Surya Inc.’s groundbreaking for a new $33.5 million headquarters in Cartersville this week drew top officials including Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, Indian Consul General Ajit Kumar and Bartow County Commissioner Steve Taylor.
Of course, also on hand was Satya Tiwari, the president who has led Surya’s expansion from a $3 million company a decade ago to $85 million in revenues today.
Totaling 1 million square feet, the first phase of the project will span 500,000 square feet with another expansion planned within three years. The center, which should be completed by next August, will serve as Surya’s headquarters and logistics and distribution center, along with housing its sales and design department.
In the next decade Mr. Tiwari pledged that Surya will be a $1 billion rug and home accessories company.
“I am encouraged by our future, and we have many people and companies who are helping us achieve our dream, from the governor’s office, to state officials, to family members to SunTrust Bank, who gave us a boatload of money,” he said at the opening.
Mr. Deal welcomed Surya, the Tiwari family and the Indian community to Bartow County.
“There are more than 40 Indian companies based in Georgia employing 2,000 Georgians,” said the governor, who was fresh off last month’s groundbreaking for the Indian textile company Shrivallabh Pittie Group‘s $70 million textile plant near Savannah. “Indian-owned firms are among the top five investors in Georgia and one of the top 10 importers. They add a new dynamic to the state.”
Calling Mr. Tiwari a “visionary,” Mr. Taylor was generous with his praise of the company and its leader.
In 2004 Mr. Tiwari joined the rug and home accessory company started by his father.
“I was working for a bank in New York, and my life changed by being an entrepreneur, coming to Georgia. I have really an awesome time running a business with 300-plus employees, plus several thousand that we will add in the next 10 to 12 years. I could not have done that in the service industry. So I’m really fortunate my father started this business. I’m really fortunate that Bartow County and the state of Georgia have accepted us as a great partner.”
Calling himself a “global citizen,” Mr. Tiwari promised that Surya intends to make a strong impact in the area, both economically and socially.
“We will achieve our dreams here and we will help others achieve their dreams, and if we can help in any way, reach out to us. We are a partner in this community and state.”
Read more: Rug, Accents Maker Surya at Home in Georgia
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