– one of Asia’s largest environment solutions providers – chemical blending facility to serve as export hub for GCC region –
Manama, 21 April 2016: Ion Exchange, a leading Indian company and one of Asia’s largest environment solutions providers, today announced the launch of a new chemical blending facility in Bahrain. The company, has sought to expand its facility in Bahrain in order to improve the products and services it offers the wider GCC region.
The new facility, based in the Bahrain Investment Wharf, will serve as the chemical export hub for the region and North Arab states, creating around 30 jobs over the course of the next three years. The Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), which provides advice and practical help to companies establishing operations in Bahrain, assisted Ion Exchange with company set up and other business requirements in order to ensure the company’s successful inception.
Rapid demographic growth and economic expansion in the GCC in recent years have created a strong demand for water treatment technologies and services. Ion Exchange is a specialist for over 50 years and provides a complete portfolio of advanced environmental solutions to industrial, institutional, residential, home, rural and urban developments. The company has a strong global presence with plants in various parts of the world, with offices in the Middle East, South East Asia, Africa, Canada and USA.
Husain Rajab, Director of Manufacturing, Transport and Logistics at the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) said: “We are delighted to have been able to support the establishment and expansion of Ion Exchange’s business here in Bahrain. The GCC needs to invest significantly in water and wastewater treatment related infrastructure over the coming years, and Bahrain offers a strong access point to the region for global sector-leaders like Ion Exchange.
“Bahrain has a strong relationship with India, being home to a large expatriate community and with a number of successful Indian firms such as JBF Industries, Chemco and the State Bank of India, and ICICI Bank. We expect to continue to attract many more Indian firms to Bahrain in the future.”
Rajesh Sharma, Chairman and Managing Director of Ion Exchange, also commented on the announcement: “Ion Exchange has successfully executed globally tendered projects and exported plants to the Middle East, Africa and South East Asia, to the stringent requirements of customers, consultants and EPC contractors. It has made it presence felt in Europe and the USA with export of resins and water treatment chemicals. The launch of the new Bahrain facility is part of our wider strategy to ensure proximity to our GCC and North Arab market. Bahrain is located at the heart of the Gulf market with excellent transport and logistics connections throughout the region. We are expanding to meet the GCC’s rising demand for water treatment products and services and are excited to work closely with organisations like the EDB to ensure our success.”
Ion Exchange joins a number of other Indian companies that have recently expanded operations in Bahrain as a means of serving growth in the Middle East region. These include manufacturing firm Electrosteel, whose new US$6.6 million warehouse will act as the sales and distributions hub for the region, and Synergies Castings Limited, who are establishing an aluminium casting and specialty alloy wheel manufacturing facility in Bahrain. India and Bahrain enjoy close economic relations with trade between the two nations reaching $674 million in 2015. More than 350,000 Indian nationals are currently living in Bahrain.
The Bahrain EDB has offices based at the Bahrain Embassy in Delhi and the Bahrain Consulate in Mumbai that provide information and support to interested investors in the South Asia region. Investors looking for more information about Bahrain can visit www.bahrain.com or contact Ms Dharmi Magdani, the EDB’s Regional Director in India, on dharmi.magdani@bahrainedb.com.
