Elkem and Borregaard’s offices in India have been amalgamated, and have also moved to a new joint premises in Mumbai that was opened by HRH Crown Prince Haakon on Tuesday the 31 October, 2006.

The inauguration was part of the programme undertaken by the Norwegian trade delegation that visited India at the end of October. Besides the Crown Prince, the delegation comprised the oil and energy minister, Odd Roger Enoksen, and Dag Terje Andersen, the minister of trade and industry. Orkla’s representatives included board chairman Stein Erik Hagen, group president and CEO Dag J. Opedal, and executive vice-president for speciality materials Ole Enger.

Elkem and Borregaard have possessed offices in India since 1987 and 1999 respectively, and in 2005 their combined turnover totalled close to NOK200 million. To some extent, the two companies have products targeting the same customer groups and they will therefore benefit from closer collaboration.

The new company, Elkem Borregaard India, has a dedicated laboratory in Mumbai that focuses on the concrete industry, to which both companies supply products. The new unit has 30 employees.

Group president and CEO of Orkla, Dag J. Opedal, commented at the inauguration of the new office that "by combining our operations in India, Elkem and Borregaard will be well-positioned to exploit synergies and achieve faster growth in India."

Elkem current range of merchandise for the Indian market are alloys for foundry products, microsilica and carbon products, while the main products Borregaard’s produces for India are vanillin flavouring, lignin-based products and fine chemicals for a wide range of industrial applications.