Bhupendra Kumar Modi

Bhupendra Kumar Modi: Career Highlights

Dr. M's career is a testament to his entrepreneurial spirit and visionary leadership. In 1975, he achieved a significant milestone by establishing the first Indo-International technical collaboration in the tire industry with Continental of Germany. This marked the beginning of his journey in the business world.

In 1981, Dr. M founded Graphics India, which became the sole distributor of Rank Xerox copiers in India. This venture paved the way for the formation of Modi Xerox, a joint venture with Xerox, leading to the establishment of India's first office automation product manufacturing facility.

Dr. M's collaborations continued with Italian computer firm Olivetti in 1987, resulting in the creation of Modi Olivetti. This joint venture made history as the first Indian joint venture to manufacture advanced PCs and floppy disks.

In 1992, Dr. M formed a joint venture with Alcatel, giving birth to Alcatel Modi Network Systems. This company became the first Indian private sector entity to manufacture telecom equipment and export digital switching systems. It also played a pivotal role in setting up a GSM network in India.

The year 1993 marked another milestone when Modi Telstra became the first company to launch cellular services in India.

This achievement was further solidified by receiving the first Telecom Engineering Commission Certification of Quality. Notably, the inaugural mobile call in India was made on the Modi Telstra network.

Dr. M's entrepreneurial spirit led him to form Spice Communications, a joint venture with Telekom-Malaysia (now Axiata). Spice Communications emerged as a leading telecom operator in Northern and Southern India.

In 2000, Dr. M established Cellebrum (now Spice Digital), a mobile value-added services company catering to telecom operators. This was followed by the founding of Spice Hotspot in 2004, India's first mobile retail chain.

Spice Mobiles also made its mark as one of the earliest producers of Indian-branded handsets. However, in 2008, Dr. M decided to exit the telecom business through a deal with Idea Cellular.

In 2009, Dr. M acquired a major stake in i2i, which was later renamed S-i2i (now SEVAK LTD.). This company serves as a regional distributor and provider of info-communication products and services in Singapore and Indonesia.

Dr. M's success and influence were recognized when he was included in Singapore's 50 Richest List by Forbes in 2013. This achievement marked a significant milestone in his career.

In the same year, Dr. M made a strategic decision to drop the 'Spice' name in favor of 'Smart.' This rebranding exercise marked a new chapter in his business ventures.

Dr. M's foray into the entertainment industry came in the form of co-producing the film OMG! in 2012 and producing the tele-serial Buddha in 2013. These projects showcased his diverse interests and creative pursuits.

In 2015, the Smart Group, under Dr. M's leadership, ventured into the wellness and healthcare sector. This move involved partnerships with multiple global wellness groups, with plans to develop wellness communities, a virtual wellness platform, and preventive healthcare centers.

Furthermore, SEVAK LTD. collaborated with Uber to operate a fully commercially-owned electric vehicle fleet in Singapore, demonstrating Dr.

M's commitment to sustainable initiatives.

Since 2019, Dr. M has held the prestigious position of Global Chairman of the Foreign Investors India Forum (FIIF), further solidifying his influence in the business world.