When Mr Mahesh Sivaswamy uprooted his family from Mumbai to Singapore in July 1999, he had little more than a dream and a small office on Anson Road with three staff.
Twenty-five years later, Transworld Group Singapore, the company he founded, has grown into a formidable US$400 million (S$518 million) enterprise with a presence in 11 countries and over 2,000 employees.
Mr Mahesh credits his father as his earliest inspiration. The late Mr R. Sivaswamy hailed from Kerala and founded his shipping and transportation business in India and the Middle East in the 1970s.
“My father always said: “Action without delay is the secret of my success.” That has guided me throughout,” Mr Mahesh told tabla!.
At the time Mr Mahesh chose Singapore as his base, most of his peers were heading westward. “Nine out of ten people were going to the US or Europe,” he recalled. “But I saw potential in Asia. Singapore wasn’t the number one port then, but it was already a critical maritime hub.”
With whatever savings he had, accumulated while working earlier for his father’s company in India, he decided to get into the business scene in Singapore.
Mr Mahesh’s first break came just months into his move, when Maersk Line, the world’s largest container shipping company, awarded him a modest feeder service contract from Singapore to Bangladesh.
The Danish conglomerate was then looking to expand their Singapore venture, and Mr Mahesh was seeking business. Their synergies matched.
“They were willing to understand what we were trying to do. That was our beginning,” he said.
Soon after, Mr Mahesh launched Orient Express Lines, running feeder routes to Chittagong and Nhava Sheva in India.
Two years later, he ventured into ship ownership through Liberty Navigation, buying second-hand vessels and later commissioning new builds.
In 2007, he founded BLPL Singapore, a liner services company that now operates across 15 countries with over 30,000 containers in circulation.
The company grew by focusing on niche markets – river ports in the Indian subcontinent that had draught (depth) restrictions as well as other problems – which made most large shipping lines shun direct operations to these destinations.
With the rise in customer demand for integrated solutions, Mr Mahesh launched Transworld Global Logistics Solutions, offering freight forwarding, warehousing and trucking.
Each company now operates under the Transworld Group Singapore umbrella.
While Mahesh led from the helm, the journey was very much a family voyage. His wife Mala has been his steadfast partner since the early days, managing both business and home while the couple’s young children, Mithila and Murli, adapted to their new lives.
Now adults, both children formally joined the company in 2023, taking Transworld into its next generation.
“There was a point when we thought, if all four of us didn’t settle in well in Singapore, we’d go back,” Mr Mahesh said. “But things fell into place, and Mala’s support, especially in those early years, was invaluable.”
Mr Mahesh’s strategy has always been rooted in regional expertise and staying nimble.
“We never tried to be a global giant,” he said. “Most global players are state-backed. We focused on Asia, from China and South Korea to the Indian subcontinent and East Africa.”
That focus has paid off. The company now boasts 10 verticals including ship owning, feeder services, ship management, linear shipping, container freight stations and wellness services for seafarers.
It continues to grow, with two more ships being bought this year and land expansions underway for new container freight stations across India.
“Shipping is asset-heavy and very cyclical. But whether it’s good times or bad, we remain cautious. That’s been key,” he said.
At Transworld’s recent 25th anniversary celebration at Raffles Sentosa, Mr Mahesh invited the CEOs of each vertical on stage, applauding their contributions.
“We started with four people. Today, we are more than 2,000. This is your celebration as much as it is mine,” he said in his speech.
“Despite turbulent waves, Transworld Group Singapore navigates steadily, a testament to Mahesh’s patient leadership and wisdom. Their stability and resilience inspire,” said Mr S.C. Chan, chairman of SeaLead, a privately owned global shipping line with presence in 51 countries.
Transworld’s future is already taking shape. With Dr Mithila, a clinical psychologist, and Mr Murli, an advocate and solicitor, onboard, Mr Mahesh is ensuring a smooth transition into a more digital, dynamic and diversified future.
He credits his culturally diverse team – which includes Indians, Chinese, Sri Lankans and Europeans – for propelling the business forward.
Only 85 employees are based in Singapore due to the high operating costs. The backbone of the operation runs seamlessly out of India.
Yet, as the group extends its reach across oceans, Mr Mahesh is clear that home base will always be Singapore.
“I succeeded in Singapore. My family are all Singaporeans,” he said.
“The success of all these companies under the Transworld Group are all Singaporean in nature. So our headquarters will always be here.”
