1.1 Case Studies in South Asian Intraregional Investment

TABLE 1.1 Case Studies in South Asian Intraregional Investment

Firm name and product Home Destination Engagement type Products and activities

Apparel value chain Brandix Lanka Limited Sri Lanka India Export platform investment Developed an apparel park in Andhra Pradesh. Dual role as park manager and manufacturer of weft fabric and complex intimate garments, destined for the United States.

MAS Brands Ltd. Sri Lanka India Distribution investment, branding, retail investment

Raymond Ltd.

Soorty Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. India Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka Franchise

Pakistan Bangladesh Trade- supporting, production investment Introduced own “amanté” brand of brassieres in 2007, specifically suited to South Asian women. Distribution office dealt with department stores for sales. Own retail store opened in 2015. Developed its wide South Asian presence through a network of franchisees for its well-known suiting store. Fabrics are sent from headquarters. Opened marketing office to boost sales of denim fabric in 1992. In 2010, opened a manufacturing plant in the Comilla Export Processing Zone.

Timex Garments Pvt. Ltd. Sri Lanka India Retail investment Brand retail investment in 2011, starting in Bengaluru, for its line of women’s Western wear, Avirate. Retail stores in all major cities and some Tier 2 cities. Production in Sri Lanka.

Agri-food industry CG Foods Pvt. Ltd. (instant noodles) Nepal North Eastern Region of India (NER) Production, distribution, and retail investment Invested in factories in NER to produce Wai instant noodles. Moved into food retailing in 2017. Started in Asaam.

Dabur India Limited India Nepal Production investment Invested to produce fast-moving consumer goods and shampoos but restructured into fruit juice manufacturing. Maintains a nursery of herbal plants. (Table continues next page)

TABLE 1.1 Case Studies in South Asian Intraregional Investment (continued)

Firm name and product Home Destination Engagement type Products and activities

Automotive value chain Bhutan Ferro Alloy Limited Bhutan India

CEAT Limited

Rahimafrooz Batteries Pvt. Ltd.

Hotels Taj Hotels and CG Hospitality Ltd. India Sri Lanka

Bangladesh India

India and Nepal Sri Lanka Exporting, via related distributor

Key global exporter of energy-intensive ferrosilicon used in steel production. Sold in India through a related distribution firm to steel manufacturers of auto bodies and parts. Production investment Joint venture with management control of tire manufacturing plants in rubber-producing Sri Lanka. Distribution investment Export of car batteries with its own brand, Lucas and Spark, for the replacement battery market. Initially exported to India only; now includes Sri Lanka.

Production investment and management contracts Taj Hotels owns and manages two hotels in Sri Lanka. Received a capital injection from CG Hospitality in 2008 to maintain operations during the height of the country’s civil war.

Source: World Bank.