Amway, the $10.8 billion direct selling business based in Michigan, opened its new $100 million manufacturing plant in India on Dec. 28. It is the company’s first manufacturing facility in the nation and is located at Nilakottai in the Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu.
The new facility will manufacture nutrition, beauty, personal care and home care products. 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 third facility located outside the U.S. The other plants are in China and Vietnam.
“The manufacturing plant in Tamil Nadu is another example of Amway’s belief in the India market and reiterates our commitment to Make in India, Make for India,” said Amway president Doug DeVos. “
The facility will enable Amway to explore launching India-specific products, said the company. Amway is planning to expand its product base and launch 10 new products in the country in 2016, as reported by the Business Standard.
Currently, the company says it provides income-generating opportunity to 550,000 active independent Amway business owners or distributors. After the plant opens Amway India will provide direct and indirect employment to around 3,000 people in the country.
“We see huge potential in the country for direct selling as has been validated by a number of reports in the recent past,” said Amway Regional President Samir Behl. “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 realize their true potential. We are keen to participate and contribute to India’s growth story.”
The manufacturing plant is one of the first in India to be built to achieve LEED GOLD standards and will be a zero discharge waste facility. It has one of the largest solar rooftops in Tamil Nadu. The company is targeting to conserve up to 50,000 cubic meters of rain water every year as well at the site. The world-class green manufacturing facility is designed to achieve energy optimization and operational efficiency
