THE LEGACY
HH Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, launching the Arabic translation of the Dr Ram Buxani’s autobiography – “Taking the High Road”.
HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, Dubai Department of Civil Aviation and Chairman, Emirates Group with Dr. Ram Buxani.
HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President & Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai with Dr. Ram Buxani
The Ruler of Dubai late HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum with Mr. Murij Maghnani and Mr Adi Bitar, the first legal advisor of the Dubai Government.
The Ruler of Dubai late HH Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum with Dr. Ram Buxani
The Ruler of Dubai late HH Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum (centre) with the Founder Chairman of the ITL Cosmos Group, late Mr. M Udharam (2nd from right), late Mr. G B Mahbubani, former Chairman, ITL Cosmos Group(extreme left) and late Ahmad Sultan, the then Director of Customs.
OVERVIEW
International Traders (Middle East) Ltd. Is the first company in Dubai to receive a decree of incorporation from His Highness Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, regarded as the Father of Modern Dubai.
The Decree was issued five years after the company was founded in 1953 in Dubai, deriving growth impetus from the open-hearted approach of His Highness Sheikh Rashid to new enterprises.
Founded when Dubai was part of the Trucial States, ITL Group built its business-base from humble beginnings. Initially, textiles were the principal trade of the company. With the oil boom and the socio-economic prosperity that accompanied, ITL Group moved into consumer electronics- one of the first companies in the region to do so. Thus was born the Cosmos era- a new chapter in the retail sector of Dubai.
Since then, ITL Cosmos Group has consolidated its pole position in consumer electronics, IT and PC products, telecommunications, home and kitchen appliances, photographic products, business equipment, data and storage products, clocks and watches, personal grooming products, household products, office stationery, textiles, linen and luggage, food and personal banking
Today the group is active in manufacture, distribution, retail and financial services remaining at the forefront of the marketplace bringing the latest products and services to the customer. The Group’s success is a story of strife and reward, and the company’s growth is a direct result of the growth of the Emirates itself.
ITL Cosmos Group is synonymous with fair business practices, ethics quality service and commitment to society.
OUR PRIDE
ITL Cosmos Group is the first company in Dubai to receive a decree of incorporation from the Ruler of Dubai late His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum in the year 1958 – a matter of immense pride! The decree was issued five years after the company was founded in 1953 in Dubai, deriving growth impetus from the open- hearted approach of His Highness Sheikh Rashid to new enterprises.
The development of the group and the emirate Dubai have gone hand in hand complementing each other in growth, success and far sighted vision.
His Highness Sheikh Rashid’s decree was a turning point for the five – year- old company, which set to fulfil its mission-a promise to the Ruler to serve the community and work towards the prosperity of the nation.
Mission
ITL Cosmos Group will be a dynamic, growth –oriented enterprise that inspires team-members to be ambassadors of quality service excellence, while adhering to a strong code of corporate governance and corporate social responsibility, and work towards the welfare of all communities.
Vision
ITL Cosmos Group is committed to be a global leader in all chosen field with a reputation for performance, customer care, service excellence and transparency.
CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE
Success is a habit and Dubai proves this golden adage.
ITL Cosmos Group has imbibed its growth synergy from this dynamically evolving nation and today having accomplished our goals, we are setting new ones in tune with the demands of the future.
The Group was established at a time when there was no similar formula for growth in Dubai that we could replicate. After all, Dubai was not the gleaming metropolis that it is today. It was an evolving trading port and our founders realized the growth opportunity offered by Dubai. We surprised them with the warmth and welcome they received in this city — a tradition that still continues.
In this journey, our prime drivers are the customers and society. By aligning our goals with societal well-being, we are now proud to further strengthen our corporate social responsibility initiatives.
It is a journey of consistent innovation, one that has marked our evolution from Day One.
Dr. Ram Buxani (Ph.D, D.Litt), Chairman, ITL Cosmos Group
LEADERSHIP
Dr. Ram Buxani(Ph.D, D.Litt)
Chairman, ITL Cosmos Group
Dr. Ram Buxani, who has been a resident of Dubai for over five decades, is the chairman of ITL Cosmos Group.
Buxani’s name is synonymous with grit and determination, a quality required to succeed in the competitive city of Dubai. His achievements read like a credits sequence at the end of a movie with him having a hand in literally every aspect of the Indian community’s growth in the UAE. He is a prominent spokesperson of the NRIs and has played a key role in interacting with the Indian Government on their behalf. He is the Founder-Chairman of the Overseas Indians Economic Forum, a prime NRI organisation which subsequently merged with the Indian Business & Professional Council.
He has also received a shield from the President of India for his contributions to the NRI community. His involvement extends to institutions like India Club Dubai, of which he served as chairman from 2012 – 2015. He earlier chaired the Club from 1990 to 1994. He was also chairman of the Indian High School Dubai from 2000 to 2004. He is board member of Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs and is connected with various other charitable and voluntary organisations including Rotary Club of Jumeirah.
