Retracing our Heritage

Gill & Co. was formed over 125 years ago by a British National - Mr. H. Gill with other British nationals in partnership with Mr. Khengar Thobhan and Mr. Meghji Thobhan, Senior Members of an Indian family known as the Meghji Thobhan family.

At the time, the company acted as brokers and agents in the purchase and sale of cotton in the domestic market and also played a leading role in the import and export of cotton from overseas, Gill & Co. was also responsible for introducing USA, Sudan, East Africa and Aden growths in the Indian market.

Until 1970, Gill & Co. was the leading importer of cotton, and represented some of India's Government exporting agencies as well as the world's most renowned trading houses. From 1970 onwards, the import of cotton was canalized with the formation of the Cotton Corporation of India Ltd, which imported approximately one million bales. Gill & Co. was successful in negotiating substantial business on behalf of their principals

Gill & Co. has been in the forefront of cotton export ever since private trade was allowed to export this commodity. The company branch in Karachi was particularly active in exporting cotton to leading buyers all over the world, before partition. When the Soviet Union decided to purchase cotton for the first time between 1948-50, the contract was entrusted to Gill & Co. Karachi, which gave them a more than satisfactory performance, resulting in a huge turnover.

In 1974-1975, long and extra staple cotton was allowed to be exported from India for the first time, Gill & Co. introduced these styles to the overseas market through their principals, mainly M/s. Ralli Brothers, Coney Ltd, now CARGILL COTTON, Liverpool and to quite some extent through M/s. Bambax, S.A. Geneva with support from the Cotton Corporation of India, Maharashtra State Cotton Marketing Federation, the Gujarat State Co-operative Cotton Marketing Federation.

After a long interval, the Government of India once again permitted private trade to export staple cotton in 1986. Of the total sales of staple cotton registered by the private trade for 2,44,504 bales, Gill & Co's shares was 87,809 bales i.e. nearly 36%, the highest registered by a private exporter.

In 1947 the partnership was incorporated into a private company, whose board comprised of four British and one Indian Director.

For several years, Gill & Co. is managed by members of the Meghji Thobhan family. Mr. Khengar Thobhan and Mr. Meghji Thobhan were associated with the Company from the time of its formation in 1886 and this association continues with successive generations of family branches making a notable contribution to Gill & Co's continued stability and progress.