SIVI PAUL
MANAGING DIRECTOR: UNITED LOGISTIC COMPANY
GROUP GENERAL MANAGER: SALEM KHALID AL JUMAIAN AND PARTNERS GROUP OF COMPANIES
The Art of Networking Global Logistics
Like any first-generation businessman, Sivi Paul had a humble beginning. He was born in a remote village, Neezhoor, in Kottayam district, as the sixth son of Paily Kurian and Chinnamma Paily. Sivi completed his schooling at St Joseph School Neezhoor and Viswabharathi High School. He completed his pre-Degree from Deva Matha College Kuravilangad, after which he pursued his Diploma in computer application from Universal College, Kottayam. Sivi then went to Delhi to further his prospects where he completed his diploma in computer hardware and networking from Jetking School of Electronic and Technologies. He joined Apex International as a data processor for a brief period and was later quickly promoted as the network administrator in the same company.
Sivi Paul was confident that a bigger world was awaiting \him. Though he had no idea where that was and how to reach there, Sivi was confident he would get such an opportunity if he made a sincere effort. That was how he reached Kuwait in 1998 and joined Al Kazemi Group of Shipping as Operation Executive. Within months he was promoted as the operations in-charge of the company and then its IT head. The experience there moulded the professional in him and honed his managerial skills. There he got the chance to collaborate with international shipping companies such as OOCL, Wan Hai lines Limited, K-Line and RCL to mention a few.
It was here that Sivi got the opportunity to attend many international conferences for the launches of new products, and such conferences opened a new world before him where he made acquaintances with many international personalities. It was his ability as the IT head that resulted in the successful installation of the ecommerce systems at RCL Kuwait, which is a Bangkok based company.
Slowly and steadily, the business group thrived and flourished under the able mentorship of Sivi Paul. In 2005, they started a trading company, Hadaf Al Khaleejia General Trading and Contracting Est. with 10 staff members, focusing mainly on the supply to the oilfields. The company was received with open arms in the Kuwait market and that was a testimony to the ability and anchoring that Mr. Sivi was capable of. Diversification later became his forte and in 2007, Sivi started Diesel Care Company in Shuwaikh with 15 staff. In a very short time, the company established a solid reputation for quality service delivery in the field of Fuel Injection Services in Kuwait. As the popularity of diesel-powered vehicles and applications increased over the years, the company made all efforts to maintain its strong prominence in this field. Endorsed by all major OE brands, including Bosch, Delphi, Denso, Stanadyne, CAT, Cummins and Zexel, it has direct access to the leading manufacturers, including their technical updates, official repair programs and spare parts.
Such experiences strengthened his business acumen and an opportunity presented itself when his Goan friend Merces Dias suggested to him to start a new company. That was how Sivi Paul started his company, named Super Middle East Freight and Logistics Company, in 2002 with only a handful of people alongside him. His brother-in-law Thomas Philip and brother Shibu Paul were part of the company from the beginning, and they burnt the midnight oil to establish it. Within two years the company established its presence. As they say all Roads leads to Rome. As destiny would have it, all these trials and tribulations paved the way to founding of United Logistics Company in 2004, with the support of six partners –Salem Khalid al Jumaian, Abdullah Thammar Al Humaida, Thomas Philip, Shibu Paul, Madhu Raveendran and Alex Zacharia.
Owing to his expertise in the field of logistics and identifying a gap in the Kuwait market Sivi started another venture, Hazmat Logistics Air Cargo Company, at Dajeej, in Kuwait. His business idea is to focus on certain niche segments instead of doing all business under one brand. Hazmat Logistics is specialised in the logistics of chemicals, hazardous materials and radioactive products. Unlike other cargo, transporting hazardous substances around the world has always been a complex procedure. However, Hazmat has well-trained staffers, who are fully conversant with all the latest rules and regulations for packaging, labeling, documentation and worldwide import/export procedures for the transport of dangerous goods. In 2013, Sivi started Boubyan Gas Manufacturing Company, which specialised in the industrial and medical gas field. Today, it is the world’s leading independent supplier of Industrial and Specialty Gases to the oilfield, Offshore and Medical markets, and it has over 100 staffers.
Being a computer professional, a business related to IT support and data server installation was always at the back of Sivi’s mind. This undying love for the field became the inspiration to start V3 Technologies, in 2017. This firm supports the IT backbone of National Bank, Al-Shaya Group, City exchange, Central Bank of Kuwait among other major organizations. It is specialized in the field of software, networks and servers for all government and private sector, oil sector companies, banks, and others. The biggest venture by Sivi Paul is United Logistics Co WLL, which he founded. He describes United Logistics as the mother of the Group Companies and rightly so. He is the Managing Director of the company, which is a one stop solution to all logistical movements, heavy lifts and offshore handling. It handles project cargo as well as luxury and general cargo with the same ease. While handling cargo, it has a personalized approach, be it air freight, sea freight or land freight and that has been the USP of ULC.
His journey thus far has been nothing short of astonishing especially over the last two decades. The group has also been appointed General Sales Agent for various airlines, the recent one being fly Dubai.
Most of the companies that Sivi launched are under the parent company, Salem Khalid Al Jumaian and Partners Group of Companies, of which Salem Khalid Al Jumaian is the Chairman and Sivi is the Group General Manager and his brother Shibu Paul is the Managing Partner. Salem is the son of the former minister of Communications and Labor and the former Member of Kuwait National Assembly. This Group seeks to foster the establishment of small and medium enterprises owned and managed by professional and skilled Kuwaitis, and it wants the government and the youth to benefit through different establishments in different fields by creating job opportunities.
What makes this business group unique is that it is actively engaged in philanthropy and Corporate social responsibility initiatives. The company its staff to participate in social services especially for the local community. During the COVID-19 pandemic/s Boubyan Gases supplied 8,000 oxygen cylinders and exported it to India in as sociation with Indian Embassy of Kuwait’s outreach. M/s Boubyan Gases was also. Part of the supply of Oxygen cylinders as joint venture with KALA Kuwait and Norka Roots.
Sivi Paul is married to Veena K. George, who was earlier working as staff nurse in the Ministry of Health, Kuwait. They are blessed with two children – Janet Anna Sivi, who is a degree student in Alphonsa College, Pala, and Joen Paul Si v i , a ninth standard student in Bhavans School.