SoftBank sets foot in India’s e-commerce sector

Japan’s telecom giant SoftBank is eyeing opportunities to expand in South Asia. With its recent investment of USD627 million into Snapdeal – an Indian e-commerce firm – Softbank becomes its largest shareholder. It is one of the largest investments ever made by a single investor in an Indian e-commerce company. Flipkart, another Indian e-commerce player, has also received foreign investment. Does this mark the start of an investment spree? Leon Perera, Chief Executive Officer of Spire Research and Consulting shared his insights on the implications of these investments in Japan’s Diamond Magazine.

Softbank is a Japanese internet and telco behemoth. It is listed under 33 industries classification on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Recent financial profits for Softbank’s Q2 2014 touched JPY560.7 billion in terms of net income. Softbank recently acquired the number three mobile service provider in the US – Sprint Corp – for USD21.6 billion. It has one third of shares in Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba.

Perera opined that SoftBank has now set its sights on Indian shores through its recent investment in Snapdeal. This is only the beginning. It has embarked on an expansion drive, with a war-chest of USD10 billion to invest in the e-commerce industry in promising markets. Choosing SnapDeal means enabling it to create a stronger foothold in the Indian market. SnapDeal currently boasts of more than 25 million registered users as well as 50,000 business sellers.

India’s current e-commerce market is valued at USD2 billion which amounts to an overall retail market share of 0.4%. However, by 2020 this is expected to grow up to USD30 billion – contributing approximately 3% of overall retail sales.

However, restrictions on Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) remain a significant impediment. Current laws restrict global companies from selling products directly to Indian consumers. Foreign companies can only invest directly into domestic companies as a means to expand. However, this has not deterred SoftBank. Other investors will no doubt follow its lead and attempt to play catch-up.

https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/media/softbank-sets-foot-in-indias-e-commerce-sector/

Comments

Spirethoughts: Saving India’s farmers

Rural farming in India could benefit immensely from solar energy, as farmers can use water pumps that are powered by solar panels to irrigate farms; balancing out the electricity provided for urban dwellers in the process. This is crucial as approximately 18 million of the country’s 25 million water pump sets are linked to the national electric grid. To address the nation’s power shortage, a joint-venture will be formed between six state-owned companies in Mumbai, including Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd and Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd, to build a 4-gigawatt solar photovoltaic farm by the end of 2016. The price would be INR10 cheaper than the lowest power bid in India. Once the government grant has been received, this would change the way clean energy is generated; providing light through solar energy to 70 percent of the population residing in the urban areas. Is solar energy becoming a transformative resource for rural farmers? http://www.spireresearch.com/ne...

The Philippines - Asia's next economic powerhouse

The Philippines is emerging as one of Asia’s most dynamic economies, with a forecasted growth rate of 6.9 per cent in 2018 driven by investment and private consumption. The economy recorded growth of over 6 per cent in 2017, for the sixth straight year, thanks to buoyant government spending, exports and a recovery in the agricultural sector. Will this Southeast Asian tiger be able to maintain its momentum? A growing economy While advanced economies like the United States, Europe and Japan are growing at slow rate, a number of emerging economies like the Philippines continue to surge ahead. With annual growth expected to reach 6.9 per cent by 2018, the Philippines now ranks as the 10th fastest growing economy globally. Owing to strong domestic demand and government projects, the country’s economy is on the rise. The government’s expansionary fiscal policy has aided capital formation and credit growth, whereas low inflation has strengthened private consumption. Path...

Spire sponsors INBC Salmon Evening to explore business opportunities in aqua farming

Indonesia is the world’s third largest aquaculture producer. What business prospects lie in Indonesia’s aqua farming industry? Spire Research and Consulting was honored to be a sponsor and speaker at the Indonesia Norway Business Council (INBC) Salmon Evening in Jakarta – an event aimed at exploring trends and potential business opportunities in Indonesia’s aqua farming industry. At the event, Franklin Crum, Manager, Client Service of Spire Research and Consulting, spoke about aqua farming and the untapped opportunities in this industry. He remarked that Indonesia, being the third largest aquaculture producer worldwide (trailing closely behind China and India), saw an average annual increase of 30.9% in aquaculture production volume from 2009 to 2012. Crum commented that opportunities in aqua farming are abundant. There is an increasing demand for high-value fish species such as snapper, grouper, pompano and barramundi as well as rising supply of fingerlings (young fish) for ...

The European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) is set to open doors for Vietnamese exporters

On 30 June, 2019, the European Union signed its first free trade deal with a developing Asian country – Vietnam, one of the fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia. The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) would reduce 99% of tariffs on goods and services traded between European and Vietnamese markets. WVietnam’s exports to the EU were valued at 50 billion euros in 2018. This figure is expected to increase by 40% by 2025 under EVFTA. Between the years 2024 – 2028, the agreement would boost Vietnam’s gross domestic product by 5 to 6% annually. Will the EVFTA herald a closer economic relationship between Vietnam and Europe? For more information : https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/the-european-union-vietnam-free-trade-agreement-evfta-is-set-to-open-doors-for-vietnamese-exporters/

China’s landfills: Can waste be turned into energy?

260 million used tires are dumped in landfills all over the world. These tires contaminate groundwater and create clouds of black grime when they ignite, releasing toxins into the atmosphere. IFW Recycling Corporation based in the U.S. sees these old tires as a clean, green and efficient source of fuel. The tires are gassed to result in usable diesel fuel. This does not cause pollution and creates by-products for further use such as distilled water, carbon black and ash. With China emerging as one of the world’s biggest polluters, its government is seeking alternatives to coal-fired electricity generation. This could be one of them. https://www.spireresearch.com/newsroom/spirethoughts/chinas-landfills-can-waste-be-turned-into-energy/

The Knowledge to Decide

Search This Blog