Amway opens manufacturing facility in India

The manufacturing facility can handle a turnover of Rs 6,500 cr to meet the needs of the Indian consumer

Direct-selling consumer goods firm Amway inaugurated its first manufacturing facility in India on Tuesday located in Tamil Nadu, which entailed an investment of Rs 550 crore.

State chief minister J Jayalalithaa inaugurated the facility at Nilakkottai near Madurai, through video conference from her office here. All products sold by Amway in India will now be made in the country. Spread over 50 acres, the plant will employ around 500 people directly and 1,000 indirectly. This will be Amway’s first manufacturing facility in the country and the third located outside the US. The other plants are in China and Vietnam.

Amway said it had spent 30 per cent of the $335 million allocated for its global expansion, in India. Anshu Budhraja, chief executive of Amway India, said the company had so far invested Rs 800 crore in the country.

After the launch, Amway India will provide direct and indirect employment to around 3,000 people in the country. Currently, the company says it provides income-generating opportunity to 550,000 active independent Amway business owners or distributors. The facility will enable Amway to explore launching India- specific products, said the company. The investment and the plant’s size increases the company’s ability to source locally. Amway is planning to expand its product base and launch 10 new products in the country in 2016. Doug DeVos, president of Amway Corp, said, “The manufacturing plant in Tamil Nadu is another example of Amway’s belief in the India market and it reiterates our commitment to Make in India and Make for India.”
 
“Our studies indicate that the spirit of entrepreneurship in the country is very high and we will continue to work on ground to enable individuals, especially women, to realise their true potential. We are keen to participate and contribute to India’s growth story,” said Samir Behl, regional president (Europe, Africa and India) at Amway Corp.