Rejesh Ram Satiija is a familiar name among prime ministers and presidents, among whom he commands respect for the way he conducts himself and his businesses. His Sun & Sand Group of Companies has an international presence, with businesses spanning mines, metals, real estate, agriculture, farming and hubs in London, Dubai and Nigeria.
Born in north India to a school teacher mother and a father who was a government employee, Ram grew up in a home where the emphasis was on values and faith. He qualified as a chartered engineer and initially worked for a local procurement authority, before realising his destiny lay elsewhere. He left India for Nigeria in 1993 with no more than a hunch that there was business to be done.
“It all depends on how you treat the other person”— Rejesh Ram Satiija
His first break was in mining, producing aluminium alloys that could be used as car parts — his clients, Toyota and Rolls Royce, had never before sourced parts from northern Africa. It was a major coup and Ram's status in Nigeria rose as a consequence.
“We are the pioneers in Nigeria, and the first engineering group from the African continent to export our products to companies with advanced technology and engineering — to companies such as Aconix, Nissan, Sundaram Clayton,” he told the GG2 Power 101.
One of the more recent acquisitions in Ram's empire is 5,000 acres of land in Canada and Georgia for the cultivation of apples and cherries. He is also building a network of cold storage facilities in India to assist with the import of apples, and aims to be the world's largest importer of the fruit by 2018.
Outside business, Ram is also increasingly involved in philanthropic activities. One of these is his chairmanship of the Indian Council for UN Relations. It is a group dedicated towards furthering UN goals and encourages member states to discuss issues and broker possible solutions.
Ram hopes to be able to bridge the widening gap between the rich and the poor, as he believes India's best assets are its young population and entrepreneurs. “Criticism is not a solution. The solution is to make an effort,” he said.