Section 34
Aditya Vikram Birla
Took Indian manufacturing abroad in 1969, starting with a yarn mill in Thailand. (Aditya Birla Group)
- life
- 1943–1995
- era
- 1947 to 1991
- 12,768
- Spindles at Indo Thai Synthetics' start · 1969
- ₹8,000 crore
- Revenue of his companies at his death (over) · 1995
The story
Aditya Vikram Birla was the grandson of G D Birla. In 1969, long before India opened up, he set up Indo Thai Synthetics in Thailand, the group's first overseas venture. The Aditya Birla Group calls him the first Indian industrialist to go abroad through a spinning unit there.
Indo Thai began with 12,768 spindles. It grew into Thailand's leading synthetic yarn spinner and its biggest exporter of synthetic yarn, with a 50% share of exports.
He followed with more plants in South East Asia, including Thai Rayon (1974). At his death the companies he controlled had over Rs 8,000 crore in revenue, 55 plants and 75,000 employees.
He died on 1 October 1995, aged 51. His son Kumar Mangalam Birla took over.
Timeline
- 1969Sets up Indo Thai Synthetics in Thailand.
- 1974Thai Rayon is incorporated.
- 1984Thai Rayon lists on the Thailand stock exchange.
- 1995Dies on 1 October; Kumar Mangalam Birla takes over.
- 2019The group marks 50 years in Thailand.