Founder's Message
Our world is in turmoil. The mindless war in Ukraine continues. The number of Covid cases across the world has gone up to 650 million with 1% mortality. In other words, about 6.5 million deaths. The numbers are going up in the United States and more particularly in China – thebirthplace of the Wuhan virus.
With inflation levels inchingtowards double digits in Europe and parts of America, talk of recession in the western world is gaining momentum. Our country, by and large, seems to be insulated. The question is for how long will we be insulated in this globalised world. Only time will tell. Despite what is going on around us, Indian stock indices have reached an all-time high! It is an enigma. There is money with the Indian public with few options to invest. Unfortunately, big investments in the industrial sector are not happening to the desired extent to match the government’s expectations. Probably, Indian businessmen feel the risk factors are high based on macro indicators with impending elections in many States during 2023, and the Parliamentary elections in 2024, which is not far away. To reduce inflationary effects, Central Banks across the world, led by the US Federal Reserve, have increased the base interest rates significantly. The Reserve Bank of India has followed suit. The full effect of increased interest rates is yet to be felt by the business community. However, it is bound to hit profit-ability across sectors and the risk factors of higher borrowing will only increase.
In such a scenario, the Indian real estate sector is holding the fort and has shown a lot of resilience. The residential sector continues to do well. Business in retail malls and multiplexes is at an all-time high. Hotel occupancies and ADRs have also bounced back and have exceeded pre-COVID levels in many cases. The only area of concern is office leasing business, where companies in the IT sector are showing cautious approach and postponing major decisions. Employment generation is a key factor for the health of real estate business. However, Indian companies in the software sector and GCCs (Global Capability Centres) expect higher offshoring over time to ensure companies profitability is maintained in their home countries.
Having received all approvals for our residential projects – Brigade Valencia on Hosur Road and Brigade Calista on Budigere Road, the team is geared up to launch both large sized projects in the new year. Response to our maiden large plotted development project – Brigade Oasis on Devanahalli to Doddaballapur Road is very encouraging, having sold the 1st phase in a short period.
Succession in leadership is a necessity at various levels in any organisation. The time has come for me to take a step back from day-to-day routine activities. Having crossed 67 years in age, our Board of Directors have decided to elevateExecutive Directors Pavitra and Nirupa to Managing Director and Joint Managing Director, respectively. They are both eminently qualified with MBA degrees from Ivy League colleges – Columbia Business School and Cornell Business School, and each with more than 15 years’ work experience. They are both young, energetic, full of ideas and ready to work hard. I will continue as Executive Chairman.
I am happy and proud that FKCCI (Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry) conferred on me the ‘Bharat Ratna Sir M. Visvesvaraya Memorial Award 2022’ on his birth anniversary, September 15, which is also celebrated in his honour as ‘Engineers Day’, across the country. It is in recognition of my services and contribution in the construction and building sector, as well as in the fields of education, health, community development, social and philanthropic work. I dedicate this recognition to all in Brigade Group. Without the support of Brigadiers, it was impossible to achieve, whatever has been achieved.
Lastly, I wish all the Brigade stake-holders season’s greetings, and the very best during the New Year 2023. We need a Santa Claus for the business sector also.
—Jaishankar CMD, Brigade.
It may seem strange that while the Indian economy is subdued, the Indian stock market indices are breaking records every other month. While too much hot money is channeled into the stock market, one only hopes, that this reflects the underlying strength of the economy.
Our country is slowly but surely recovering from the shock of Demonetisation and GST. Unfortunately for the government, Demonetisation did not succeed as expected and it also did not give the government, the expected windfall. Despite this, Demonetisation was a bold initiative which helped in bringing idle black money into mainstream circulation, resulting in softer interest rates.
On the other hand, GST implementation is a mammoth effort. We must credit the State & the Central Government for all the proactive steps, they are taking to make this most complicated initiative a success. Over time, the benefit to the country will be immense and there will be a paradigm shift in the way, business is conducted across the country. While there are many critics, one should remember - Nothing ventured, Nothing gained.
GST is one major legislation to help integrate our subcontinent. It is generally felt that other initiatives like ‘Make in India’ are beginning to make the intended impact, as order books of several Indian manufacturing companies are believed to be full.
The much-awaited RERA has come into effect in most States during the last 6 months. It is bound to have its disruptive impact on the sector but will help separating the ‘grain from the chaff’. Realising that the Indian Real Estate is still reeling under the three-pronged attack (Demonetisation, GST & RERA), the Central government has liberalised the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) scheme by extending credit linked subsidy of about `2.30 lakhs to even good sized apartments of upto 150 sq.m. for people with income up to `18 lakhs. This should surely help in giving the required push, to improve demand for real estate.
With ‘profit booking’ expected in stocks & mutual fund investments, some amount of the profits are expected to flow into the Real Estate sector, which is also showing ‘green shoots’ in Q3 as compared to earlier quarters.
During the last few months of the year, we were able to complete a number of projects (Brigade AT No. 7 in Hyderabad; Brigade Mountain View & Pearl at Brigade Palmgrove in Mysore; Brigade Cosmopolis and Brigade Lakefront ‘A’; Brigade Omega and Wisteria @ Brigade Meadows; Cedar, Deodar and Parkside @ Brigade Orchards; Brigade NorthRidge; Brigade Bhuwalka Icon, all in Bangalore).
Our 274 keys CBD hotel, Holiday Inn Express Race Course Bengaluru became operational helping us cross the magical 1000 room mark, under our portfolio. And we are gearing up to launch several exciting, new Commercial & Residential projects, mostly in Bangalore and a few in Mysore.
With all the surprises and shocks of the last twelve months behind us, one hopes that the New Year will augur well for Brigade and for the Indian economy. With that hope, wishing everyone, Season’s Greetings and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
