His first venture was to open the Hong Kong branch of his father's firm in December of the same year - in partnership with Premchand Roychand and others. His reputation as an industrialist was based on the cotton mills he started. In 1871 he began to promote the "Central India Spinning - Weaving and Manufacturing Company - Limited" - and built from scratch the Empress Mills in Nagpur. Opened on New Year's day - 1877 - this immensely successful cotton mill developed business practices which remained the hallmark of this business house for years to come. Who