What Ambani & RPG boss discuss on video-calls

NEW DELHI: Two days after Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) announced it became a net-debt free company months ahead of its March 2021 target, Harsh Goenka got on a video-call with Mukesh Ambani on Sunday to discuss the brilliance of India's richest man.

The RPG Enterprise Chairman took to Twitter to share a screenshot of the two business tycoons talking on a Zoom video-call during the weekend.

The 62-year-old businessman lauded the RIL Chairman for making India’s biggest company net-debt free amidst the global slowdown and the Covid-19 impact on the country's economy. He also praised Ambani for understanding the future of tech and pivoting his 'core business from falling oil & petrochemicals to rising tech'. He further said that this is a feat only one man could achieve, when he got the largest global investors to give their money.



The picture of the duo sparked a lot of excitement and discussion on the micro-blogging site amongst Goenka's 1.5 million Twitter followers. The RPG boss tried his best to answer the curious fans, and give an insight into what happened during the call.

Most followers wanted to know what the two billionaires discussed during the video call. Goenka promptly responded, "the same as every one else - family, economy, politics, Jio network connectivity & usual gup-shup (Hindi term for chit-chat).

Agencies

When a user asked him to share the video of the full conversation with Ambani, Goenka replied, "That’s private, sir."

In another tweet, Goenka said that India will lead the tech pack, thanks to the growth of Reliance Jio. He asked American and Chinese companies like Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Google, Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent to move over as Jio will be soon making a big bang entry.


Last week, Subrahmanyam KVJ, Director of Capgemini Invent, praised Reliance's 3-step plan for raise over $22 billion in approximately 10 weeks, and making the parent company debt-free. RIL has raised over Rs 1.68 lakh crore in just 58 days. Its net-debt stood at Rs 1.61 lakh crore as on March 31, 2020.


The post was later retweeted by Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma.

RIL became the first Indian company to enter the exclusive club of $150 billion in market capitalisation among the world's most valuable companies, and is now ranked 58 on the list. It now has a market capitalisation of $151.2 billion and this is the highest ever valuation of an Indian company.

In the exclusive club of $150 billion m-cap companies, RIL is now ahead of global leaders like Vanguard, Unilever, China Mobile, McDonalds, AstraZeneca, T Mobile, Amgen, Costco, Bank of China, Sanofi, Accenture, Royal Dutch Shell, Bristol Myer Squibb, Philip Morris, BHP group, Texas Instruments, Invesco, American Tower, Wells Fargo, Citigroup and IBM, among others.

The list of the world's most valuable companies is topped by Saudi Aramco with a market capitalisation of $1.7 trillion, followed by Apple at $1.5 trillion, Microsoft at $1.4 trillion and Amazon at $1.3 trillion. These four companies are in the trillion dollar club. They are followed in the top 10 by Alphabet, Facebook, Alibaba, Tencent, Berkshire Hathway and Johnson & Johnson.

Last week, in a statement on Friday, Ambani said, "I have fulfilled my promise to the shareholders by making Reliance net debt-free much before our original schedule of March 31, 2021. Over the past few weeks, we have been overwhelmed by the phenomenal interest of the global financial investor community in partnering with Jio."

Ambani's Jets, Mittal's Yachts: Luxurious Rides Of The Ultra-Rich

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Who Owns What

4 Dec, 2019

Private yachts and customised planes. Check out the travel modes of the jet set that double up as meeting venues, party hangouts and spots to host special occasions.For those Indians — and those with desi roots — who are counted among the world’s wealthy, island hopping in Europe aboard their customised 200-feet yacht or taking off in their bespoke jet across the continent are but a way of putting a monogram on their commute. Take a look at the rides of the jet set:

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Lakshmi Mittal’s Amevi

4 Dec, 2019

In 2014, this London-based billionaire was spotted relaxing on the Greek island of Mykonos, dressed casually in a white T-shirt and baggy shorts. A newspaper report speculated that while Mittal lounged on the beach alongside other tourists, his 262-feet-long yacht Amevi was parked in the waters nearby. Some amenities on board: Sun decks, a heated swimming pool, a cinema, a gym, a massage room, a hairdressing salon as well as a unique, stabilised pool table to name a few.

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Mukesh Ambani’s Boeing Business Jet

4 Dec, 2019

More than a decade ago, it was reported that Ambani gifted his wife, Nita, a private jet on her 44th birthday. It was said at the time that this jet was “custom-fitted with an office and a cabin with game consoles, music systems, satellite television and wireless communication. It also has a master bedroom, a bathroom with a range of showers and a bar with mood lighting”. As his personal ride, Ambani reportedly favours a Boeing Business Jet. “Most often, they want access to the same amenities in the air.” That’s how the airplane maker describes their customer’s requirement, a.k.a, a flying home, as that’s what’s wanted.

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Ravi Ruia’s Sunrays

4 Dec, 2019

“The ultimate guest and owner’s yacht.” That’s how the captain of Sunrays, delivered in March 2010 describes it. According to a description of the yacht available on the Oceanco’s website, “The upper deck is given over to the owner’s suite and an adjacent VIP suite that can be combined to create one expansive living area. Both suites have fold-down sea balconies. The owner’s exterior foredeck hosts a whirlpool and sunbathing area. The remainder of the yacht’s accommodations for up to 16 guests is on the main deck with one VIP stateroom and four guest cabins.” The large dining room can be converted into a video conference room with the optional use of the adjacent library. Foldable sea balconies provide guests unimpeded views while dining.

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Kumar Mangalam Birla’s Cessna Citation

4 Dec, 2019

A blog published by an apparel brand, owned by the Aditya Birla Group, documented the private jets of India’s rich and famous. The listicle included the jets owned by Birla, the Group’s chairman. It said, “Few people know that this sharp, business-minded entrepreneur also has a sweet tooth, when it comes to sweet flying machines, with his Gulf Stream (G100) and Cessna Citation...It’s believed that Citations are the world’s most established, well-liked and most trusted fleet of business jets. The jet has high-tech design of pilot-friendly flight decks and luxury cabin interiors. Birla is often spotted taking a ride in his luxurious aircrafts.”

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