Q. Honeywell has opened its sixth facility in India. Your journey so far?

Our journey in India has been of growth and commitment. India is a high growth geography for us and is a key engine for our global growth. Our great positions in good industries ensure we are operating in sectors that continue to grow faster than GDP. This gives us a strong tailwind for growth across the verticals we touch. We also continue to remain among the top three positions in each of these industries. Both these factors have made it possible for Honeywell India (all four of our global businesses in India) to grow at 20 per cent YOY last year. The growing midsegment, rapid urbanization and infrastructure growth, investments in defence, demand for energy efficiency, safety and security, will ensure we continue to grow across sectors. Despite slowing down, India is positioned to continue to grow much faster than western peers. The Vadodara facility is significant because it marks Honeywell's entry into renewable energy product manufacturing, and is the first such facility in Honeywell globally.

Q. Any interesting/disturbing issues you would like to share with PT on execution of your sixth plant in India.

There have been no disturbing issues but on the contrary we would like to highlight that though the project was initiated in June 2013, the facility was inaugurated in June 2014, which is a commendable achievement for us. As in all Honeywell facilities anywhere in the world, we have followed the most stringent norms in our health, safety and environmental compliances. Note that this is the very first solar water heater manufacturing facility for Honeywell globally. That we chose India over any other manufacturing locations in the world shows our commitment and belief in the region. This is going to be our centre of excellence, specifically focusing on mechanical assembly skills, which is a differentiated talent in the region.

Q. Your insights about Honeywell's initiative in energy conservation?

As a global technology leader, Honeywell is well positioned to help address India's toughest challenges in energy efficiency, clean energy generation, safety and security, globalization and customer productivity. More than 50 per cent of the company's portfolio is linked to energy efficiency. Worldwide, Honeywell's control systems are used in 150 million homes, 10 million buildings and thousands of industrial sites, delivering efficiency and energy savings. Honeywell technology has been used to manage demand response and energy efficiency programs for more than 100 utilities globally. Comprehensively deployed, Honeywell technologies could save 10 to 25% of global energy costs.

Q. Tell us about the future growth and expansion plans of Honeywell India?

We do not make forward looking statements. However, Honeywell is always keen to invest where there is demand. We have made this investment (solar water heater facility) in a market hungry for energy efficient solutions, so we expect demand only to grow. Apart from the Vadodara facility, we will expand our automation facilities in Pune, in 2014.

Q. Do you also believe in "India Growth Story"?

Yes. India is an integral part of Honeywell's global growth strategy. Close to 13,000 employees across India leverage the strength of Honeywell's 1,32,000 global workforce, to deliver innovative technologies to customers and help them improve energy efficiency, safety, security and productivity, which are key imperatives for India. Each of our four businesses - Aerospace, Automation and Control Solutions, Performance Materials and Technologies, and Transportation Systems - has well established operations in India..

• An eight-decade India legacy
• More than $1 billion in domestic sales and exports
• More than 13,000 employees, including 8,000 engineers, across 50 cities
• Six manufacturing locations in Chennai, Dehradun, Gurgaon, Pune and Vadodara
• Five technology and engineering centres in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Madurai and Gurgaon

Q. Your expectations from the new Union Government.

We look to the government for positive steps towards an enabling environment, and the country has to move towards being an early adopter of technology in order to meet its rising needs in energy, safety, security and productivity.