Jonathan Reynolds praises Ratan Tata’s ‘role in shaping British industry’

THE UK business and trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds has paid homage to Ratan Tata as a “titan” of the business world who played a huge role in shaping British industry.

Soon after news broke of the Tata Group chief’s death last Wednesday (9), Reynolds took to social media to offer his tribute.

“Sad to hear about the passing of Ratan Tata. He was truly a titan of the business world and someone who played a huge role in shaping British industry,” the minister said. “My thoughts and prayers are with his friends, family and everyone in the Tata Group.”

Reynolds was among several world leaders who paid tribute to the Indian businessman.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu condoled Ratan Tata’s death, calling him a champion of the friendship between Israel and India.

In a post on X addressed to prime minister Narendra Modi, Netanyahu highlighted Ratan Tata’s contributions to fostering Israel-India ties.

“To my friend, prime minister @narendramodi. I and many in Israel mourn the loss of Ratan Naval Tata, a proud son of India and a champion of the friendship between our two countries,” he said last Saturday (12).

Netanyahu also asked Modi to convey his condolences to Ratan Tata’s family.

Last Thursday (10), Singapore prime minister Lawrence Wong paid homage to Tata, calling him a true friend of his country.

French president Emmanuel Macron expressed his condolences last Friday (12), praising Tata’s contributions to innovation and manufacturing while acknowledging his role in strengthening industries in India and France.

In India, Reliance Industries’ Mukesh Ambani paid his last respects to Tata in Mumbai last Thursday, along with his family – wife Nita, son Aakash and daughter-in-law Shloka.

At an event last Wednesday in London, Chandrajit Banerjee, director general of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), said, “Mr Ratan Tata led many CII delegations across the world and really showed us the way on how Indian companies’ footprints would be spread around the globe.

“In his memory, it is good to pledge from the Indian industry side that this (India-UK) economic and commercial corridor would be deepened and taken forward in the spirit in which he started the globalisation of Indian companies.”

It was during Tata’s tenure as chairman of the Tata Group that the multinational made several high-profile acquisitions in the UK – taking over Anglo-Dutch steelmaker Corus, luxury car brands Jaguar and Land Rover (JLR) and Tetley tea.

The Tata Group’s footprint in the UK includes its ownership of the country’s largest steelworks at Port Talbot in south Wales, currently undergoing a mega green transformation towards an electric arc furnace. The steel giant is one of Europe’s leading steel producers, with a presence in the Netherlands and the UK, and manufacturing plants across Europe. Its tube products are used across industries, including construction, machinery fabrication, energy and automotive.

In July last year, the Tata Group said it would invest £4 billion in a new electric vehicle (EV) battery plant, or gigafactory, in Britain which will create thousands of jobs across the supply chain.

In 2004, Tata, then chairman of Tata Sons, summed up his group’s efforts to internationalise its operations: “I hope that 100 years from now we will spread our wings far beyond India, that we become a global group, operating in many countries, an Indian business conglomerate that is at home in the world, carrying the same sense of trust that we do today.”