Singapore-based ECS eyes India

With an aim to venture towards Indian shores, Singapore-based ECS Holdings,
an IT end-product distributor is looking at setting up its India base. As part
of this initiative, the company is either looking at acquiring or partnering
with big distribu-tors in the Indian region in order to make its foray into this
geography.

Industry sources informed that ECS is targeting only the big distributors and
claim that the company is looking at a three-pronged strategy in order to
complete its foray in the Indian market. “In India they are looking to
acquire/form a joint venture with a distributor who has a presence across
multiple Indian states, focuses on HP products and with over S$100 mil-lion in
revenue. So they are not targeting everybody. Only a few good names will come
forward for this partnership,” the source further informed.

While industry sources say that the company is already talking to New
Delhi-based PCAIT (Progressive Channels Association of Information Technology)
an IT focused association — in terms of identifying the prospects for its
India venture, when contacted ECS chose not to comment on the issue.

“ECS is seriously looking at partnering with some good companies in India.
Their prime concern is to identify good people with qualities that they are
looking for. That is why they are taking help from associations like PCAIT. As
this association has a good track record, they are most likely to get favorable
results by contacting PCAIT,” explained a source close to PCAIT.

Based in Singapore, ECS is an S$2.2 billion company and has three core
businesses — distribution of IT products, IT services and enterprise
distribution. The company has 32 offices across six countries in SEA and China
and distributes products for HP, Sun and Apple. Its plans to foray into India
come at a time when the Indian IT market is on an upswing and the market is
regarded by many as one of the fastest growing within the Asian region.