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.

-Ends-

About Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB)
The Bahrain EDB is a dynamic public agency with overall responsibility for attracting investment into the Kingdom and supporting initiatives that enhance the investment climate.

The EDB works with the government and both current and prospective investors to ensure that Bahrain's investment climate is attractive, to communicate the key strengths, and to identify where opportunities exist for further economic growth through investment.

The EDB focuses on several economic sectors that capitalise on Bahrain's competitive advantages. These sectors include financial services, manufacturing, ICT, tourism, logistics and transport.

For more information on the Bahrain EDB visit www.bahrainedb.com; for information about Bahrain visit www.bahrain.com.

Contact:
May Taher, Bahrain Economic Development Board
Tel: +973 17 589 972
Email: internationalmedia@bahrainedb.com

About Ion Exchange (India) Limited
Ion Exchange (India) Limited pioneered water treatment in India and today is regarded as Asia's largest environment solutions provider, with a strong global presence with offices spread across Africa, Canada, Middle East, South East Asia and US. It is among just few companies worldwide with the entire range of technologies, processes, products and services, enabling integrated solutions for every sector - industrial, institutional, commercial, infrastructure, municipal, homes and communities, urban and rural. 

Specialists in water and waste water treatment for over 50 years, the company's total water management solutions span the entire water cycle -  drinking water purification, pre-treatment, process water, waste water/sewage treatment and recycle with point-of-use, packaged, pre-engineered and custom-built plants; a wide range of drinking water purifiers and water conditioners for the household and institutional segments.  The company also manufactures ion exchange and speciality resins, membranes, polyelectrolytes, boiler/cooling water & fireside chemicals and process chemicals for sugar and paper production. Ion Exchange also offers technologies in liquid waste treatment, solid waste management and waste-to-energy thus providing a complete portfolio of advanced environmental solutions.

It has more than 1,00,000 plants worldwide including over 1,000 major installations at core sectors such as thermal & nuclear, fertiliser and refineries, as well as chemical, automobile, electronics, paper, food & beverage, pharmaceutical and textile industries.

Ion Exchange has state-of-the-art units spread across India and in UAE, committed to built-in quality achieved by quality assurance systems (9001, 14001 and 18001) and advanced manufacturing processes. The UAE plant manufactures reverse osmosis as well as packaged sewage treatment plants and serves as a manufacturing hub for export to countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Our list of EPC contractors include Kawasaki Heavy Industries - Japan, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries - Japan, Technip - France, Alstom - UK, Marubeni Power Systems - Japan, etc.

The company has in-house R&D, product application and testing centres with numerous patents to their credit and over a hundred products commercialized. The company also provides comprehensive technical services including pilot plant & feasibility studies, operator training, upgrading & automation, AMC, O&M, BOO/T options, and consultancy.

50 years of proven expertise has earned the company a reputation for customer satisfaction, innovative, value-adding solutions, superior quality, absolute dependability & total service support. 

Contact:
Mr. Rajesh John
Regional Manager - Bahrain
Tel: +97333459898
E-mail: rajesh.john@ionexchangeglobal.com; iei.bahrain@ionexchangeglobal.com
Website: www.ionindia.com

© Press Release 2016