After changing the skyline of many global cities with his trademark flamboyant construction style, New-York based real estate mogul and billionaire Donald Trump is making his maiden trip to India this August. He would be accompanied by his son Donald Trump Junior, who would be on his second visit to India.
Though his India itinerary is being firmed up and is under tight wraps, cementing two new realty deals and scouting for fresh tie-ups to expand his company ‘Trump Organisation’s’ global footprint into India is set to be the high point of Trump’s India agenda, according to available information.
One of the two deals includes a yet-to-be announced residential project with existing partner Panchshil Realty in Pune. The formal inking of the Trump Tower deal in Mumbai, announced earlier with Lodha Developers, is also part of the agenda. The new Trump Tower project to be announced in Pune with Panchshil Realty would comprise 6,000 square feet sized river-front apartments spread across 1.2 million square feet, while the Lodha project comprises a 77-storey residential Trump Tower in Worli, in mid-town Mumbai.
The latter would be the signature tower in The Park project, which is part of Lodha’s 17.5 acre township in Worli. Sources indicated that the Lodha-Trump deal is valued at around ₹160-170 crore.
Both the ultra premium luxury projects would be owned, developed and promoted by local developers, with Trump lending only his brand name in return for a fee, as part of the brand licencing deal arrangement.
According to industry watchers, brand licencing tie-ups are a win-win strategy for both the sides, as it involves zero investment by the foreign party, and allows the local developers to leverage their Indian brand at a global level.