I think India is one of the most exciting markets and we are optimistic about the long term value of investing in the country, says Tan Sri Dato Seri Vincent Tan. As chairman and chief executive officer of the $2 billion Berjaya Group Berhad, one of Malaysias top five conglomerates, he is spearheading the groups foray into a number of sectors in India.
The groups elaborate investment plans are to be channelled through a holding company that will cover areas as diverse as direct marketing of consumer goods, setting up fast food chains to investing in infrastructure like roads and telecom. Apart from this, Berjaya is eyeing opportunities in real estate in Delhi and Mumbai, but Vincent Tan is unwilling to discuss these plans in detail right now.
At the moment we are exploring a number of areas in which we would like to invest. We are keen to penetrate the consumer products market and also get into infrastructure projects like roads, he says. In the Malaysian language, the word Berjaya means success and we like to be successful in each of our ventures, adds the soft-spoken chief of the Berjaya group.
Tan was in Delhi to attend a ceremony at Berjaya House, the 10-storeyed commercial property that the group is building in the capital at a cost of $20 million. The property is likely to be ready by June 1998. The ceremony was held essentially to celebrate the completion of the most difficult part of the construction of the building.
At present, the groups only other interest in India is a 40 per cent stake in the Kishkinta Theme park in Chennai.
Business apart, Tan has another connection with India. The deeply religious entrepreneur is a disciple of the controversial Sai Baba..
The Berjaya Group has well diversified interests ranging from financial services, hotels, restaurants, theme parks and resorts to gaming and entertainment and fast food outlets and has activities in almost as many countriesoutside Malaysia. So predictably, perhaps, Vincent Tans disparate business activities leave him little free time. When he does get the time, he likes to spend his leisure hours snorkeling and scuba diving.
