News story

Centenary of Trust includes TATA Interactive Systems

31 Aug 2004Learning NewsMPS Interactive Systems

2004 marks the centenary of the TATA Group - which is now India's largest business house, employing over 330,000 people and accounting for some two per cent of India's gross domestic product (GDP).

The TATA Group which, among other things, founded Air India and was instrumental in establishing the information technology (IT) industry in India, now includes 86 companies, including TATA Interactive Systems (TIS) - which began operations in the UK in 1998 and has concluded over 600 separate e-learning projects.

This year also sees the 100th anniversary since the death of Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, the founder of the TATA Group, and the 100th anniversaries of the births of JRD Tata and Naval Tata. All three men were leaders of the TATA Group and have helped to shape Indian industry.

Sanjaya Sharma, chief executive of TIS, explained: "Over the past 100 years, the Tatas have invested in industries while upholding the values cherished by the group: innovation, leadership, trust and fair play. Thus, this year is seen by the group as the culmination of a 'Century of Trust'."

To mark these centenaries, the TATA Group has organised a number of events, ranging from a hockey test series between India and Holland in February to an event at the Indian Institute of Science (IIS), in Bangalore, in July, attended by the President of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.

Throughout its corporate life, the TATA Group has distributed a proportion of its profits to charity - including continuing to fund India's largest cancer hospital. TIS continues this policy within the UK and, among its charitable acts has been the development of a website for what was then the Forum for Technology in Training.

Sambit Mohapatra, head of TIS in the UK and Europe added: "In today's competitive times, the TATA Group has shown that goals can still be achieved by believing in core values and principles. In a world where values such as commitment and integrity may be eroding, the TATA Group is an example of achieving worldwide success through adhering to these principles."