St. Mary’s Rubbers Scales Up with Government Support, Generates 1,000+ Jobs, Exports Overseas

KOTTAYAM: Information shared by Kerala Industries Minister P Rajeev on his official Facebook page highlights the role of St. Mary’s Rubbers, a surgical glove manufacturing unit in Kottayam, during the COVID-19 pandemic. When surgical gloves were in critical shortage both in India and abroad, the company received special permission from the Kerala government to operate under relaxed regulations, enabling it to meet domestic demand and supply gloves internationally.

Government support went beyond regulatory approval. Kochi airport was opened specifically to facilitate exports, allowing St. Mary’s Rubbers to send its products to over 70 countries. The unit also provides direct and indirect employment to more than 1,000 people, becoming a vital source of livelihood during the pandemic.

Using advanced technology, the company produces around 600,000 gloves daily. Its “Medi Smart” gloves are widely available in hospitals and medical stores across the country.

To further enhance capacity, St. Mary’s Rubbers has been included in the state industrial department’s “Mission 1000” Scale-Up Assistance programme and received approval from the state-level committee. A new expansion project, launched in January 2025 with an investment of around 20 crore rupees, involves installing an automated glove-dipping line and allied machinery. The project aims to boost production, enhance competitiveness in domestic and export markets, and is expected to be completed within three months.