As part of the restructuring, Bayer India plans to make certain additions to its existing product portfolio. The company is in the process of creating a new business strategy for its consumer care products.

Speaking the The Financial Express, Bayer India chairman and managing director Dieter Kambeck said: "We need to consider more products for the domestic consumer. We are preparing a new business strategy for these products."

Bayer's consumer care business increased its sales by 25 per cent in 1999, over the previous year. Bayer's current portfolio of products in consumer care includes the Baygon brand of mats, aerosols and liquid vapourisers in insect repellents. The household insecticide market - where leading players include Godrej Sara Lee, Reckitt & Colman and Lever Johnson - grew at the rate of nine per cent last year.

Bayer India now plans to foray into the insect repellent coils segment of the insecticide market. The company is also likely to consider more competitive production methods such as outsourcing.

Bayer India has worked out a new business plan, which will be presented to the parent company in January 2001 for ratification. The plans, if approved, will translate into more expenditure on advertising for the new products to be launched.

Bayer India will also submit to its parent company in Germany separate plans for expansion in the polymer and consumer care division, Mr Kambeck said. He said that there are no specific plans for acquisitions in India, but "If conditions are conducive, we can explore such an option."

Mr Kambeck, who is now in charge of Bayer's India operations, seemed to be very positive about the the company's India operations. "A lot of reforms have been undertaken in India and the market conditions are open to provide more flexibility, which will allow us to attract more investments from our parent."

Bayer is preparing its plans to present to the parent company, especially in polymers and consumer care. The company also plans to increase its products in agrochemicals and engineering plastics. Bayer recently entered into a strategic alliance with Supertex Sarex to market textile chemicals in the Indian market. Bayer is eyeing the Rs 720 crore textile chemicals market in India, but is yet to set a sales target on this. The products include chemicals used in the pre-treatment, dyeing auxiliaries, printing and finishing of textiles. The technical expertise by Supertex Sarex and their deep penetration in the Indian market would work to Buyer's advantage.