Samir Somaiya took charge as president of the Indian Chemical Council (ICC) at a crucial time for India’s chemical industry. The sector is balancing rising domestic demand and export opportunities with increasing expectations around safety, sustainability and manufacturing standards. Somaiya, a veteran of the chemicals, biofuels and education sectors, will lead the industry body as Indian chemical manufacturers seek to expand their global presence and strengthen India’s position as a major manufacturing hub.
Samir Somaiya Succeeds Ramya Bharathram
Somaiya, chairman and managing director of Godavari Biorefineries, previously served as vice president of the Indian Chemical Council. He succeeds Ramya Bharathram, managing director and chief financial officer of Thirumalai Chemicals, who became the first woman to lead the council in 2025. The leadership transition comes as the chemical industry takes on a larger role in India’s manufacturing and economic growth. Chemical products and intermediates support a wide range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, coatings, construction and agrochemicals. Consequently, the ICC has an important role in representing the sector while promoting competitiveness, responsible manufacturing and industry-wide collaboration.
India Eyes Larger Role in Global Chemical Manufacturing
Somaiya has highlighted the growing importance of chemicals in everyday life and industrial development. He expects demand for chemical products to increase alongside India’s economic expansion, particularly across pharmaceuticals, construction, coatings and agrochemicals. At the same time, changing global supply chains are creating new opportunities for Indian manufacturers. Companies and governments are increasingly evaluating supply-chain resilience, manufacturing locations and the reliability of suppliers. Against this backdrop, Somaiya believes India can compete on more than production scale. Strong manufacturing capabilities, quality standards and credibility can help the country become a preferred global production base. He has also pointed to the potential for India to support significant domestic consumption while developing its capabilities as a manufacturing base for international markets.
ICC Focuses on Sharing Industry Best Practices
Knowledge sharing will form an important part of Somaiya’s agenda at the Indian Chemical Council. Rather than limiting best practices to leading companies, he has called for greater dissemination of expertise across the industry. This includes sharing knowledge in areas such as process engineering, industrial safety, environmental performance and technology adoption. Wider access to proven practices could help companies improve productivity while strengthening operational and safety standards. The approach could particularly benefit small and mid-sized chemical manufacturers. While larger companies often have access to advanced technologies and specialist teams, smaller businesses can face challenges in adopting global standards. Therefore, spreading best practices across the industry could help raise overall competitiveness and narrow the gap between companies of different sizes.
Stronger Industry-Academia Collaboration
Somaiya has also emphasised the need for closer collaboration between industry and academic institutions. Stronger partnerships could help align research, technical education and industrial requirements. For the chemical industry, this connection is increasingly important. Manufacturers need skilled professionals, process innovation and technical expertise to address evolving regulatory and sustainability requirements. By bringing companies and universities closer together, the council can help create a stronger talent pipeline while encouraging research that addresses real-world industrial challenges.
Sustainability and Safety Gain Greater Focus
Somaiya is expected to focus on policy advocacy, innovation, sustainability and safety during his tenure. These priorities reflect some of the industry’s biggest challenges as Indian chemical manufacturers expand their domestic and international operations. Global customers are increasingly examining how products are manufactured, including their environmental impact, safety performance and supply-chain practices. At the same time, Indian policymakers view manufacturing as an important driver of employment, exports and industrial resilience. As a result, the chemical industry must pursue growth while maintaining high standards for safety, environmental performance and responsible manufacturing.
Building a More Competitive Indian Chemical Industry
As reported by etchemicals.in, Somaiya’s leadership comes at a time when Indian chemical manufacturers are seeking to strengthen their position with global customers and policymakers. If the industry combines manufacturing scale, cleaner technologies, stronger safety practices and closer research partnerships, India could further strengthen its position in global chemical supply chains. His appointment therefore represents more than a routine leadership change. It signals a broader push to make India’s chemical industry more competitive, collaborative, sustainable and globally relevant. The next challenge will be to turn this vision into measurable improvements for chemical manufacturers, suppliers and the wider industrial ecosystem.
