Japanese water and housing products maker LIXIL Group is seeking to tap on India's sanitation drive to strengthen its presence in the country, which it has identified as a key growth market.
The company, which sells SATO toilets that are targeted at rural and semi-urban markets, also said it plans to train over 50,000 plumbers in India over the next 4-5 years.
LIXIL has invested Rs 400 crore on a sanitaryware plant in Andhra Pradesh, which it acquired from Sentini Sanitarywares in January this year, to serve the Indian market.
"India is a priority market for LIXIL and (it) presents tremendous opportunities for our growth...We will continue to invest strategically in our business here to offer pioneering water and housing products that solve every day, real-life challenges," LIXIL Group Corporation President and CEO Kinya Seto said.
Stating that the company is poised for the next lap of growth in India, LIXIL said its recent investment to boost manufacturing capabilities in the country will help it replicate "global leadership locally".
The company has a range of products under different brands for consumers across the spectrum.
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While its SATO toilets are for suitable for grassroots sanitation initiatives, its water technology products under brands GROHE, American Standard and INAX are positioned as lifestyle aspirational items.
LIXIL Asia Pacific CEO Bijoy Mohan said investment of Rs 400 crore in sanitaryware plant, launch of its sash business, focus on addressing the sanitation challenge through SATO and plumber training programme are "are all testaments to our commitment to India and its tremendous growth potential".
He said SATO is an "innovative toilet solution for the underserved".
"Grassroots sanitation initiatives such as the SATO toilets have allowed the organisation to drive meaningful impact to transform the lives of rural and peri-urban communities through sanitation and hygiene solutions in India," the company said.
On the other hand, GROHE, American Standard have been highly successful in India allowing LIXIL to fulfil the lifestyle aspirations of its customers, it added.
On skill training initiatives in India, LIXIL said under its Project Nadee it is running pilot in five cities -- Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur and Chandigarh -- for 500 plumbers.
"LIXIL aims to create more skilled plumbers over the next 4-5 years and will train over 50,000 plumbers in India," it added.
The plumbers will be given an advanced joint certification from IL&FS Skill Development Corporation Ltd and LIXIL India, it said.
The IL&FS Skill Development Corporation Ltd is a joint initiative between IL&FS Education and Technology Services Ltd and National Skill Development Corporation
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