Mukund Rao

Bioenergy, Biofuels, Biobased Chemicals & Materials, Bioplastics, Feedstocks, Biotechnologies

Mukund Rao has been working in Thailand since 1978 and has been involved in setting up three grassroots chemicals projects. He started the oleochemicals industry in Thailand and was the founding Director and then Chairman of the ASEAN Oleochemicals Manufacturers Group. He was then in downstream specialties chemicals for the coatings, plastics, and personal care industries. He joined the KSL Sugar Industry Group in Thailand in 2004 and has been involved in biofuels and bio-based chemicals, bioplastics, and materials since then. He joined BioAmber Inc., USA, and Vinmar International, Inc., USA, for about four years, where he worked on bio-based succinic acid and other renewable chemicals. He advised BBGI Public Company Limited in Thailand, which was created by the merger of the biofuels businesses of Bangchak Corporation and KSL Sugar groups. He has engaged with companies globally doing advanced work in synthetic biology. Mukund Rao was on the Board of Directors of the Thai Bioplastics Industry Association (TBIA) for over ten years. He has wide-ranging experience in chemicals in the Asia Pacific. Mukund Rao holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay (1973) and a master’s degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Science (IIsc), Bangalore (1975).  Contact Mukund.