May 30, 2016: Japanese telecom and Internet giant Softbank, having made a string of technology investments in India, has said its investments in the country will top $10 billion in 5-10 years.
Owning Japan’s biggest mobile carriers and a controlling stake in US-based Sprint Corp, SoftBank will make its first $350 million investment in a solar project in India, its Chief Executive Masayoshi Son told PTI here.
“We have already invested $2 billion and we are interested in investing more,” he said. “India has a great future. We are interested in investing in Internet companies and also in solar energy. We would make strong commitments.”
Son said SoftBank is looking at accelerating the pace of investments in future.
He also added, “We also made a first move on solar energy. We are making $350 million investment in first project in solar (in India). We will expand. In next 5-10 years, we will definitely make probably around $10 billion of investments.”
Son said achieving the electricity generation target would depend on power purchase agreements being signed with offtaker states, adding that “we will support it”.
It paid $200 million for a 35 per cent stake in InMobi, an Indian mobile-advertising network.
SoftBank also has a JV with the Bharti Group, Bharti SoftBank, the investments of which include the mobile application Hike Messenger. Its other investments cover real estate website Housing.com, hotel-booking app Oyo Rooms and Grofers.
India’s market is poised for massive growth, making it an important destination for investors, said Son.
He said, “We are very very confident about India, so we will increase investment. I am not worried. I am very very excited about the opportunity.” on questioned whether concerns about high valuations would lead SoftBank to cut its planned investments in the country. Son, who had previously predicted that India’s e-commerce industry would become a $500 billion business in the next 10 years, is confident that it will grow exponentially.
“And it will become like China and become worth hundreds of billions of dollars,” he said.
Though India has lagged China on development of the Internet, SoftBank believes the country will grow strongly over the next decade.
On consolidation in the e-commerce space, he said, “We always thought that whenever there is an opportunity to win, I am sure there will be lots of co-operation.”
“On making investment, there is international stand on the rules. For example, if we make investment, then we want payment… there are international rules and standards and as long as India provides (that), we don’t need any advantage. As long as there is parity with international standards that is enough,” he said.
India is targeting generation of 100 gigawatt of solar power by 2022, up from around 5 gigawatt today
