sikhpride

Kartar Singh Thakral, one of the richest Sikh businessmen in the world, was born on 22.09.1933 at Bangkok, Thailand. His father, S. Sohan Singh had migrated from Punjab and had gradually set up his own Textile Retail Shop named as Punjab Store. S. Kartar Singh joined this business at a very early age. In 1952, when he was only 19 year old, his father sent him to Singapore to set up a branch of their business. With this branch named as Thakral Brothers, the family business prospered at a fast pace and by 1973, Thakral Brothers had become a limited company engaged in distribution of many Japanese consumer Electronic Brands. Gradually, they became one of the earliest exporters of television sets and VCRs to India and China. In addition to Textile Business, their Electronic business spread to cover countries like Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Srilanka, U.A.E. and U.S.A. In the early 1990’s the group made bold acquisitions in the Australian Hotel and Property market and is now a major hotel operator. The Thakral Group presently consists of Thakral Brother Pvt. Ltd. Thakral Holdings and Thakral Corporation which is listed in Singapore Stock Exchange since 1995. The astounding success story of this business group has brought them admiration and accolades. In 1996, Kartar Singh was named Businessman of the year 1995 at the Singaport Business Awards and Thakral Brothers was named Singapore’s top privately held company at the Enterprise 50 Awards for 1995. S. Kartar Singh Thakral is not only an iconic personality in the Business World, he is also a role model being the Sikh Community Leader who has done a wonderful job for social, educational and religious development of Sikhs. He was actively engaged with the activities of Singapore Khalsa Association and is now the honorary patron of Sikh Welfare Council. He has also been the trustee of Singapore Indian Development Association and Singapore Sikh Education Foundation. All these organizations have been working for the welfare of Indians particularly the Sikhs to promote their educational and religious interest and activities.