China is a critical and growing market for the Tata group, which has a bit of history to fall back on with regard to doing business with the Middle Kingdom. In 1859, a young Jamsetji Tata, the founder of the Tata group, was sent to Hong Kong to open a branch for his father’s banking firm. He relocated a few months later to Shanghai, where he remained till 1863.

The Tata group currently has a more modest presence in China than in the US and the UK, but its companies are developing plans to expand their presence in the country dramatically. The group recognises the potential for high growth in existing businesses and opportunities for new ones.

• Tata Sons has a representative office (Contact: James Zhan, group chief representative at tatachina@tata.com)
• Tata Consultancy Services has signed a joint venture to develop a software business in China in collaboration with the Chinese government and Microsoft.
• Tata Steel has two rolling mills in China following its acquisition of NatSteel.
• Tata Refractories has opened a plant in Liaoning Province, the group’s first greenfield project in China
• TACO has a factory in Nanjing to make auto components for General Motors and Ford.

Tata companies

• Corus
• TACO
• Tata Communications
• Tata Consultancy Services
• Tata Steel
• Tata Tea