About Vijay P. Karia: The Man. The Grid. The Legacy.

 



Early Life & Education

Born in 1958 into a business family in Mumbai, Vijay P. Karia was exposed early to the world of trade and entrepreneurship. His father’s electrical‐goods trading enterprise taught him the fundamentals of supply chains, vendor relationships, and customer expectations. Excelling in school, he pursued a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering at the University of Mumbai, graduating with honors. Driven by a desire to merge technical know-how with strategic leadership, he later earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management from a premier Mumbai institute.

Career Beginnings

Upon completing his management studies in the mid-1980s, Karia joined his family’s trading firm as an operations manager. He rapidly identified a critical gap: India’s burgeoning infrastructure needed reliable, high-quality power cables, yet most domestically produced products suffered from inconsistent standards. In 1988, he convinced senior stakeholders to invest in a pilot extrusion line, marking Ravin’s first step toward in-house cable manufacturing.

Global Expansion & JV in Fujairah

By 2005, under Karia’s visionary leadership, the Ravin Group launched its flagship manufacturing facility in Maharashtra. Recognizing the potential of Gulf markets, he spearheaded negotiations with the Government of Fujairah and royal patrons to set up a joint-venture plant in the UAE. In 2010, Ravin Fujairah became the first overseas cable-manufacturing facility by an Indian company. This strategic move granted Ravin duty-free access to GCC markets, enabling exports to over 20 countries and elevating India’s “Brand Cable” on the international stage.

Industry Leadership & IEEMA

Karia’s impact extends beyond corporate operations into industry governance. Since 2004, he has served on the Executive Council of the Indian Electrical & Electronics Manufacturers’ Association (IEEMA). As Chairman of IEEMA’s Cable Division (2004–2012), he chaired nationwide safety and quality-awareness drives, organized the industry’s largest technical conclaves, and authored best-practice guidelines now used by utilities across India. His counsel also guides the Economic Times Power and Infrastructure Advisory Boards, where he shapes policy dialogues on grid modernization and renewable integration.

Innovation in Cable Technology

Under Karia’s stewardship, Ravin introduced cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation at PVC-cable pricing—a disruptive innovation that cut transmission losses by up to 15% for utilities. He championed collaborations with research institutes to refine conductor alloys and accelerate R&D cycles. His emphasis on continuous improvement earned Ravin multiple “Best Innovation” awards at Elecrama expos and inspired competitors to elevate quality benchmarks.

Key Initiatives: Will to Skill & Power-Theft Drive

Karia believes industry leaders must give back. In 2016, he launched the “Will to Skill” campaign with the National Skill Development Corporation and Zee Media, training over 5,000 under-employed youth in cable‐trades, safety protocols, and job readiness. Simultaneously, partnering with IEEMA volunteers, he spearheaded a citizen-driven power-theft awareness initiative that empowered communities to report illegal connections—recovering over ₹50 crore in lost revenue in its first year.

Thought Leadership & Global Forums

A sought-after keynote speaker, Karia has addressed the Dubai Global Convention of the Institute of Directors (2016), the ET Power Focus Summit (2015–2016), and the Horasis India Meeting in Interlaken, Switzerland (2015). Selected for India’s official delegation to Hannover Messe 2015, he showcased “Brand India” technologies alongside government ministers. His thought pieces appear regularly in leading trade journals, where he advocates for smart-grid adoption, EV charging infrastructure, and green manufacturing.

Awards & Recognitions

Over his four-decade career, Karia’s achievements have earned prestigious honors:

  • India’s Most Inspiring Entrepreneur, The Economic Times

  • Top 50 Entrepreneurs in India, ET Today

  • Distinguished Fellow, Institute of Directors

  • Prime Minister’s Official Delegate, Hannover Messe 2015

Future Vision & Green-Energy Focus

Looking ahead, Karia is channeling investment into sustainable-energy cables for solar farms, wind-turbine interconnections, and electric-vehicle charging networks. He envisions Ravin leading India’s net-zero transition by offering eco-friendly compounds, recyclable sheathing, and digital-ready conductors. As the world pivots to decarbonization, his strategic foresight aims to secure Ravin’s legacy as a global “green cables” pioneer.



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