Calcutta, Dec. 28: Amway India, the direct selling FMCG company, has set up its first manufacturing facility in the country in Tamil Nadu at an investment of Rs 550 crore.
"The plant in Tamil Nadu is an example of Amway's belief in the Indian market and reiterates our commitment to 'Make in India, Make for India'.
"The operations here will strengthen our efforts to develop India-specific products, which should support greater growth and meet the increasing demand of consumers," said Doug DeVos, president, Amway Corporation, US.
Spread across 50 acres, Amway India, a wholly owned subsidiary of Amway Corporation, has set up the unit at SIPCOT Industrial Park in Nilakottai, Dindigul district. The facility will create 500 direct and 1,000 indirect jobs.
J. Jayalalithaa, chief minister of Tamil Nadu, inaugurated the facility by a video conference on Monday.
Amway India had earlier signed an agreement with Tamil Nadu in November 2012 to set up a manufacturing facility at Rs 350 crore. But it scaled up the investment to Rs 550 crore, considering an "industry-friendly climate" and signed the pact with the state in September this year.
This is Amway's third manufacturing plant located outside the US. The other plants are located in China and Vietnam. Amway has spent more than 30 per cent of the $335 million allocated for global expansion in India.
"The fact that India has been chosen for setting up a manufacturing facility shows the strategic importance that India as a market holds for Amway," said Samir Behl, regional president - Europe, Africa and India, Amway Corporation.
We are committed to the Indian market and will work with the authorities to ensure that they have a better understanding of the direct selling industry
The new facility consists of nine production lines for nutrition, cosmetics and oral care products and can handle a turnover of Rs 6,500 crore. The plant will have the annual capacity to manufacture 1.2 billion tablets and soft gels, seven million canisters of drink mixes, 19 million cosmetic jars, bottles and tubes and 60 million tooth pastes.
