Siemens was one of the first multinational corporations to set up base in India. The company successfully sent a telegram from London to Calcutta, now Kolkata, for the first time in history through an 11,000-km long telegraph line it had constructed. The telegraph line shortened the time required to send messages from Britain’s capital to India headquarters down from 30 days to 28 minutes. The project paved the way for Siemens strong relations with India which continue till date. The India unit of Siemens continues to be one of its largest sources of revenue today.

Nehru’s Industrial Policy & Siemens Nehru’s industrial policy reforms paved the way: Siemens set up its first manufacturing operation in Mumbai in 1955. In 1966, Siemens set up a factory at Kalwa in Thane to make motors. It also began its first full-fledged factory at nearby Worli, they started by making switchboards and later they started making drilling machines, health-care equipment, and railway signaling gears. Some of the future governments did not welcome foreign corporations with similar enthusiasm in a bid to boost indigenous industries. It was reported that, during the early days of Siemens, the streets would be deserted and there would a meagre number of cars which would be on the street. Today Siemens is one of the biggest multinational corporations in the world and India remains an important part of their revenue and production facilities.