Mapei India, the Group’s Indian subsidiary, performed the traditional “Bhoomi Pooja” ritual on 10^th December, 2020, and the ceremony for laying of the first stone of its third manufacturing plant in Kosi, approximately 100 km from Agra and 140 km south of New Delhi, in the state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India. “Bhoomi Pooja” is a traditional Indian ritual performed before beginning major building operations to drive off any negative influences from the ground and ensure building work is successfully completed.

This is the Indian subsidiary’s third manufacturing plant alongside those in Bangalore (in operation since 2012) in the state of Karnataka, in the south of the country, and Vadodara (in the state of Gujarat, in north-west India), which was opened in 2016.

The manufacturing plant in Kosi is strategically located to be well connected to major Indian cities like Mathura, Agra and New Delhi by important road and rail links. This new production unit will allow Mapei India to meet the demands of the expanding local market, speeding up the supply of building products to clients in the north of the country.

THE FIRST 10 YEARS…

Mapei India already has its own lengthy history: the subsidiary was set up at the beginning of 2011 in Bangalore to supply the Indian market with innovative high-tech products and make the most of all the opportunities offered by this vast country.

So, on 4^th March it will be 10 years since Mapei India first began operating on the local market and over this period the company has achieved many notable successes: its income has grown constantly reaching a figure of 16.5 million Euros in 2020; it now employs 246 staff; it has notable facilities (in addition to its manufacturing plant, the subsidiary also has business offices in New Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai and Pune); and it supplies miscellaneous products for the local building market: cement additives and admixtures for concrete, waterproofing agents, products for repairing concrete and structural strengthening solutions, cementitious and resin systems for floors, products for installing ceramics, stone and resilient materials (including those for sports surfaces), sealants and underground building products.

Mapei India also stands out on the local market for its contribution in terms of products and technology to important works carried out in the country (Mumbai International Airport, JW Marriott Hotel in Pune, the Statue of Unity in Kevadia, Ahmedabad Underground Railway Network, and a number of strategic tunnels) and also for its highly qualified sales staff covering the entire country and its Technical Services Department providing support for professionals in the sector.

...AND ITS PROSPECTS

Mapei India clearly intends to keep on growing and being successful even under the rather unfavourable circumstances at the moment. Indeed, India is one of the countries that has suffered the most from the Covid-19 pandemic. Measures to control the virus, which have shut down all business operations in March 2020, have resulted in a drop in domestic demand and a decline in both manufacturing and investment. The International Monetary Fund estimates that the GNP dropped by 8% in 2020 but will rise by 11.5% in 2021 and 6.8% in 2022. Last year’s drop follows a slowdown recorded in 2019 when the GNP only grew by 4.9%, its lowest increase following six years of sustained growth. Nevertheless, India’s economy is still one of the most dynamic in the world. The New Delhi Government is focusing on infrastructures and major works to give it a further boost. Over the last few months work has begun on the NIP (National infrastructure pipeline), a five-year plan for the 2020-2025 period involving an investment of 1798 billion US dollars in roads, railways, energy, and urban projects. A total of 7,438 projects are planned (1742 of which are currently being set under way) in an attempt to boost growth and attract major international investors. According to the Indian Ministry of Finance, 75% of the resources involved will come from central government and federal states with private investors providing the rest.

The Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also launched a “Make in India” campaign intended to facilitate local and foreign investment, promote innovation, develop local talent, speed up bureaucracy and simplify the rules and regulations governing businesses, and, of course, create infrastructure for supporting industrial operations. The commencement of work on building Mapei India’s third  plant is part of this framework: “We are proud to be part of our Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Make in India plan by building this new production unit”, so the General Manager of Mapei India, Abhijit Dutta, stated.

Mapei in India