has no immediate plans to partner the Mayalsian government fund Khazanah, which owns more than 12 percent of Apollo, in South-East Asia operations, she said.

In July, Khazanah had won a battle against Fortis Healthcare, Apollo's rival, to gain control of Singapore-based hospital operator Parkway.

"Right now, we are only a knowledge-partner with them (Khazanah), but if a good opportunity comes up, we would definitely look into it," she added. Shares of Apollo Hospitals closed at 411.50 rupees on Thursday, down 0.51 percent in the Mumbai market that ended up 0.18 percent.

Ref: Economic Times