Rijul Sankhla, the co-founder and managing director of Sakshi Resources, shares insights on the company’s journey, future plans, and the importance of adopting industry best practices and technologies.
Sakshi Resources has established a strong presence in major markets across Asia and Europe, aiming to maintain a 20 percent year-on-year growth rate over the next five years.
Rijul Sankhla, co-founder and managing director, stated that the company was founded with the goal of providing top-tier solutions for complex urban and industrial infrastructure projects. He highlighted the company’s strategy to expand its footprint in key growth markets to meet its targets in the coming five years.
“We are poised to succeed in key markets such as the UK and the MENA region, building on our success in India. We have ample funds to undertake new projects in both the UK and the MENA region,” Sankhla explained.
Sakshi Resources operates as a non-government company. Since its inception in 2013, the company has been committed to delivering projects on time, utilizing the latest infrastructure technologies and world-class management techniques. As a rapidly growing infrastructure company, Sakshi Resources offers services in mining, marine engineering, civil construction, electrical engineering, road engineering/slip-form paving, and concrete manufacturing.
Successful Start
Sankhla, who has been pivotal in promoting the business, elaborates on the company’s journey, future plans, and policies for adopting industry best practices and technologies to retain clients and sustain robust double-digit growth in the coming years.
“We began our journey a decade ago, initially concentrating on the EPC and building material business. We later expanded into petrochemicals, aviation, and real estate, establishing a strong presence in the UK, MENA, and Asia Pacific regions,” he said.
“We are enhancing our presence in key European markets through our UK office and are seeing promising results that will help us achieve our objectives,” he added.
Middle East Focus
Sankhla noted the company’s significant growth over the past five years, securing 51 major projects, with 21 currently underway in key markets across Europe, Asia, and the MENA region.
“In 2019, we established the Middle East Division to focus on the region’s expanding market, allocating Dh257 million for investment by 2029. We have already invested Dh168 million, or 65 percent of this budget, over the last financial year,” he stated.
He also mentioned that Sakshi Resources has 35 percent of its budget available for further investment and is actively seeking the best opportunities in the industry. “The Middle East, particularly the UAE, has shown exceptional growth in recent years. We are confident in our success in key growth markets such as the UK, UAE, and the Gulf region following our achievements in India. We have adequate funds for new projects in both the UK and the UAE.”
“The Middle East, and the UAE specifically, have demonstrated excellent performance recently. The ease of doing business provided by the UAE government is unparalleled globally,” he remarked.
European Journey
Sankhla, a rising leader, mentioned that Sakshi Resources has initiated its European operations through its UK office, focusing primarily on marine engineering, while its Hong Kong office manages the commodities business.
“We anticipate significant growth across all business verticals in Asia, Europe, and the MENA region in the coming years. We expect to see approximately 20 percent year-on-year growth by 2029,” he said, citing a KPMG audit.
Regarding the company’s approach to project financing, Sankhla explained that Sakshi Resources prefers internal financing by reinvesting profits, minimizing delays, and maximizing efficiency. “We rely primarily on internal financing to support operations. While we limit long-term external financing, we appreciate our banking partners such as Emirates NBD Bank, First Abu Dhabi Bank, and Canara Bank Limited. Their support is crucial for our aspirations,” he noted.
Discussing the company’s best construction practices and technologies, he said Sakshi Resources always implements the best solutions available.
“We adhere to international best practices, following ISO 27001 certification guidelines. Most of our senior technical staff are highly qualified and experienced in compliance and industry best practices, having previously held positions in various public sector enterprises. Our exclusive partnership with Schwing Stetter ensures that we deploy top-quality equipment operated with utmost efficiency,” he stated.
Challenges Still Remains
Sankhla, who holds degrees in Finance, Financial Law, and Business Management from the University of London, acknowledges that competition and challenges are part of business, and his company is resilient enough to face difficult situations.
“We have successfully navigated many challenges since the company’s inception in 2013. A particularly challenging period was during 2018-19 when the company experienced rapid growth but faced an unsupportive financial market and the subsequent pandemic. However, as 60 percent of our operations were deemed ‘essential services,’ we focused on and optimized these operations, allowing us to weather the storm,” he added.
On the company’s Unique Selling Proposition (USP), Sankhla explained that Sakshi Resources distinguishes itself by offering products and services at competitive prices while maintaining reasonable margins. This strategy ensures affordability for customers and expands the company’s market share. By prioritizing competitive pricing, Sakshi Resources attracts more customers and establishes itself as a preferred industry choice, reflecting its commitment to delivering value while driving growth and profitability.
“In business, we prioritize value creation over pure financial gain, taking a non-traditional approach. Through hard work and determination, we strive to exceed our targets,” Sankhla concluded.
Who is Rijul Sankhla?
Rijul Sankhla is the son of the late Dr. Rajesh Sankhla, the founder of Sakshi Resources. He specialized in finance and financial law at the University of London. His innovative ideas and global vision have positioned Sakshi Resources as a leading company in its industry. With his broad vision and ambition, he aims to elevate Sakshi Resources to global recognition.
