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AV group to celebrate diamond anniversary of parent company in presence of Indian Consul General

AV Group is hosting Apoorva Srivistava, India’s Consul General in Toronto during the 75th-anniversary celebrations of its parent company, Grasim Industries Limited. Srivastava will visit the group’s Nackawic facility on Sept. 15.

Grasim, a part of the Aditya Birla Group, acquired pulp mills in Atholville in 1997. In 2006, the company acquired the Ste-Anne and Nackawic mill. These mills were converted to dissolving pulp facilities.

Reflecting on the company’s storied history, Birla chairman, Kumar Mangalam Birla said, “As we commemorate this incredible landmark, my thoughts hark back to the heady days of Indian Independence. The days that defined the purpose of our company. In fact, our company was incorporated just 10 days after India’s Independence and is very much an integral part of the nation-building process. Grasim’s launch not only embodied the spirit of Indian entrepreneurship but also captured the dreams and aspirations of a young nation.”

“New Brunswick’s India connection has been an understated success story,” said AV Group president and CEO Mike O’Blenis. “The acquisition and conversion of the Nackawic and Atholville mills secured over 1500 jobs in those communities and has resulted in over $400 million in capital investment. Grasim supplies fabric to many high end, internationally recognized brands that market their clothing as derived from sustainably sourced materials.  It surprises people to know that the shirt on their back was once a tree from New Brunswick so it’s important that we continue to manage responsibly so that we can continue to supply responsibly for the next seventy-five years.”

AV Group has planned a tree planting ceremony at its corporate office in Fredericton on Sept. 15 at 11:30 am to celebrate the anniversary.