In 2004, Buxani was conferred a doctorate degree by Washington International University for his thesis ‘Governance of Dubai: The influence of tribal tradition in decision making, especially in the critical periods of the development of the city-state’. In 2015, Dr. Buxani was also conferred with a honorary degree of Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) by the D.Y. Patil University in Navi Mumbai.
For his unprecedented business and philanthropic contributions, he was felicitated with the ultra-prestigious Forbes (ME) Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017.
Late Murij Manghnani
Former Chairman, ITL Cosmos Group
Late Murij Manghnani was at the helm of ITL Cosmos Group’s formative years, giving it shape and always believing in teamwork as the basis of success. He was instrumental in the foundation of ITL Cosmos Group as a subsidiary of the Intra Group.
Manghnani has been an ardent believer of the need to contribute back to humanity. His philanthropic feats have a legendary tinge to it, even amazing people with his passion of distributing his wealth for worthy causes.
Never an arm-chair manager and never believing in corporate clichés, Manghnani led from the front, exuding warmth, always being human, supporting art and promoting culture all his life. He has been instrumental in sending thousands of Sindhi youths to work in various international locations, thereby helping countless households to stand on their feet. He set up various charitable trusts that run schools, colleges, nurseries, supports hospitals, cultural centres and geriatric care centres.
Having resided in the emirate of Dubai and among the well-known names in the city, Manghnani’s story is truly exemplary. His magnanimous philanthropic work and sharp business acumen have inspired many other success stories to arise out of the UAE.
THE HISTORY
| 1953 |
Company established in Dubai under the name of International Traders (East Africa) Ltd. |
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| 1958 |
Receives special charter from the Ruler of Dubai, H.H. Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum,on the 15th of July 1958 and changes its name to International Traders (ME) Ltd. |
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| 1960 |
ITL Group opens its first Departmental Store in Dubai under the name of Cosmos. |
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| 1969 |
Cosmos showroom opens in Deira.Universal Corporation started to handle indenting and wholesaling of Textiles |
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| 1970 |
Acquire majority shareholding of Ambassador Hotel, Dubai.Cosmos Branch opens in Abu Dhabi. |
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| 1974 |
ITL Corporate Head Quarters and Cosmos Showroom move to multi storeyed ITL House in Cosmos Lane, Bur Dubai.Branch opens in Muscat under the name of International Traders (Oman) LLC. |
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| 1976 |
Kwality Ice Cream Sharjah- a Joint venture with Pure Ice Cream Co Ltd, India, Regal Traders and K.M.Bros to manufacture Ice Cream. |
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| 1977 |
Acquire majority shareholding of the Astoria Hotel, Dubai. |
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| 1978 |
Ruler of Dubai congratulates ITL Cosmos Group on achieving 25 years of uninterrupted success. |
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| 1980 |
Cosmos sets up showroom in Sharjah. |
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| 1981 |
Al Razouki International Exchange Co’s 1st branch (Managed by Canara Bank, India) opens in Deira. |
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| 1983 |
Pan Arab Agency established.Branch of Al Razouki Exchange Co. opens in Bur Dubai. |
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| 1986 |
Cosmos Showroom opens in Fujairah. |
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| 1987 |
Cosmos Showroom opens in Ras Al Khaimah. |
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| 1988 |
Cosmos Galleria Showroom opens.New Cosmos Showroom opens in Deira. |
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| 1989 |
Kings Fortune General Trading LLC. established. |
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| 1991 |
ITL’s new textile wholesale division Intra’s opens. |
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| 1992 |
Al Razouki International Exhange Co., Karama Branch opens. |
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| 1993 |
ITL Cosmos Group celebrates 40 years of achievements in the UAE. |
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| 1997 |
New Cosmos Warehouse opens in Al Quoz Cosmos News – ITL Cosmos Group’s newsletter is launched. |
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| 1998 |
Cosmos celebrates 45th anniversary.ITL Cosmos Group website is launched. |
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| 2000 |
Cosmos enters IT sector through establishment of Micro Computer Centre in Dubai. |
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| 2003 |
ITL Cosmos Group’s new logo is unveiled.Cosmos JAFZ branch inaugurated.ITL Cosmos Group celebrates 50 glorious years. |
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| 2004 |
Cosmos new Office in Abu Dhabi opens |
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| 2006 |
On The Dot-a new clock showroom in Sharjah set up.Al Razouki International Exchange Co. celebrates Silver Jubilee. |
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| 2008 |
50 Years of ITL Cosmos Group and Sharp collaboration celebrated. |
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| 2011 |
Cosmos Group and Rhythm celebrate 50 golden years of partnership. |
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| 2012 |
Al Razouki International Exchange Co. inaugurates its new Head Office in Dubai.Al Razouki opens branch in Sonapur, Dubai. |
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| 2013 |
ITL Cosmos Group celebrates 60th anniversary of establishment in Dubai. |
THE LAURELS
ITL Cosmos Group, over the years, has been recognized with several laurels for outstanding customer service, commitment to quality of products and overall contribution to the society. These laurels are our inspiration.
