Yoga guru Ramdev-owned Patanjali group is all set to explore international markets with its FMCG products and may also enter Pakistan and Afghanistan in future.
“We have already set up our units in Nepal and Bangladesh and our products have reached the Middle East and became popular in some of the countries, including Saudi Arabia,” Baba Ramdev told reporters in Nagpur.
“We should be concentrating in poor countries as the profits from those countries will be utilised for development work there itself.
“The entry to Pakistan and Afghanistan will mostly depend on the prevailing political situation, and if the situation is politically conducive, units will be set up there,” he said.
He said their company products are reaching right up to Canada.
Patanjali has already entered Azerbaijan which has 90 per cent Muslim population, he said claiming that a top industrialist there has shown interest in his products.
Ramdev said Patanjali will also venture into garments area and a ‘swadeshi jeans’ will be launched by end of the year or early next year.
There is a great demand from youths, and therefore Patanjali has decided to launch the Indianised jeans to compete with foreign brands, he said.
The company’s refined edible oil will also be launched this year, he added.
On expansion, Ramdev said Patanjali will be setting up its biggest unit on a 40-lakh sqft at Mihan in Nagpur, which will be bigger than its first unit at Haridwar and biggest in the country.
The total investment in the city will be to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore with a potential of providing employment opportunities to 10,000 to 15,000 youths from Maharashtra.
An export unit in the adjoining SEZ will be set up as Nagpur provides better connectivity, he said.
Patanjali is in the process of setting up big units in Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Karnataka, besides establishing subsidiary units in a number of places, as part of supply chain.
“Our target is Rs 50 lakh crore in the FMCG segment,” Ramdev said.
He added Patanjali is committed to produce quality products and has set up research and development units where about 200 scientists work, which has forced multinational companies to come out with their R&D plans.
Twitter users appeared to be amused with the idea of Baba Ramdev venturing in garments sector. Here are some of the reactions:
The Brand Name of 'Swadesi Jeans' by Baba Ramdev would be 'Dhotee'
— Maruti Jha (@MarutiJha) September 11, 2016
Baba Ramdev to start manufacturing jeans and office wear apparel. Dear Ramdev, salwar kameez saved your life at Ramlila maidan & not jeans.
— • (@Gutkha_Mukesh) September 11, 2016
Baba Ramdev's #Patanjali to launch sanskari jeans. Skin show or no skin show – tight design choice will be shunned by default.
— Debarati (@debarati_m) September 11, 2016
As Baba Ramdev is all set to launch " Swadeshi Jeans " , here is an exclusive pic of a Patanjali model ..? pic.twitter.com/QAqV7Huxsv
— Trump Yuva Vahini ? (@trumpYuvaVahini) September 11, 2016
Great! Baba #Ramdev is all set 2 launch his desi jeans but in case of an emergency escape only a salwar will come to his rescue #Patanjali
— Ranveer Singh Dalal (@ranveersd) September 11, 2016
How come it doesn't have an image of cow on it?? Patanjli Jeans By Baba Ramdev pic.twitter.com/IQ1vIkCncl
— Ch. Bhakt (@Officialbhakt) September 11, 2016