Dutch paint major AkzoNobel is planning to double its capacity in India from the current 70 million litres per annum. As part of this, it would set up a manufacturing facility in South India at an investment of Rs 100 crore.
The proposed facility has been planned either in Tamil Nadu or Karnataka. “We are in the process of identifying land to the tune of 75 acre ,” said Amit Jain, managing director – Decorative Paints India & South Asia, ICI India Ltd, which owns the paint brand Dulux and was acquired by AkzoNobel.
Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI), a British company, became a subsidiary of AkzoNobel in 2008. “Currently our point of presence in India is around 40 per cent of the industry’s point of presence, which is estimated to be around 20,000,” said Jain. It was looking at expanding this by 10 per cent every year.