About Jignesh Shah

Jignesh Shah is the Innovator of modern financial markets through PPP model. Instrumental in changing the contours of exchange trading in India and emerging economies. He is Founder of Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) - One of the world’s largest commodity futures exchange, also Dubai Gold & Commodities Exchange (DGCX), Bourse Africa, Indian Energy Exchange (IEX), Bahrain Financial Exchange (BFX) and Singapore Mercantile Exchange (SMX) among others.

Jignesh Shah is Ranked among the ‘Top 30 Global Innovators in e-finance’ by Institutional Investor in 2008, & Listed among ‘Dominant Financial & Futures Industry Leaders for 2008’ by Futures Industry Association (FIA), Washington. 

Jignesh Shah, the man responsible for the evolution of Indian 

Stock Exchange system

Hard work of Jignesh Shah made to the headlines in a short span of his career because his vision in shaping the Indian financial market was stupendous. Although he is a qualified electrical engineer, he used his knowledge in building the bridge of trade exchange in favor of emerging economies across the world. 

Shah played a vital role in the development of successful Public Private Partnership (PPP) model and IP-centric financial markets which brought huge growth to the participating countries.

Shah’s first achievement  was Financial Technologies India Ltd (FTIL) that provided software to capital market for smooth functioning. Stock Exchange Markets incarnated in the form of commodity exchange with the launch of MCX in 2003 as it was the first time for Indian markets to trade commodities. MCX is Shah’s biggest accomplishment.

Mr. Jignesh Shah

Soon he set up a series of stock exchanges beyond the Indian shores. However, the list of business endeavors for the leading tycoon is endless, as he is focused on setting two start ups: JS Innovation Lab and Startup Networks. These two firmswill provide incubation support to other associations.

Shah’s passion made his company  FTIL win the "Exemplary Innovation Promoting CSR" in 2009 and NASSCOM’s “Social Innovation Honours – 2010”. Also the company organized a Gramin Suvidha Kendra programme to create more than a million job opportunities in the commodities’ ecosystem.Not to forget, Shah himself earned many awards like the “US-India Businessman of the Year”, “Young Global Leader” by WEF, “Global Social Entrepreneur” by Rotary International, etc due to his contemplation and skill.

Shah has been a business magnate, a national visionary, a philanthropist and an inspiration throughout his life, and promises to continue in the future.

Reason to get inspired with Jignesh Shah

Jignesh Shah is often acknowledged as the ‘Innovator of Modern Financial Markets’ for he has delivered an unparalleled role in creating a successful Public Private Partnership (PPP) model  to build world-class financial institutions. 

The man was quite decided even when he was just eight years old. He said, “My mind was made up when I was in second grade. I knew I wanted to do engineering, go abroad, set up my own business.” What could have been dismissed as childhood whims then cannot be even questioned now as Jignesh now owns Financial Technologies, a global leader in creating and operating technology-centric financial exchanges for stocks, commodities, currencies, and bonds among other asset classes.

Under the aegis of Jignesh, FTIL Group launched MCX in 2003, which is one of the world’s largest commodity futures exchange as per the Futures Industry Association (FIA).

Jignesh has also featured among FIA’s Futures Industry Magazine (Nov-Dec 2008) as a leading innovator. He has been the recipient of the ‘E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year’ award for business transformation, has been recognized by CLSA as one of the ‘Top 20 Indians’ who can change the face of world business and has been inducted in their Hall of Fame, among many other acknowledgements.

Jignesh has passionately fulfilled his Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives such as ‘Gramin Suvidha Kendra’ in association with India Post and ‘Pragati’ with Rotary International to empower the underprivileged communities.

Mr. Shah on revolutionizing the financial world

Technology has dug its claws everywhere. There is no one in this age that doesn’t use modern technology. It's present everywhere in office, in homes, in colleges, schools, etc. Mr. Jignesh Shah supporting this fact gave a public lecture at an event of NUS business school. According to him, technology has revolutionized the way we live and also has empowered the financial community of the world. 

