Shashi Soni, the chairperson of Hughes Precision, one of the leading arms manufacturing plant in Verna, has been honored with the prestigious Padma Shri award in the category of trade and industry. This recognition is an evidence to Mrs Soni exceptional contributions to the industrial sector and her steady commitment to philanthropy.
Shashi Soni, the chairperson of Hughes Precision, had an inspirational journey. Born in Lahore and having faced the challenges of partition, she moved to New Delhi and eventually settled in Bengaluru. Starting from a humble background, she embarked on her entrepreneurial journey with a modest transport business, Deep Transport, in Mumbai back in 1970. Her determination and hard work laid the foundation for what would become the Deep Group, a company with a turnover of more than Rs 13,000 crore.
The Verna-based Hughes Precision, chaired by Mrs Soni, operates in the field of ammunition manufacturing, having an impressive facility spread over 8,000 square meters. The plant, equipped with an in-house testing facility, has an annual production capacity of 80 million rounds, sticking to NATO and Russian military standards. Mrs Soni’s leadership has been instrumental in establishing Hughes Precision as a key player in the global arms manufacturing sector.
Beyond her success in the arms industry, Shashi Soni is a mixed entrepreneur. She is the founder of IZMO Ltd, a hi-tech company recognized as the world’s largest automotive e-retailing solutions provider. With over 1,200 customers worldwide, including automotive giants like Toyota, Lexus, Mitsubishi, Renault, and Ford, Mrs Soni has left an lasting mark on the automotive technology landscape in North America, Europe, and Asia.
Not content with her achievements in arms manufacturing and automotive technology, Mrs Soni is also the chairperson of the Deep Group, which has established industrial units in information technology, semiconductors, and defense, contributing to a turnover exceeding Rs 250 crore.
In addition to her business acumen, Shashi Soni is deeply committed to philanthropy. Through ‘Smart Shiksha,’ she has played an important role in educating over 1,000 children, showcasing her dedication to giving back to the community. Furthermore, Soni has been at the forefront of initiatives like Deep Janseva Samiti, empowering women from Mumbai’s slums with skills for livelihood.
Mrs Soni’s philanthropic efforts extend to launching a pension scheme for widows and establishing two credit co-operative societies in Mulund, benefiting both men and women. Remarkably, she served as the only woman member of the managing committee of the All India Industrial Gas Manufacturers Association for seven years. The Padma Shri awarded upon Shashi Soni is not just a recognition of her accomplishments but also a celebration of her resilience, vision, and commitment to making a positive impact on society.
