MAKING A SUSTAINABLE DIFFERENCE

Riju Jhunjhunwala, Chairman and Managing Director, RSWM Limited, is on a mission. This businessman, entrepreneur and one of India’s youngest regional Presidents of Entrepreneurs' Organisation, seeks to do things responsibly and sustainably.

- Benaifer J. Mirza

RIJU JHUNJUHUNWALA, CHAIRMAN AND Managing Director, Rajasthan Spinning & Weaving Mills (RSWM) Limited—the textile vertical of LNJ Bhilwara business conglomerate—feels fortunate to have been born and raised in a humble Marwari family. He studied at Don Bosco School, New Delhi, and pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Bradford, England. In 1999, he joined RSWM as a management trainee.

Jhunjhunwala is also the Managing Director of Bhilwara Energy Limited (BEL), and Vice Chairman of HEG (Hindustan Electro-Graphites Limited). Bhilwara Energy Limited is the conglomerate's power generation vertical, which caters to energy generation from green energy sources. Having joined BEL, he saw an opportunity in the areas of solar and wind power. Today, the company generates 300+ MW of green energy. HEG Limited is the world’s largest single-site graphite electrode plant spread over 170 acres, with an annual processing capacity of 80,000 MT.

Reels and responsibilities

Speaking about the phenomenal growth achieved by RSWM under his leadership, Jhunjhunwala says, “Starting out as a trainee gave me exposure to finance, operations, exports and marketing. I was fortunate to have learned from the absolute best.” He continues, “We started with 12,000 spindles. Currently, we have ten manufacturing facilities in Rajasthan with 4,78,000 spindles and 136 looms, producing cotton, mélange, synthetic, sustainable and novelty yarns, as well as denim and knitted fabrics, and exporting to 78 countries worldwide.”