Talking to SMEs

I first learned about Thakral when I was still living and working in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnan. So, when Sheila Rada of Dominguez Marketing Communications mentioned about the “Thakral Group 2010 Kick-off” media event, memories of Vietnam flashed into my mind.

Although, we didn’t win the pitch for their business (Seiko watches) in Vietnam, it was a learning experience for me. In fact, every new business pitch is a learning experience as one gets to know about brands and business sectors.

Last Tuesday night, at Cyma Restaurant, in the heart of Greenbelt, again, I got to learn about Thakral’s new capital investments and focus on SMEs. The Thakral Group wouldn’t be the first or last company to focus or work with SMEs. So, how will Thakral work with Filipino SMEs?

“We want to focus on the dynamic SME market to help them be more competitive and efficient with our best-of-breed products and value-added services offerings,” explains, Bikram Singh Thakral. He says he is part of the 4th generation from the Thakral family.

The Thakral Group is a $1.5 billion company! I never really realized Thakral was that big! In Vietnam, I knew them as a the exclusive distributor of Seiko and Rado watches. I remember when I visited their office along Dong Khoi Street, the ground floor was a showroom for watches while the marketing team occupied the second floor.

Today the Thakral Group operates in close to 35 countries, and employs in excess of 10,000 people worldwide. It has business interests in distribution of IT products, provision of value-added IT services, Retail, Real Estate, Textile & Manufacturing.

It started its operations in 1997 with its current flagship company Technopaq Philippines. The company has achieved great success in the Philippines where they formed strategic partnerships with some of today’s IT giants such as IBM, Microsoft and Oracle.

“We have Filipino managers working for us in Vietnam,” says Thakral. I wouldn’t be surprised as the Filipino expat community in Saigon is a growing community.

“Thakral Group recognizes the world-class talents of Filipinos and the advantages of making them part of the organization — not only here in the Philippines but also in our operations overseas,” Thakral explains.

In the Philippines, Thakral has brought in some of the brightest IT talents. Teddy Sumulong who used to be with EMC now heads Thakral’s flagship company, Technopaq Philippines, as General Manager.

Dittas A. Formoso is another local IT industry veteran who is now part of the Thakral team. She holds a dual role as the newly appointed Senior Management Advisor of Thakral Group in the Philippines and OIC General Manager, Raffles Solutions.

With IT veterans like Teddy and Dittas, we can see a stronger presence Thakral in the Philippines.

“The global economy is steadily getting back on the road to recovery and we see the same for the Philippines, if not at a quicker pace. Thakral Group, through its subsidiaries, is ready to address the IT needs of the large enterprise and the thriving SME sector,” Thakral closes.