A TRUMP ON TRADE

AS FOUNDER OF EXPORT TRADING HOUSE EXIM (HK) LTD, THERE IS HARDLY A COMMODITY THAT HONG KONG-BASED MAHESH SAVLANI HASN’T TRADED IN. TINA THAKRAR SPEAKS TO HIM ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES TO BE ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S MOST SUCCESSFUL SELF-MADE BUSINESSMEN

- TINA THAKRAR

As a born and bred Mumbai boy, Mahesh Savlani often heard his father being referred to as a ‘self-made man’. Intrigued and ambitious, Mahesh felt an urge to be one himself. It’s what motivated him to become who he is today - a successful businessman from Hong Kong engaged in the export of everything from general merchandise to electronics, kitchenware and furniture.

The founder and director of export trading house Exim (HK) Ltd, Mahesh runs his business from a booming head office in Hong Kong, and multiple smaller offices in China. The products he ships are exclusive, and testament to his ambition of not fitting into any boxes. He makes his own choices, runs his business as per his own terms, and unapologetically revels in his success.

“I was never one to fit into the public mould. I wanted to do something different, and focused my attention on exclusive products rather than run-of-the-mill items. We export the premier versions of furniture, vehicles, marble, electronics and home appliances, kitchenware and general goods - almost everything besides clothing and footwear.”

Mahesh may be inching close to 60 now, but the groundwork for his professional career was set between the ages of 17 and 25. Personally though, the story goes back to his childhood in Worli, Mumbai, his schooling at the St. Xavier’s Boys’ Academy and his college life at Jai Hind College as a medical aspirant pursuing a Bachelor of Science.