DuPont's plans for 'strategic' India market

Q: How big a growth driver is this actually going to be for you in India? What are the kinds of investments that you are going to be looking at the photovoltaic business?

A: Currently it is a small business for us but the potential for growth is tremendous here. So we will continue to invest in developing new technologies for this looking at newer materials which will be more relevant for markets like us.

Q: You were also talking about the other strategy as far as India is concerned, the largely export oriented strategy that a lot of people have with regards to India, how does India really fit into your plans as far as DuPont globally is concerned?

A: It is not really an export per se but it is fully leveraging the advantage India provides in terms of talent and the human resource so we are looking at India for some of our global processes. So we have a separate entity which is called the DuPont Services Center and we do a lot of global work out of Hyderabad now. We are doing global processing for some of our finance, some of our sourcing. We also get into sourcing some of speicalised materials for our global manufacturer.

Q: In terms of emerging markets at this point in time I know India continues to be a strategic market for DuPont but how would you rate it in terms of revenues as well as the kind of growth opportunities that you are seeing with regards to other emerging markets at this point?

A: India has been one of the fastest emerging markets in the last couple of years. As I said that the four mega trends that we were working on, the fourth one truly is to work aggressively in the emerging markets and position ourselves by bring assigns for products and applications which are relevant for the emerging markets. So in that sense India is receiving a lot of attention from the global management. We will continue to look at India very aggressively.

Q: Any areas of new opportunity that you are actually going to be working on or focusing on outside the ones that you already talked about?

A: Our main focus area will continue to be agriculture and food. It will be the infrastructure area. The contributions that we could make in the road and the highway sector into the power sector that we have products going there. It is the area of automotives so India is now becoming a hub for the smaller car and we have a number of products and materials that will go into those cars.

Q: Take us through the plans as far as, for instance servicing the infrastructure space or the automotive space is concerned, how exactly do you have to do that?

A: If you look at infrastructure, roads and highways is one big segment. One of the issues that we face is have rains and you have portholes in the roads. We got some products which are polymers which help modify the bitumen which makes the bitumen much more elastic, hold on to it much stronger and it is truly a product which is meant for road making. So we try and promote that product here. We are already working on a number of projects.

Q: You have got a pretty aggressive minister in the ministry of road and services. Have you been in conversation with him or how is this going?

A: We met Mr Kamal Nath about a couple of weeks ago, talked to him about the product and he appreciated what we can bring to the table. This is one of the unique products where we can bring one of the products which is specifically meant for bitumen modification, helps you lay out roads faster and probably at same or better cost position than some of the competing cost in the market.

Q: So you would be looking at working directly with the government or are you looking at working with private operators who are going to be contracted?

A: We will be working with the private contractors and specially all the contractors who coming up with the BOT projects, many of them are already using our product.

Q: What are the kinds of revenues that you actually see coming in from this side of the business?

A: It is all a build up to various products that go into it. This again will be a market because we share Mr Kamal Nath's vision.

Q: Do you think 20 kilometers a day is a realistic target?

A: We hope he is successful in building the 20 kilometers per day and we will fully support and I actively participate in that.

Q: You have been with DuPont for 18 years. hat has the experience been like for you from Escorts to DuPont it was quite a switch?

A: It has been a great experience. DuPont is a great company to work for. We have been there for 207 years and probably this company has been successful and continues to grow. It is for a couple of reasons, one is the extremely strong core values that we have and it is a company for people. It truly gives you an opportunity for every individual to bring out his true potential. I have got a great innings, I have enjoyed every single day of my 18 years of working. I will continue to contribute as long as I can.

Q: A large part of our responsibility is also actually been dealing with the government and that was part of your portfolio before you actually took over as the President and CEO - how has that really changed your mind over the last 18 years that you have been dealing with the government per se?

A: My experience has been very positive. I have seen when you go to the government with a very clear articulation of what you are trying to tell them and what you are expecting their response has generally been very positive.  You got to take it through the system, to work with the departments and get it done but as we go and meet senior people in the government in the political circles I think the experience has been extremely positive.

Q: So one of the fastest growing markets in India at this point of time is how much will DuPont India will be contributing to DuPont global's revenues?

A: I would say that if you look at the total number you will be somewhere about 11th or the 12th largest in terms for revenue for global DuPont.

Q: Where is China in that scheme of things?

A: China would be about fourth and so are stated mission is to get DuPont India over time in the top five.

Q: In the top five and when do you actually hope to break that top five?

A: I think it will take us about five-six years.

Q: A billion by 2012?

A: No, billion in the next three-four years.