India becoming key export hub for Carrier thanks to port advantage: CEO Gitlin

Carrier Global is positioning India as a key export hub, leveraging strong port connectivity and a growing supplier ecosystem, Chairman and CEO David Gitlin told CNBC-TV18.

The company is investing $100 million in a new manufacturing facility in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh, which is expected to serve both domestic and international markets. Gitlin said the plant will play a central role in exports to Africa and the Middle East.

“We not only plan to have the facility for the capacity that we need here in India, but we plan to export to Africa, parts of the Middle East, and then we’ll see where it goes from there,” he said.

A key factor behind the decision is Sri City’s proximity to multiple ports, enabling efficient logistics for global shipments. Gitlin noted that the location offers access to five ports within a 100-kilometre radius, making it ideal for export-oriented manufacturing.

The company also plans to build a large supplier base around the facility. From about 200 suppliers currently supporting its Gurgaon operations, Carrier expects to scale this to three to four times that number in Sri City.

“We’re going to surround it with a complete supply chain ecosystem… it will be a complete community of suppliers,” Gitlin said.

This localisation strategy is aimed at improving efficiency, reducing costs and strengthening resilience, while supporting India’s role in Carrier’s global manufacturing network.

India’s rapid growth has further reinforced its importance. Gitlin said the company has been expanding steadily in the country, supported by strong demand across residential and commercial cooling segments.

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Carrier Global, which generates about $22 billion in annual revenue and operates in 160 countries, is increasingly shifting focus towards India amid challenges in other markets such as China.

The Sri City plant, whose foundation stone was laid by Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh, is expected to generate around 3,000 jobs and become a critical node in Carrier’s global supply chain.

As global companies look to diversify manufacturing and build resilient supply chains, Gitlin indicated that India’s infrastructure and logistics advantages are making it an increasingly attractive export base.