Agendra Kumar, MD, Esri India consolidates his holding in the leading GIS Software and Solutions Company of India.
Esri India, the Indian arm of the world’s leading Geographic Information System (GIS) Software & Solutions provider has announced that its majority (51%) stake has been transferred to its Managing Director, Agendra Kumar. Esri India believes that this move will strengthen its leadership position the country’s leading GIS Software and Solutions Company.
“With this step of 51% Indian ownership, Esri India will again be recognized as an Indian company under the guidelines of DPIIT (Department for the Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade) and DST (Department of Science and Technology). So, now ESRI India will be able to obtain a process to disseminate geospatial data of any resolution of accuracy”, says Agendra Kumar, Managing Director, Esri India.
What lead to this decision?
The Government of India announced the new geospatial policy in February 2021, which stated that overseas firms in the geospatial solutions space can source geospatial data from Indian companies’ local servers but not own that data for less than 1 metre accuracy.
In compliance with the new geospatial policy, the decision was made. In November last year, Kumar said, “There has been a transition plan that we have initiated.” He also implied that he plans to acquire up to 60% stake in the company.
“Being an Indian entity, Esri India will be able to acquire, process, store and disseminate geospatial data without any restrictions. Esri India already offers more than 550 layers of geospatial data and over 130 solution products developed in India for its users through Indo ArcGIS and this Indian ownership will create more avenues for India-specific offerings,” added Kumar.
Esri India’s journey so far
Esri India started as a joint venture between NIIT and Esri Inc. in 1996, NIIT being the majority partner. Esri India has been in a transition phase since 2019 when NIIT Technologies Ltd. was taken over by Baring PE and NIIT’s holding in Esri India was acquired by Esri Inc.
With over 5 lakh users of Esri technology in India, the company counts more than 800 degree-granting colleges and universities, many smart cities and urban local bodies, government mapping agencies, state forest and water resource departments, and leading manufacturing and telecommunication companies amongst its customer base of more than 5000 organizations.
Recently, Esri India has entered into strategic partnerships with content providers like Here Maps, Genesys International, and Maxar to provide more solutions to GIS users in various segments like urban development, water and other utilities, forest management, agriculture, disaster management, etc.
Esri India has also partnered with leading private and government cloud infrastructure providers to deliver affordable, scalable, and robust GIS solutions to its users. The company is poised to add many more credible names to its customer base.
