Even
war cannot stop ambition
In times when war and destruction were the only visible
activity, a small trading outfit decided to embark
on a more constructive activity.
D. N. Chowgule and Sons ventured into the export arena
with shipments of tin scrap, wood bamboo, coconut oil
etc.. to the Middle East.
Fired by ambition and a vision, the Chowgules saw great
opportunities where others saw only hardships and obstacles.
In 1924, only six years after the First World War,
the Chowgules established an agency, dealing in shipping
and forwarding.
Such a move required courage. After all, foreign shipping
companies monopolizes the business. But, in a feisty
display of their business intentions, the Chowgules
soon proved their mettle.
They broke the stranglehold of the foreign companies
by taking a step that showed solid business sense -
offering economies to their clients.
The result was for all to see.
The Company's activities expanded to such an extent
that by 1941, another company, Chowgule and Co. Ltd.
was established. To be able to cope with import trade
and to increase exports. The Company shipped 1,500
tonnes of manganese ore to Czechoslovakia in 1947.
And in 1950, a shipment of 9,000 tonnes of iron ore
to Japan, opened new economic vistas not only for the
Company, but also for Goa.
In 1951, adopting a unique combination of practical,
down-to-earth approach and a 'vision', the Company
wrote a new theory of success. A theory best exemplifies
by the 'Chowgule Formula' - a historic agreement signed
by the Company with the Japanese steel industry. The
arrangement was unique. The Japanese would loan out
equipment, men, and money to mechanize their mines.
And the Company would repay the loan through the cost
of the ore exported to Japan.
A brilliant strategy that boosted the volume of iron
ore exports from Goa. And the beginning of a saga of
success.
The saga continues even today.
Nothing
succeeds like innovation
The mechanization
of mines was soon followed by modernization of the
transport system that carried the ore and loaded it
onto the ships for export.
Slow and inadequate country craft was traditionally
used for transporting iron ore through the inland waterways
up to the sea port. The Company ordered self-propelling
barges from Japan, speeding up delivery time and cutting
costs.
Naturally, these barges needed maintenance. So, a repair
yard was built.
What next? Moving over from repairing barges, the yard
started building barges. With its own expertise. Before
long, the yard was putting out different kinds of vessels
onto internationals waters. The Chowgule vision shone
through again.
If the ship can't come to port, why not take
the port to the ship?
The ore was loaded onto a ship in a particular way.
The traditional way. That is loading a ship partly
alongside the port, due to 'low draft'. And the rest,
midstream, by winch-loading. Only to delay the dispatch
of a vessel.
So in 1969, the Company introduced the 'uptopping'
by a Transhipper - an ocean-going vessel equipped with
conveyor belts and cranes that drew alongside a ship
midstream and loaded the ore onto the ship.
Dispatch of vessels was now quicker. Yet again the
Company showed the rest of the shipping fraternity
the way.
Liberation for the Goan iron ore industry with
help from Japan
Innovation in some areas soon revealed flaws in the
rest of the system. As the volume of exports grew,
it soon became evident that the ore-handling facilities
at Mormugao Port were highly inadequate. Bottlenecks
were slowing down the speed of dispatch and increasing
freight charges and demurrage.
Taking the initiative yet again, the Company solicited
Japan's help. And a completely mechanized, all-weather
ore-handling plant was installed at Berth no. 6 at
Mormugao Port.
Designed to work around the clock, the plant at once
liberated the Goan Iron Ore industry. Saving time and
money. And making it more internationally competitive
in world markets. And also set the pace for a bigger
Mechanical Ore-Handling Plant, now in operation.
The expedetious handling of iron ore at the harbour,
to cut costs, was one aspect of exports. The other
was transporting it across the seas. The Chowgules
acquired bulk carriers of their own. Thus began their
journey into the international shipping waters.
Meeting new challenges
In order to increase productivity, the steel industry
needed iron ore in the form of pellets. The Company
set up the first 0.5 million tonnes capacity Pelletization
Plant in the country in 1964. The first of its kind
East of Suez and only the 3rd of its kind in the world.
Promoted by the Company, a 1.8 million tonnes capacity
plant followed in 1979. The plant benefited India's
exports, setting an upswing trend for the country's
foreign exchange earnings.
Growing nationwide, via
the world
In 1961, an event brought euphoria and a changed economic
situation - the liberation of Goa to become part of
India. This called for a bigger playing field for the
industry in Goa. For the prudent Chowgules, it was
time for the progressive diversification into a range
of critical activities in the core sector of India's
industry. Diversification linked to the needs of a
fast developing nation. Thus becoming a part of the
industrial canvass nationwide, the Chowgules grew.
With their Industrial Salt Project in Gujarat; Explosives
plants in Karnataka, Maharastra and Madyapradesh; Oxygen
and Acetylene Plant and a Brewery in Maharastra. This
progression to the national industrial main-stream
was beginning of the surge that placed the Chowgule
Group securely on the Industrial map of the world.
Why not ? is always followed by and answer.
The key to understanding the Chowgules' success is that they are always punching
the frontiers of the possible. To achieve the impossible.
Their success can also be attributed to a simple fact. They have always kept
pace with trends in the world, anticipated market needs and the shape of things
to come.
Again, everything the Chowgules did, was done not with an eye on their own profits,
but on the status of the rest of the industry as well. It is common knowledge
that the mining and shipping communities benefited and profited from the Chowgule
revolution.
The significance of Chowgules to the Indian economy cannot be measured only in
numbers. Neither in the millions of tonnes of iron ore and iron ore pellets they
produce and market year after year. Nor in the foreign exchange generated for
the country. But in the goodwill earned and the confidence instilled in overseas
buyers for and towards Indian enterprises.
Leadership breeds leaders
The Chowgules' contribution to the Goan, the Indian economy, cannot be emphasizes
enough.
Indeed, Chowgules' greatest contribution may have been in the boost it gave to
local entrepreneurship and job opportunities. No more was Goa, 'a sleepy town
with lazy beaches'.
The Chowgule Group encourages leadership not just for its own benefit but for
the industry in general. From various local, national and international business
and industrial fora, they have always given guidance and shared their knowledge
and experience with other industrialists and fellow businessmen. A fact that
has inspired confidence in not just other industrialists, but also in the Japanese
who still have a large stake in Goa's mining industry.
The Chowgule Group's biggest achievement - Education
The Chowgules contributed as pioneers to the quantum leap in education in Goa.
They were the first to set up a college in Goa, and introduce computer education.
They started a Technical Training Institute and promoted a Shipbuilding Institute
in Goa, and schools at various places , including the mining areas.
The Chowgule philosophy can be summed up in one line:
When you grow, we grow
When you benefit, we benefit
Whatever the Chowgules did, they never did it with an eye to improving only their
own profits, but served to improve the conditions of the rest of the industry,
and of society, who also benefited and profited from the innovations and advances
of the Chowgules.
And its biggest investment - People
Chowgules' approach right through has been to work along with people, by involving
them, by training them, by creating specialists. And most importantly, by using
and honest, down-to-earth style of functioning. Almost fanatically people-oriented,
Chowgules uphold traditional values as the core of its philosophy.
Chowgules have made one of the safest investments in the Group - in its people.
And in relationships. |
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