Sunshine Powers Joint Venture in India British Petroleum (BP) is a worldwide leader in the energy business and is involved in much more than just drilling for and refining oil. Solar power has not yet reached the point of being widely implemented around the world., but BP has an international department, BP Solar, which is devoted to making advances in and encouraging the use of solar power. The company is based in England but has spread across the globe. One of its most successful outlets originated when BP Sola joined forces with a successful Indian company, Tata Energy Tata BP Solar India Unlimited was born in 1989, and it has become one of the most successful and prestigious solar power companies in the world. The main Tata BP Solar manufacturing plant is in Bangalore, India and it has the capability to manufacture solar cells, assemble solar modules, and balance solar power systems. It is essentially a one-stop shop for manufacture, installation, and service of solar power systems. The solar photovoltaic and solar thermal products assembly plant is the largest assembly line of its kind in the country. Tata BP Solar provides solar power products for all India and provides a major supplement to BP Solar's production and manufacturing for the rest of the world. Engineers aid in developing new technologies to be produced at all BP Solar locations. Over 600 workers are employed at the three manufacturing centers and eight offices that the company owns in India. Photovoltaic technology converts sunlight directly into electricity. Tata BP Solar is one of the worldwide leaders in manufacturing photovoltaic systems, which consist of a panel of individual solar cells bonded together electricity. Sales of these systems are on the rise, as concerns about utilizing renewable sources of energy are becoming more prevalent. Almost 60 percent of the company's sales come from exporting photovoltaic systems, mostly to high-cost markets such as Europe and the United States. They have also had some success in crating solar markets in nearby Asian and Middle Eastern countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Dubai. A major solar power and BIB 2014 (BBA/BBAIB) JULY 2021 4/5 communications project has been undertaken in Bhutan, linking small villages and hamlets trough telecommunications, Tata BP Solar earned the contract to provide solar power for the corDECT telecom network, which now spreads all over Bhutan. Seeing Bhutan's success network in Afghanistan asked Tata BP to provide solar power for their budding network British Petroleum is a good example of a company that started with its original home base and expanded all over the world. BM markets its solar products in North America, Europe, Asia and Australasia. By purchasing existing foreign energy companies, BP has become hugely successful. The purchase of existing companies is often advantageous compared with starting new company in a foreign nation, as the existing company is already established. It takes capital to do this, but it is wise because the foreign company is already established. The original names are still used by many of the companies that SP has purchase, including Amoco, Arco, Sohio, Castrol and Aral, all of which are major gasoline suppliers. BP has expanded its repertoire beyond the energy business, as it owns the am pm convenience store brand that is located at many of its Arco locations, as well as the Wild Bean Caf brand, which sells coffee products, deli sandwiches and desserts International expansion is the goal of most large business, but it can be extremely difficult. British Petroleum has successfully positioned itself as an international energy powerhouse through its wise investments and purchase. Based on the case study, answer the following questions: a) Explain the reason why British Petroleum has been successful in securing an international reputation (4 Marks) b) Provide and elaborate four (4) reasons why might india be a good location for a company developing solar power products. (12 Marks) c) Elaborate two (2) pros and cons each of British Petroleum's approach to managing foreign (12 Marks) direct investments. d) Based on your opinion, analyze the relevance for allowing these companies to maintain the management that already in place and allow them to operate with some independence from BP. (8 Marks)