He himself as a 1st generation pioneer entrepreneur gave a push to financial markets in India and of other international countries, which also includes Singapore. He made use of innovative ways of promotion, cost-effective technologies due to which he became one of India’s self-made billionaire just by the age of 40. More than 140 people attended this event, which also included advisory council members of CAMRI and excited students of NUS business schools and its alumni. After his lecture, he answered one- on- one questions asked by the audience. The discussion included topics like various benefits of technology in financial markets, commodity trading advantage in Asia and how Singapore is an exchange trading hub asked by Joseph Cherian, a finance professor and director of CAMRI.

On which Mr. Jignesh Shah stated that as compared to London and Chicago trade systems, Singapore exchange trading needs a clearer perception and detailed execution. And that would take almost 10 years. More questions on exchanges was raised by industry practitioners and MBA students of the university, which lead to a discussion on how to create a better transparency in commodity exchanges with the help of technology and what are the regulations to follow. The event was given a warm ending by Professor Bernard Yeung, the dean of this business school. He thanked Mr. Jignesh Shah for sharing his experienced knowledge, which surely would inspire and encourage business leaders of the future.

FTIL, the crowning glory of Indian technocrat Jignesh Shah

Financial Technologies (India) Limited (FTIL) is a company that has given a massive breakthrough to Indian markets from the time of its inception. Initially, in 1995 when the company was founded no one knew at that time, that in contrast with other prevalent financial services setups, FTIL with its domain expertise would lure maximum business to the management. The company is a leading player to provide solutions for technology IP (Intellectual Property), messaging, Exchange or Brokerage solutions, technology and process consulting.

Jignesh Shah administered FTIL, the financial product company that is the parent company of MCX. With a clear vision to make India the finest commodity trading hub, Shah put in his heart and soul to establish his company as one-of-its-kind.

During 1995, due to his go-getter attitude, Shah was not ready to let any opportunity pass by. With his skilled workforce and objective approach,he attacked all high transaction density markets, whether commodity, equity, currency or bond. The rewards were overwhelming. In no time FTIL evolved from five working terminals to a team of 5,000. Additionally, the company was a power sector for every major internet site and covered 80 per cent of the domestic base.

Mr. Jignesh Shah

FTIL, under the leadership of Shah, was all set to make its big move in 2002 in currency market. After applying to RBI, the company managed to acquire license for an inter-bank foreign exchange trading platform, IBS – Forex, with ease. Eventually almost 30 per cent of the market share is in control of FT as it waits for currency market to open up. Shah’s far-sightednessand wisdom has laid the strong foundation of FTIL basis which it is creating successful exchanges in markets and moving ahead to achieve pinnacles of triumph.

Jignesh Shah – India’s genius in financial market

Jignesh Shah is the only name that comes to our minds when someone talks about the Indian capital market. Shah is the one who remarkably took Indian stock exchanges to exemplary heights and made it exceptionally competitive in the global arena.He started his career with a degree in electrical engineering from Mumbai University that could have brought him a job in any renowned company with ease. But Shah had a clear vision for himself and chose to acquire a job in the Bombay Stock Exchange. While working, he managed automation of trading systems at BSE and also travelled around the world to learn about stock exchange operations.

Shah’s mighty show of excellence manifested with the launch of Financial Technologies (India) Limited, (FTIL); a company that provides financial market software to brokers and other market participants. It was just the beginning of hissuccess, and he surged ahead with launching various stock exchanges in India and abroad. Shah’s biggest achievement surfaced in 2003 when he set up Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) that in a short period, witnessed trading of more than $2 billion in a day. In just a decade, MCX was responsible for 1% of the nation’s GDP which observed the cumulative income of Rs 3,600 crore. Further, MCX was considered to be the second and third highest in volume exchange of silver and gold trade respectively throughout the world.

And that’s not all; Shah has laid the foundation for his two startups in technology domain, namely, JS Innovation Lab and Startup Networkz that would provide incubation support to existing startups. Carrying on the mantle of providing quality to the masses has been the hallmark for Jignesh Shah. He has received various awards that explain his hard work, dedication and artistry in stock exchange market.