Event Overview

Godrej Industries Group (GIG) hosted the third edition of its National Chemistry Day Summit on 2 September 2026 in Mumbai. The summit, a joint initiative of Godrej Industries (Chemicals) and Astec LifeSciences, was organised under the theme “Staying Resilient in a New Age World.”

Core Themes and Takeaways

The summit highlighted that stronger collaboration across the chemical value chain is essential for building a resilient, future‑ready industry. Participants identified artificial intelligence, innovation and talent development as critical enablers of competitiveness and long‑term growth. A shift toward green chemistry and responsible manufacturing was presented as a new imperative demanding adaptation and innovation.

Panel Discussions

1. Resilience Beyond the Enterprise: Building a Future‑Ready Chemical Industry

Moderated by Vishal Sharma, the panel featured Murali Krishna Duvvuri (Senior Managing Director, Life Sciences, Asia & India, Croda), Alexander Gerding (Managing Director, BASF India) and Bankim Patra (Country Head – Lubes, Indian Oil Corporation Limited). The discussion stressed an integrated approach to strengthening India’s chemical ecosystem, calling for greater collaboration, technology and R&D partnerships, enabling infrastructure, supportive policies and faster project execution. The panel argued that such an ecosystem would underpin investment, innovation and scale, keeping Indian chemical firms competitive globally.

2. Resilience for the Enterprise: Driving Growth, Competitiveness, and Agility in a Changing Market

Moderated by Sandeep Arora, Chief Commercial Officer, Godrej Industries (Chemicals), this session included Raj Tiwari (CEO, SUPERFORM & Whole‑time Director, UPL Limited), Ajith Kumar (Chief Operating Officer, Birla Opus) and Vimal Bhola (Co‑founder & Chief R&D Scientist, Innovist, formerly Onesto Labs). Panelists explored how organisations can build resilience through people, product differentiation, deep customer understanding and a culture that encourages innovation. Key considerations were talent development, long‑term business planning, customer‑centricity, accelerated innovation cycles and balancing short‑term execution with sustained R&D investment.

Focused Sessions on Emerging Priorities

  • AI in the Chemical Industry – A keynote by Sambit Patra, Senior Partner, Chemicals Practice, Bain & Company, examined the potential role of artificial intelligence in shaping the next decade of growth and transformation for the sector.
  • The Talent Imperative – A fireside chat featuring Shefali Kohli, CHRO, Global Chemicals, Fashion Yarn & Insulators, Aditya Birla Group, and Poonam Burman, Chief Human Resource Officer, Godrej Industries (Chemicals), discussed strategies for attracting, developing and retaining talent in a rapidly evolving chemical landscape.

Statements from Leadership

Vishal Sharma, Executive Director & CEO of Godrej Industries (Chemicals) and Chairperson of Astec LifeSciences, stated: “Resilience today is no longer just about managing disruption; it is about anticipating and being prepared for what comes next… Each of us is simultaneously a competitor, a supplier and a customer. To move the industry forward we must work together as the chemical industry, not as isolated companies.”

Company Profiles and Financial Highlights

  • Godrej Industries Group serves over 1.4 billion people globally across FMCG, real estate, financial services, agriculture and chemicals. For FY 26, the group reported revenues of USD 7.2 billion and a market capitalisation of USD 19 billion as of 31 March 2026. The group leads in residential real‑estate, animal feed, crude palm oil, oleochemicals, household insecticides, hair colour and air care. Its Good & Green programme targets net‑zero operations by 2035 and responsible supply chains by 2047. In 2025, Godrej Consumer Products and Godrej Properties were ranked number one globally in their categories on the Dow Jones Best‑in‑Class Sustainability Indices.
  • Godrej Chemicals, a subsidiary of GIG, supplies customers in more than 70 countries and is a leading provider of oleochemicals, surfactants, speciality chemicals and biotech products, supported by an integrated Indian manufacturing footprint. For FY 26, it posted revenues exceeding INR 4,216 crore, reinforcing its leadership across key chemical segments and its commitment to green chemistry and responsible manufacturing.

Conclusion

The summit underscored that collaboration, AI adoption, talent development and green chemistry are pivotal for building a resilient Indian chemical industry capable of navigating geopolitical uncertainty, evolving customer expectations and rapid technological change.