Carborundum Universal Ltd (CUMI) a flagship company of the prestigious Murugappa group from India, will commence its Middle East operations from Ras Al Khaimah Free Trade Zone, the company said.

The Murugappa Group is a 100-year-old establishment and has 29 companies under its umbrella with a total staff of 28,000 employees.  The headquarters of this $1.5 billion conglomerate is in Chennai, Southern India, and its entry into Ras Al Khaimah will be its first presence in the Middle East.
CUMI is India’s largest manufacturer of bonded abrasives with a strong presence in the US, Europe, Japan, Australia and Africa.  The group is a market leader in India not only in abrasives but also ceramic/sanitary ware, engineering, fertilisers and banking.
Sheikh Faisal Bin Saqr Al Qassimi, chairman of RAK Free Trade Zone, handed over the company licence to Murugappan, chairman of CUMI and a director of Murugappa Group, at a ceremony held at the Tower Links Golf Club in Ras Al Khaimah.
Receiving the licence, Murugappan said his establishment had chosen RAK Free Trade Zone because of its potential and also because it was professionally managed and friendly to industry.
In course of time, the group would consider possibilities for expanding its activities in the free zone, he said.
Welcoming the Murugappa Group, Sheikh Faisal said he was glad to welcome such a flagship company to the free zone and hoped more brands would follow.
Kishore, the vice president of CUMI, said his group was a global player and needed a base in the Middle East. It selected Ras Al Khaimah because of its strategic location and “unparalleled advantages” for growth.
Oussama El Omari, CEO and director general of the Free Zone Authority, was present at the event.
The Murugappa Corporate Board (MCB) headed by PS Pai, the executive chairman, governs the Murugappa Group, which has a well-established reputation gained through the diverse range of companies under its umbrella. These include Wendt India Ltd, Tube Investments of India, EID Parry, Coromandel Fertiliser, Godavari Fertilisers and Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Limited.
RAK Free Trade Zone has more than 1,400 companies from across the globe. It is going through hectic infrastructural development in its business, industrial and technology parks.