Ahmedabad: Godrej Chemicals is expanding its Valia-based plant in Bharuch district of Central Gujarat at a cost of Rs. 500 crore. The expansion will be completed by 2027 and it will increase the capacity from 2 lakh tonnes at present to 2.75 lakh tonnes in the future.

A 200-acre-sized Valia plant (since 1996) is presently giving direct and indirect employment to 1400 persons. The plant has a 30 percent export component. Gujarat contributes to 65 percent of the total production of Godrej Chemicals. The other factory of Godrej Chemicals is located in Mumbai.

Godrej Industries (Chemicals) has a strong and enduring presence in Gujarat. The Valia facility has been a cornerstone of the state’s industrial ecosystem. Last year, the company further strengthened its footprint with the acquisition of the Ethoxylation Unit II of Shree Vallabh Chemicals in Kheda, enhancing its production capabilities.

Started 55 years ago with oleo chemicals manufacturing, Godrej Chemicals, an arm of the 128-year-old Godrej group, began manufacturing specialty chemicals about a decade ago and biotech about 5 years ago. Godrej Chemicals operates in varied segments like home and personal care, oil and gas, agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, rubber, chemical & polymer intermediaries, and lubricants & metalworking fluids, etc.

Godrej Chemicals has the unique feature of using vegetable oil as feedstock for sustainability. The company doesn’t use petroleum oil-based feedstock. It is one of India’s leading providers of oleochemicals, surfactants, specialty chemicals, and biotech products, all produced largely with renewable feedstocks from vegetable oils. Another unique feature of the company is that women contribute to the company’s 20 percent workforce, contrary to 8% in the chemical sector and 11 percent generally overall in industries.

These details were shared by Vishal Sharma, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Godrej Industries (Chemicals) here during an interaction on the sidelines of the launch of Samagam, a first-of-its-kind platform to unite industry leaders, manufacturers, formulators, channel partners, and sectoral experts. Focused on emerging market trends, innovations, and challenges across sectors such as Home Care, Beauty & Personal Care, Lubricants & Metal Working Fluids, Food & Beverages, Agrochemicals, Paints & Coatings, and more, Samagam aims to foster collaboration and drive business growth in an ever-evolving industrial landscape.

With India’s industrial sectors rapidly transforming – driven by rising demand, technological advancements, sustainability imperatives, and regulatory shifts – Samagam provides a platform for stakeholders to share insights and explore solutions to navigate this dynamic environment, Mr. Sharma said, adding that Ahmedabad was strategically chosen for the inaugural edition due to its role as a hub for beauty and personal care manufacturing, D2C brands, and a thriving contract manufacturing ecosystem supporting both domestic and international markets.

“As markets continue to evolve rapidly, the need for innovation and collaboration has never been greater,” said Vishal Sharma. “With a legacy of expertise and innovation, we are proud to launch Samagam, a new initiative beyond our business offerings. Bringing together stakeholders to explore emerging trends and shape the future with sustainable and forward-thinking solutions, the initiative reflects our commitment to enabling meaningful progress of our partners in an ever-changing industrial landscape.”

Following the Ahmedabad event, Samagam is set to expand to other key industrial hubs, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, and Kolkata. This strategic expansion aims to ensure wider participation and foster deeper engagement across various sectors. DeshGujarat