BUILDING SUSTAINABLE BUSINESSES FIT FOR A SUSTAINABLE WORLD 4 Introduction From humble beginnings in Rajasthan in the 1800s, a global conglomerate was born. Today, with Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla at the helm, we are recognised as a world-leading conglomerate and sector leaders in our industries with close to 120,000 colleagues and over 250 sites globally. Our revenues today are over US$44 billion. Here we outline the story so far. 1919 Founding father, Mr. Ghanshyamdas Birla, set up industries in critical sectors such as textiles and fibre, aluminium, cement, and chemicals. Rapid business expansion followed. 1958 Hindalco is incorporated. It begins aluminium production in 1962 in Renukoot, UP. 1973-84 The Group establishes itself in South East Asia with operations in Indonesia (P.T. Elegant Textiles), Philippines (Indo Phil Group of Co.), Malaysia (Pan Century Edible Oils) and Thailand (Thai Carbon Black, Thai Polyphosphates & Chemicals). P.T. Indo Bharat Rayon is established as the first producer of viscose staple fibre in Indonesia. 1995 The Group enters the telecommunications sector with a JV with AT&T USA. 1996 All Group companies are consolidated under the umbrella of the Aditya Birla Group, led by Mr. Kumar Mangalam Birla. 1947 Grasim is incorporated and begins operations with a small rayon weaving unit at Gwalior, MP. 1994 Alexandria Carbon Black, a JV with the Egyptian Government is established. 1857 In the small village Pilani, Rajasthan, Seth Shiv Narayan Birla started trading in cotton, laying the foundation for the House of Birla. This is our history. 1969 Mr. Aditya Vikram Birla, the Group’s leader and grandson of Ghanshyamdas Birla begins aspirations of a global business empire and at the age of 24, sets up the Indo Thai Synthetics Co. Ltd – the Group’s first overseas venture. // OUR GROUP HISTORY 1857