Global consumer healthcare company starts work on first India mfg plant in MP’s Pithampur

Meenakshi.Sharma

Indore: In a massive boost to Madhya Pradesh’s industrial prospects,

Haleon, the global consumer healthcare major behind brands such as Sensodyne, Eno, Otrivin, Iodex and Parodontax, on Monday, commenced construction of its first self-owned manufacturing facility in India, at Pithampur. The work started with a groundbreaking ceremony for the Rs 2,000 crore plant at Pithampur’s Smart Industrial Park.

Officials said the project will generate about 500 direct jobs and an equal number of indirect employment opportunities, taking the total employment potential to about 1,000.

The facility, which is set to come up over 40 acres in Pithampur, will rank among the largest greenfield investments currently under implementation in India’s consumer healthcare manufacturing sector. The project was secured following investment discussions during Chief minister Mohan Yadav’s visit to the United Kingdom.

The plant will manufacture mainly oral-health products under the company’s Sensodyne franchise, along with other consumer healthcare products for domestic and export markets. The facility is expected to serve countries across Asia-Pacific, West Asia and Africa, strengthening India’s role in expanding Haleon’s global supply chain.

Addressing the groundbreaking ceremony virtually from Bhopal, Haleon CEO Brian McNamara said the project marks the company’s foray into manufacturing in India, representing the on-ground implementation of its India growth strategy.

“India is a fast-growing economy and Madhya Pradesh is the fastest-growing state in India. We are very happy to be in Madhya Pradesh,” he said, adding that the global healthcare major has already invested 175 million pounds in the state and plans further expansion in Pithampur, which he described as central India’s logistics hub.

Kedar Lele, president, Indian Subcontinent, Haleon, said, “After nearly 18 months of engagement with the Madhya Pradesh govt, we are setting up our largest South Asia manufacturing facility here. Spread across 40 acres (approximately), it will be the largest unit in Haleon’s global supply chain network.”

CM Yadav remotely inaugurated construction of the Rs 2,000 crore project by pressing a ceremonial launch button.

Yadav said MP’s role in making India a global pharmaceutical hub is expanding rapidly, adding that the state’s industrial policies were attracting both domestic and international investors. Underlining the state’s emergence with regard to investment in healthcare and pharma space, he said MP was home to more than 300 pharmaceutical companies, over 30 API and bulk drug manufacturers, and more than 75 medical device units.

“Madhya Pradesh is no longer just a manufacturing hub, but an established global export hub,” Yadav said, adding that medicines manufactured in the state were being exported to markets across the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia, while the pharmaceutical sector contributes nearly 20 per cent to the state’s total exports.

The CM said industrial centres such as Indore, Pithampur, Mandideep, Bhopal, Dewas and Ujjain were emerging as major pharmaceutical manufacturing clusters, strengthening Madhya Pradesh’s position in the country’s healthcare and life sciences sector.