Roy Sagnik
Roy Sagnik (born October, 1967) is a China based Indian businessman, philanthropist, Sinologist, director of Xiyate Yongtong Co. Ltd. (TXYCO LTD.) and executive board member of Environmental Education Media Project (EEMP). He is also an advisor to various local government bodies in China.
Based in China for almost two decades, Sagnik is known in Chinese business circles as 'China's son-in-law' and is arguably the most successful Indian businessman in China.
At present Sagnik does not hold any executive position in TXYCO LTD.and has been giving a larger portion of his time and energy to promote environmental awareness mainly through EEMPin association with European Union, World Bank, UNDP and others.
Early life
Roy was born in Durgapur, West Bengal, to Dr. S.C. Roy and Alokana Roy. His family was middle class; his father was a Professor in an engineering college, his mother taught in a high school.
Roy attended Benachitty Junior High School (present St. Peter's) an old private school run by the Protestant denominated Church of North India and Bidhan Chandra Institution for his higher secondary education. He obtained bachelor’s degree in Sinology from Visva-Bharati University at Santiniketan. He moved to China and completed his higher studies on China from Beijing Language and Culture University.
Roy started his career as Office Manager of SinoFile Information Services Ltd.,a subsidiary of Capital Resources. He also worked as Vice President of Archean Groupand established its China operations.
Personal life
Roy married Tang Tianfu, a Chinese lawyer and businesswoman of Manchu origin and has one daughter. He leads a low profile life and is known to have interests in Daoism, Tantra and Socialism with Chinese characteristics. He also enjoys playing table tennis and badminton.
China
Often called China’s son-in-law,he is considered to be the most successful Indian businessman in China.
His China focused higher education, decades of on-the-ground work experience in China, contacts at political and bureaucratic circles, access and acceptance in Chinese society has made him a unique foreign resident of the Middle Kingdom.
Philanthropy
Roy began to realize the importance of environmental issues after he met John Dennis Liu, an American environmentalist based in China. Since 2002, Roy is actively involved in promoting environmental awareness issues through Environmental Education Media Project (EEMP) registered in California, Calcutta and Hong Kong.
Criticism and praise
Roy has been criticized for not diverting part of the company’s operations to India where he is originally from. Neither has EEMP done much in India in comparison to its work in China. His Chinese style of operations, though effective locally has met with cynicism in Western business circles.
Nevertheless his China success can not be disputed and is recognized both by local and foreign media.
Recognition
Strathmore's Who’s Who and Princeton Who's Who named Roy as one of the influential foreigners in China in 2007 & 2008.
CNN-IBN, Business Today, Business India, 中国经营报,Times of India, The Economic Times and other Chinese and Indian newspapers and magazines have hailed Roy’s China achievements of past two decades.
References
ICMR Case Studies and Management Resources “Sagnik Roy: An Indian Success Story in China”
Let’s “knot” forget Sino-Indian love
Doing business successfully in China, Sagnik Roy's way
Indian scholar makes it big in China biz
China’s Son-in-law - Sagnik Roy
A Bengali, a businessman & China's son-in-law