Staff Report

Dubai – Kent RO Systems Limited, India’s leading Reverse Osmosis (RO) water purifier brand, on Wednesday announced its expansion into the GCC market.
The brand’s wide range of household appliances will be available at LuLu Hypermarkets. The company has joined hands with UAE’s Sands International for the distribution of its products across the GCC.
The move is a part of the company’s broader expansion plans into the Middle East and North Africa in the next few years. Recent research indicates that the region`s demand for water purifiers is growing at more than 7 per cent per annum and the market could reach nearly half a billion dollars by 2020.
The company manufactures a wide range of water and air purifiers apart from cooking appliances and vacuum cleaners and has cemented its position as the single largest player in the RO (reverse osmosis) market in India.
Speaking at the launch event in Dubai, Varun Gupta – Director, Kent RO System Limited, said that Kent RO is synonymous with purest and tastiest water in India, and now with the launch of Kent RO Water Purifiers in the UAE, the consumers here can purify their tap water to better than bottled quality water at the press of a button.
“…. Kent RO Mineral RO Water Purifiers are compact and convenient and purify tap water to better than bottled water quality, at a very low cost.” Besides being economical and convenient, purifying tap water at home using Kent RO Water Purifiers, is much safer as compared to bottled water, and is tasty also.”
Commenting on the expansion plans, Gupta said, “There has been a growing demand for effective and affordable water purifying solutions in the region. We plan to utilise our expertise and market experience in India to cater to the growing demands of households in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the rest of the region.”
According to a recent research report by Future Market Insights (FMI), the Point of Use (POU) water purifier market in the Middle East and North Africa is expected to reach $471 million by 2020, driven by strong demand in Saudi Arabia, UAE and other urban markets.
The report also indicates that in UAE alone POU water purifier market is anticipated to reach around 149,000 units by 2020, growing at 10 per cent annually.
In line with its global expansion plans, Kent is expanding its facilities to cater to the growing demand. Its three facilities in India can currently produce about 500,000 units per year. It is in the process of building a fourth manufacturing unit near Delhi with an investment of $15.5 million.
“We have been steadily expanding into the international markets. Kent’s association with Sands International and LuLu Hypermarkets will kick-start a new business era for us in the GCC market,” he added.
Sands International has created a multi-brand distribution network across the GCC and deals with a varied portfolio of products ranging from home appliances to consumer electronics and IT.
Probir Mukherjee, Business Leader of Sands International, said, “The region offers immense potential for products such as water and air purifiers, especially when the brand assures uncompromised quality. Kent RO today holds 40 per cent of the market share within the segment in India and we will work towards achieving a similar result in the GCC market.”
“We are committed to offer the same quality and service standards to our customers in the Gulf region as the brand provides in other global markets. We have been looking to aggressively expand our business in the region and partnering with Kent RO Systems is a significant step in that direction,” Mukherjee added.

abdulbasit@theuaenews.com