Page 179 - CW E-Magazine (25-3-2025)

India Chemical Industry Outlook Conference 2025 India Chemical Industry Outlook Conference 2025

GROWTH DESTINATION burn fuel and capture carbon dioxide.
In this, oxygen is created in-situ,
India is a key strategic growth hub for Syensqo: eliminating the need to separate oxygen
from air, reducing energy demand and
Dr. Ilham Kadri system costs, while ensuring value ad-
dition through the generation of pure
Belgian chemicals fi rm, Syensqo, sites, a dedicated research and innova- Referring to the trends in geo- stream of carbon dioxide. He also gave
which was spun off from Solvay, is tion centre, and nearly 500 employees. politics and geo-economics, Dr. Kadri examples of benefi cial use of renewable
committed to the India growth story, “India accounts for about 3% of our said these are “unprecedented times”, energy in industrial gases operations as
according to Dr. Ilham Kadri, the com- global sales, which means we can do and she had, in her entire career, never well as water conservation efforts in
pany’s CEO as well as President of better, and we will do better. We are seen the “complexities of regulatory- a refi nery to drive home the point for
the International Council of Chemical ready to expand, and the best is yet to and business-environment evolve so the need to relook existing processes
Associations (ICCA), a trade association come,” she declared. quickly.” to make it more sustainable and cost-
of the global chemical industry. effective.
Highlighting the “profoundly She urged Indian authorities to deve-
“For Syensqo, India is more than changing” chemical industry land- lop a strong ecosystem for attracting PATHWAY TO SUCCESS
just a market, it is key strategic hub scape, Dr. Kadri underlined the need investments which values innovation Strategies for succeeding in specialities
driving our future growth in the region to adapt to “mitigate risk, seize new and IP protection, creates a level play-
and beyond. We are keen to strengthen opportunities and win together.” ing fi eld for competition and ensures Speciality chemicals is the only
our connections and explore new that industry is growing sustainably and segment in the broad chemical industry
avenues for growth,” she said in a Speaking on decarbonisation, she responsibly. in which India can compete effectively
special address at the conference. said her company is committed to despite the challenges of insuffi cient infra-
achieving carbon neutrality by 2040 “The global trade landscape is structure, said Mr. Bimal Goculdas,
“India has the highest projected and noted that it can be “done profi t- increasingly polarised with tariffs Managing Director & CEO, DMCC
growth rates in the world, is the most ably”. “As you embrace growth in shaping relationships between nations. Specialty Chemicals Ltd., during a
populous country with highly skilled India, think about making it sustain- I see tremendous potential for India panel discussion focused on speciality
labour and with an improving infra- able,” she advised. to thrive in this new emerging global chemicals.
structure which had been in the past, order. In this shift, India has a unique
one of the key challenges for this “Over the next 35 years, in a world opportunity, and companies like mine The discussion focused on the
country, India is now a hub for growth,” disrupted by existing overcapacities in are eager to join forces and grow with evolving role of speciality chemicals,
she observed. some chemical segments and ongoing you,” she concluded. particularly in the context of sustain-
anti-dumping battles, innovation is ability, AI integration, and regulatory
Dr. Kadri said Syensqo is deeply the only way to succeed, including in Making chemicals ‘green’ pressures. Sustainability, regulatory
invested in India’s success with its six India,” she said. Earlier, Prof. Ravi Gudi, Professor, awareness, and consumer demand for
IIT Bombay, and AI & ML Chair eco-friendly products were highlighted
Professor, gave an academician’s perspec- as major drivers. Innovation, operational personal care – for better performing ing tariff wars could open up new
tive on “greening” the chemical indus- excellence, and strategic collaborations products with greener ingredients opportunities.
try. He said the chemical industry has to were emphasised as essential for long- offer opportunities for speciality chemi-
operate such that it will help “nature term growth and value creation in the cals, while Mr. Anurag Jain, President & Mr. Prakash Raman, Managing
to continue to nurture us”. “The industry industry. CEO, Specialty Chemicals Business & Director, Silox India Pvt. Ltd., pointed out
must adopt green engineering in con- Chemicals Technology Group, SRF that the path to success in specialties is
junction with green chemistry practices Mr. Kapil Malhotra, Global Busi- Ltd., underlined the business oppor- in understanding customer’s require-
to ensure that processes and systems ness Unit Head-Fluoropolymers, tunities from shift to zero-waste ments rather than focusing on properties
are designed for circularity and also Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd., emphasised technologies. Dr. Marcus Obkircher, of the product. “The focus should be on
to ensure that circularity brings added the critical role of fl uoropolymers in Director, R&D and Global Head of how you can help the customer solve
value to the stakeholders,” he said. telecom and AI-driven semiconductor Customer Solutions R&D for Life their problems rather than telling them
manufacturing. Mr. Vaijanath Kulkarni, Science, Merck Life Science Pvt. Ltd., about the properties of your product,”
Prof. Gudi gave few examples of COO & Executive Director, Galaxy opined that sustainability and grow- he said. “When diversifying to specia-
how this can be achieved including the Surfactants Ltd. and Chairman, Galaxy ing regulatory pressure are the major lity chemicals, be relevant to the custo-
chemical looping combustion (CLC) Chemicals (Egypt) SAE, noted that drivers of growth for the sector, while mers; they have to be ready to accept your
technology that uses metal oxides to rising customer demand – especially in supply chain disruptions and impend- technology or product,” he added.

178 Chemical Weekly March 25, 2025 Chemical Weekly March 25, 2025 179

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