Daijiworld Media Network - Davos

Davos, Jan 20: Global fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) major Unilever has expressed openness to setting up its Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Hyderabad, following high-level discussions with Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos.

Leading the ‘Telangana Rising’ delegation, the Chief Minister met Willem Uijen, Chief Supply Chain and Operations Officer of Unilever, on Tuesday. During the meeting, Reddy pitched Hyderabad as an ideal destination for Unilever’s GCC, highlighting the city’s rapid transformation into a global hub for capability centres.

According to officials, Uijen indicated that Unilever would be keen to explore the possibility of establishing its GCC in Hyderabad.

IT and Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu, who was part of the delegation, pointed out that Hyderabad already hosts GCCs of several global corporations, including McDonald’s, Heineken and Costco. He further underlined Telangana’s strengths such as policy continuity, fast-track approvals and business-friendly licensing processes.

The Telangana Rising delegation, which also included Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, urged Unilever to consider setting up FMCG manufacturing units in the state’s industrial parks.
“Unilever is a prized partner of Telangana,” Sridhar Babu said.

The delegation also briefed Unilever’s leadership on Telangana’s initiatives in renewable energy, water stewardship and the circular economy, noting that these efforts align closely with Unilever’s commitments towards climate action, water positivity and plastic reduction.