Samir S. Somaiya, Chairman and Managing Director, Godavari Biorefineries, has taken over as President of Indian Chemical Council (ICC). He succeeds Ramya Bharathram, Managing Director and CFO, Thirumalai Chemicals who was elected as the first female President of ICC in 2025. 

Somaiya, who previously served as Vice President of ICC, brings extensive experience across renewable chemicals, biofuels, and manufacturing. He also serves as Chancellor, Somaiya Vidyavihar University and has been involved in initiatives spanning industry, education, research, and innovation.

Speaking exclusively to Indian Chemical News, Samir Somaiya said the growing importance of chemicals across sectors presents a significant opportunity for India.

“Chemicals are a fundamental part of all our lives, both visible and invisible. From morning when we wake up, when we brush our teeth, till when we go to bed, chemicals are everywhere and India's growth story is unstoppable,” said Somaiya.

“As India grows, chemical consumption in the country will also grow, whether it's in coatings, construction, pharmaceuticals, or agrochemicals. We think it's a great opportunity for India to rise to the occasion in partnership with policy to see how we can be part of India's growth story. And also the world is looking at India as a manufacturing destination,” he added.

After taking charge as President, Somaiya described the current period as an extraordinary moment for the Indian chemical industry. He highlighted growing global interest in where products are manufactured and which countries are trusted as manufacturing partners.

“This is an extraordinary moment for the Indian chemical industry. The world is thinking about where it manufactures, who it trusts to manufacture, and India now has a right to be in that conversation not by accident but because of the kind of work we have celebrated,” Somaiya said.

Somaiya pointed to indigenous technology, process engineering, safety, and environmental performance as areas where Indian companies are increasingly demonstrating global capabilities. According to him, the opportunity extends beyond serving India’s growing domestic consumption to positioning the country as a manufacturing powerhouse for global markets.

“We can provide US$ 1 trillion of consumption to our country by seizing this opportunity and also by being a manufacturing powerhouse for the world. I believe our job as a council is to make excellence less exceptional,” he said.

Somaiya said the ICC would need to focus on disseminating best practices across the industry, particularly by improving knowledge sharing and strengthening links between academia and industry.

“To take what the best companies in this already know how to do, make it the medium, not the outlier. That means a council has to work harder at knowledge sharing, bringing academia and industry closer together,” he said.

Newly elected ICC President also stressed the importance of ensuring that smaller and mid-sized chemical companies have access to the same knowledge and good practices available to larger players.

“None of this happens to one person or even to one executive committee. It happens because member companies will show up, compete honestly for these awards and then go back to their plants and try to do better next year. That's the real engine of this council,” he said.

Somaiya is expected to focus the ICC’s efforts on policy advocacy, technology and innovation, sustainability, safety, knowledge sharing, and enhancing the competitiveness of Indian chemical manufacturers.

"The council’s collective effort will be critical to ensuring that India’s chemical industry can play a larger role in the country’s growth story and in global manufacturing," concluded Somaiya while thanking the ICC and its members for entrusting him with the responsibility.