H T Barma Limited

H T Barma Ltd. was established in 1946 by the late H T Barma, J.P., and incorporated in 1952. Prior to this, the Barma family were already trading in Hong Kong as early as the 1890s when H T Barma's father, Tyebjee Motabhoy (below, left), came to Hong Kong as general manager of the Hong Kong branch of M/s A M Essabhoy which had offices in 11 major cities in India and the Far East.

The two World Wars had an impact on the parent company which led to the original owners consolidating their operations and leaving the managers with the choice of remaining and starting up their own offices which led to the establishment of M/s H T Barma in 1946.

The main business activities in those early days included dried fruits (raisins/apricots) and jute products (gunny bags/hessian cloth) out of India to be bartered for spices (cassia/aniseeds) and yarns from China.

Not only cargo, but also documents, personal mail and even sometimes passengers would brave hazardous journeys of over three weeks on small vessels of 3,000-4000 tons sailing at 9 knots.

As Hong Kong developped from an entrepot centre to a manufacturing centre, the activities of the firm also grew to include a wide range of items including torches and bulbs, lanterns, garments, toys, housewares and artificial flowers. With the help of the Chamber the company's markets have also expanded beyond India and the Far East to Africa, the Middle East, Europe and even as far South as Chile and New Zealand.