"Daikin India eyes $4 billion revenue by 2030"

With India emerging as a global hub for innovation and manufacturing, Daikin is betting big on its future in the country

- KANWAL JEET JAWA

Daikin recently marked its 25 years in India. How would you describe the journey so far, and what have been the biggest inflection points in its transformation from a niche player to a market leader?

The journey thus far has been very interesting, having experienced and triumphed tsunamis, wars, floods, recession, demonetisation, political overhauls & pandemic. Quite literally I am amazed by the resilience & resolve of the Indian consumers to not only survive but rise up through every situation. Back in 2009-10, we were a niche player, but today we are a $1.5+ billion company, dominating the volume zone. India is at cusp of explosive growth and Daikin having invested heavily across manufacturing, R&D, brand, supply chain & distribution is well poised to take advantage of this robust demand for air-conditioning products, as we continue to deliver superior products at affordable costs. With Daikin setting up the compressor and components manufacturing in India leveraging PLI we remain the undisputed market and thought leader in the air conditioning sector.

With the launch of the Sri City plant and expansion of manufacturing capacity, how is Daikin positioning India in its global supply chain? Will India eventually emerge as the company’s largest export hub?

Yes, with India gaining robust reputation for reliable and cost effective manufacturing, Daikin is aggressively investing across AC manufacturing, compressor manufacturing, components manufacturing and R&D in order to make India the global export hub. With skills, knowledge and a young workforce, India is one of the youngest nations to shape the manufacturing future across every sector. HVAC penetration has a long way to go in India and other developing markets like Africa, South America, South Asia, Middle East & Europe and Daikin India is getting ready to serve all those geographies going forward.