Tenacity and Trust

Tenacity, humility and great foresight, built upon immense faith and divinity – these ingredients have been key to the recipe of success for Mr. Kartar Singh Thakral, our Chairman and the Executive Director of Singapore-listed Thakral Corporation. One of the most distinguished and recognisable personalities in the Singapore business fraternity and the global Sikh diaspora, our Chairman’s list of achievements in the field of business continues to inspire generations of entrepreneurs.

“
It is faith and
prayer that have
gotten me through
to here as I have no
education or talent.
”

Inspiring Entrepreneurs of

Today and Tomorrow. One of the most distinguished and recognisable personalities in the Singapore business fraternity and the global Sikh diaspora, Kartar’s list of achievements in the field of business are illustrious and inspiring.

The genesis of a multi-million dollar and worldwide group of companies started from humble beginnings and steeped in divinity. Budding from a small textile shop in Bangkok in 1905 – the Punjab Store – laid the foundation for the international Thakral Group.

Born in Bangkok in 1933, Kartar was sent by his father to Singapore in 1952 when he was 19 years old to help his brother expand the fourth branch of the family’s textile business. Starting with a small wholesale textile shop under the Thakral Brothers’ name, he succeeded in building, over time, a conglomerate of offices in 35 countries. Kartar captured opportunities in the pro-business and strategically located Singapore, remaining ahead of the curve.

Many in Asia had shunned doing business in China and Russia in the 1960s But not Kartar! He saw opportunity where others did not as he developed a strong partnership with Chinese Resources Ltd while also securing non-exclusive distribution rights for Russian textiles. Kartar’s knack for identifying business trends made him diversify the company into consumer electronics in Singapore in 1975, also opening up an office in Hong Kong at the same time. Under the guidance of Kartar, the group decided to invest significantly into selected real estate projects, for which he has a personal passion. Kartar and his capable management team saw opportunity in Australia and Japan. Today, the family-run business is a hallmark of the spirit of enterprise. And Kartar still remains a key part of the decision-making process of the group’s ventures, especially when it comes to investments.

The Group and Kartar have both been recognised for several achievements. He was awarded the Businessman of the Year in 1995 while Thakral Brothers was ranked the top private company in Singapore in the same year in the first ever Enterprise 50 list compiled then by Andersen Consulting and The Business Times. Kartar’s achievements did not go unnoticed by the Singapore government. Singapore tapped onto Kartar’s expertise and wisdom as he was appointed a Director of the then Trade Development Board for a period of four years until 31 December 1998. He was also a member of the Committee to Promote Enterprise Overseas and a member of the Regional Business Forum, both appointments made by the government.

His principles of integrity, resilience and humility, and community service can be traced back to his focus on developing his spirituality and living a Sikh way of life. Despite his many achievements, Kartar remains humble as he attributes all of this success to divine blessings rather than personal traits. These are the very values he has instilled in his family which keeps them and their enterprise grounded. Kartar stated: “It is faith and prayer that have gotten me through to here as I have no education or talent.” This is indeed a hallmark of a remarkably humble, grounded and selfless man.

*Excerpt from the book: Singapore @ 50: Sikhs And Their Contributions

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