First Indian SEZ

Kandla Special Economic Zone (KASEZ) in Gujarat was the first Indian SEZ. It was set up in 1965 and in fact KASEZ was the first SEZ to be set up in Asia. Kandla SEZ is also the largest multi-product SEZ in India, spread over 1.2 sq miles. Kandla SEZ is located just 9 km away from the modern-all-weather Indian port of Kandla. 

India was one of the first countries in Asia to recognize the effectiveness of the Export Processing Zone (EPZ) model in promoting exports. To overcome the shortcomings experienced on account of the multiplicity of controls and clearances; absence of world-class infrastructure, and an unstable fiscal regime and with a view to attract larger foreign investments in India, the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) Policy was announced in April 2000.

India's Leading Aluminium and Copper Producer

Hindalco Industries Limited is India's leading aluminium and copper producer. Hindalco is part of the Aditya Birla Group and has a turnover of US$ 14 billion. Hindalco is the world's largest aluminium rolling company and one of the biggest producers of primary aluminium in Asia. Its copper smelter at Dahej in Gujarat is the world's largest single location custom copper smelter with 500,000 tpa capacity.

Hindalco's major aluminium products include standard and speciality grade aluminas and hydrates, aluminium ingots, billets, wire rods, flat rolled products, extrusions, foil and alloy wheels. Hindalco's copper business segment comprises primarily production (through copper smelting, converting and refining) and sale of copper, in the form of cathodes and continuous cast rods and by-products, precious metals (gold, silver, selenium and platinum group mix) and DAP and NPK complexes, as well as operating jetty services and other logistical activities related to sales and distribution of products.

India's Largest Automobile Company

Tata Motors is India's largest automobile company, with revenues of Rs 32,426 crores (USD 7.2 billion) in 2006-07. Tata Motors is the leader in commercial vehicles in each segment, and the second largest in the passenger vehicles market. The company is the world's fifth largest medium and heavy commercial vehicle manufacturer, and the world's second largest medium and heavy bus manufacturer. 

Tata Motors was established in 1945. Today, over 4 million Tata vehicles ply on Indian roads. Tata Motors is the first company from India's engineering sector to be listed in the New York Stock Exchange. Tata Motors has also emerged as an international automobile company. In 2004, Tata Motors acquired the Daewoo Commercial Vehicles Company, Korea's second largest truck maker, and rechristened it as Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicles Company. Today two-thirds of heavy commercial vehicle exports out of South Korea are from Tata Daewoo. Tata Motors also exports buses to many African countries, The Middle East, Russia, and Ukraine.

India's Largest BPO Company

Genpact is India's Largest BPO Company. Genpact manages business processes for companies around the world, combining its process expertise, information technology and analytical capabilities. Genpact started its operations in 1997 as the India-based business process services operation for GE Capital. In 2005, with equity investments from General Atlantic and Oak Hill Capital Partners, it became an independent company and was rebranded as Genpact. Genpact has its network in more than 25 locations in nine countries. Its global delivery centers are located in India, China, Hungary, Mexico, the Philippines, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain and the United States. Genpact provides a wide range of services, such as Finance & Accounting, Collections and Customer Service, Insurance, Supply Chain & Procurement, Analytics, Enterprise Application and IT Infrastructure.

India's Largest Selling Ice Cream

Amul is India's largest selling Ice Cream. Amul Ice Cream has taken the top spot by replacing Kwality Walls. According to a survey Amul Icecreams are perceived as being superior on creaminess, taste and price. Amul is also considered to be a family brand offering a better price. Amul Ice Creams come in following flavours: Vanila, Strawberry, Pineapple, Orange, Rose, Mango, Chocolate, Honey-Dew-Melon, Tutti Frutti, Litchi, Kesar Pista, Kaju Draksh, Butterscotch, Chocochips, Rajbhog and Cashew Break. Amul is the brand of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), India's largest food products marketing organisation. It is a state level apex body of milk cooperatives in Gujarat which aims to provide remunerative returns to the farmers and also serve the interest of consumers by providing quality products which are good value for money.

India's Largest Music Retail Chain

Music World, part of the RPG group of enterprises, is India's largest music retail chain. The group has over 79 outlets across India. It provides consumers with an unparalleled range of music and movies, across International, Hindi and Regional repertoires. 

Music World started its operations in November 1997 with its first store in Chennai. A year later it opened its second store in Cochin. Today, Music World has presence in 45 cities in India, commanding a market share of 20 - 25% in most markets where it is present. Its presence ranges from metros to tier II towns to rural markets like Vidisha & Sehore. More than 5 million consumers walk through Music World stores annually.

Largest Bank in India

State Bank of India (SBI) is the largest bank in India. The bank has a vast domestic network of over 9000 branches (approximately 14% of all bank branches) and commands one-fifth of deposits and loans of all scheduled commercial banks in India. The Corporate Centre of SBI is in Mumbai. The bank has 14 Local Head Offices and 57 Zonal Offices which are located at important cities spread throughout the country. In addition, the State Bank of India has 52 foreign offices in 34 countries across the globe. 

The State Bank Group includes a network of eight banking subsidiaries:

• State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur (SBBJ)
• State Bank of Hyderabad (SBH)
• State Bank of India (SBI)
• State Bank of Indore (SBIR)
• State Bank of Mysore (SBM)
• State Bank of Patiala (SBP)
• State Bank of Saurashtra (SBS)
• State Bank of Travancore (SBT)

Largest Bookstore Chain in India

Crossword, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Shoppers Stop Limited, is the largest bookstore chain in India. Presently, Crossword has forty five stores across Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Ghaziabad, Pune, Vadodara, Kolkata, Chennai, Jaipur, Vishakapatnam and Hyderabad.

Crossword came into existence on 15th October 1992. Since its inception, Crossword has won many honors and recognitions. These are listed below:

• Ranked the 6th most admired retailer in India by Businessworld for the year 2006; it was the only book retailer in the top 10.
• Won the Reid & Taylor Award for Best Retailer of the year - Leisure & Specialty at the India Retail Summit 2005.
• Won the Retailer of the Year Award - Leisure (Books, Music and Gifts Category) at the Images Retail Awards 2005.
• Received the Federation of Indian Publishers Award for excellence in Publishing for the year 2004.

Largest Footwear Retail Chain in India

Bata India is the largest footwear retail chain in India. Bata India serves over 1 Lakh customers per day and has more than 8000 employees on its rolls. The company operates 950 retail stores and runs 5 production facilities across India. 

Bata set up its first factory in India in Konnagar in 1931 which was later on shifted to Batanagar. Its five production facilities are located at: Batanagar, West Bengal (1936); Bataganj, Bihar (1942); Faridabad, Haryana (1951); Peenya, Karnataka (1988); and Hosur, Tamil Nadu (1994). The company manufactures leather, rubber, canvas and PVC shoes. Bata India has an in-house tannery at Mokamehghat in Bihar, which is the second largest in Asia. Today, Bata India has around 35 per cent market share in the organized footwear market.