As the world and its economies change, Thakral Group remains ever resilient; becoming one of Singapore’s largest home grown conglomerates.
This is our story.
Milestones
1905
Started a small retail business in Bangkok called “Punjab Store”.
1936
First expansion to Japan.
1952
Thakral Brothers was setup in Singapore
1973
Thakral Brothers Pte Ltd is incorporated.
1986
First representative office is set up in Guangzhou, PRC to facilitate the purchasing of textiles in Japan.
1988
Established in 1988, Orion (GB) specialises in trading, distribution and importing.
1990
Thakral Corporation (HK) Limited is incorporated and handle Thakral Hong Kong's business in 1993.
ORION Ukraine Ltd was incorporated.
1991
Thakral Gulf FZE started its operations in 1991 and is one of the first contract and 3PL logistics provider in UAE.
1992
Orion Romania SA is incorporated in Romania
1993
The Group established a representative office in Shanghai, PRC.
Thakral Corporation Singapore Pte Ltd is incorporated in Singapore and Mr Kartar Singh Thakral is appointed as its Executive Director.
1994
Thakral Corporation Singapore Pte Ltd is converted to a public company and undergoes name changes to Thakral Corporation Ltd ("the Company" and together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”).
Textiles was expanded to Malaysia.
1995
Mr Kartar Singh Thakral is appointed as the Chairman of the Board. Thakral Corporation is listed on the Mainboard of the Singapore Stock Exchange in the biggest listing of the year in Singapore, resulting in a market capitalization of over US$400 million (at the initial offer price).
Thakral Brothers Pte Ltd receives an award SINGAPORE ENTERPRISE 50. It is ranked as Singapore’s Most Enterprising Privately Owned Company by Arthur Andersen and The Business Times.
1997
Thakral One, a technology consulting and services company, was founded in Singapore. Thakral Information Systems Private Limited was established in Bangladesh. Technopaq INC was established in Phillippines. Orion Electronics Ltd is incorporated in Hungary.
1999
Trident Corporation Pte Ltd was established in Sri Lanka.
2003
Thakral One Nepal Pvt Ltd is incorporated.
2005
Thakral Corporation shifts its operational headquarters in August to Shanghai from Hong Kong in order to be closer to its biggest market.
2007
Futureworld Group was established to distribute and sell brands like Apple in APAC region.
2010
Thakral Corporation made its first real estate investment of A$2.75 million in October 2010 in a property project - Harbour One, Melbourne, Australia.
2011
TCAP Pte Ltd is established for the purpose of acting as an intermediary and service entity which originates, negotiates and packages primarily real estate and incidental resource projects.
Hitec Sourcing Pte Ltd was established in Singapore. OrionArts Pte Ltd was establised in Singapore.
2012
Mr Natarajan Subramaniam is appointed as Non-Executive Chairman (Independent) of the Board on 1 January 2012. Mr Kartar Singh Thakral steps down as Executive Chairman on 1 January 2012 but continues as an Executive Director of the Company.
UNIVERSAL PROCUREMENT SYSTEMS VIETNAM COMPANY LIMITED was established with head office located at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
2015
Established a JV with Living Gems to enter into the resort style retirement living business in Australia.
2016
Establishment of GemLife brand name for resort style retirement living under the JV with Living Gems and launch of our first 2 resorts in Bribie Island and Highfields, both in Queensland, Australia.
2017
Contracted to sell Hong Kong warehouse property at HK$420 million giving an estimated profit of S$34 million.
The GemLife resort style retirement living business expands beyond Queensland to Victoria and New South Wales, bringing the total number of homes under the GemLife umbrella to more than 1,000.