Career
After returning to India in 1965, Birla struck out on his own in textiles. His Eastern Spinning Mills in Kolkata quickly became a success, putting the group's sinking rayon and textile business back on track. He was then placed in charge of the corporation's expansion into the oil sector. It was also the time that Indira Gandhi was consolidating her hold on the Congress Party with a series of populist moves-nationalizing banks and enacting draconian controls on private investment. Her socialist ideas clearly dampened his attempt to expand, to build world size-plants, to bring in world-class technology, or even modernize old plants. Having turned around Indian rayon, he now hungered around bigger challenges. His thoughts tuned eastward.
In 1969, Birla set up Indo-Thai Synthetics Company Ltd, the group's first overseas company. In 1973, he established P.T. Elegant Textiles to manufacture spun yarn. It marked the group's first venture in Indonesia. In 1974 Thai Rayon, the Group's Viscose Rayon Staple Fibre business was incorporated in Thailand. In 1975 The Indo Phil Group of companies, the first Indo-Filipino joint venture commenced production of spun yarn. In 1977 Pan Century Edible Oils was incorporated in Malaysia, going on to become the world's largest single-location palm oil refinery. In 1978 Thai Carbon Black, the Group's first carbon black company was incorporated in Thailand. In 1982 P.T Indo Bharat Rayon was established, the first producer of Viscose Staple Fibre in Indonesia. All these ventures not only put the Birla group on world map but also carved a niche for corporate India.
Under his leadership the companies became the largest producer of Viscose staple fibre and refiner of palm oil.
Ghanshyam Das Birla died in 1983, bequeathing most of his companies to his grandson Aditya. With Aditya Vikram Birla as the chairman, the Birla group of companies saw success in the expansion of Hindustan Gas and in the conversion of the sick company. Indo-Gulf Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd, which was suffering from a liquidity crisis117.196.244.37 (talk) 12:53, 15 February 2013 (UTC), into a blue-chip company.
Read more about this topic: Aditya Vikram Birla
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