Airtel is the best performing co in Asia

New Delhi, Sept 24: Bharti Airtel, India's leading telecom service provider, has beat Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Industries and global IT and consulting services leader Infosys, in the race for the best performing company in Asia across all sectors.

Bharti Airtel has been ranked 13th among the best performing Asian companies by the Business Week Magazine in the 'Asia Business Week 50' list, followed by Reliance Industries at the 17th place, and Infosys ranked 23rd.

Other major Asian companies who found themselves on the list include China Petroleum and Chemical ranked 25th, Yamaha Motors (45), Mitsubishi (53) and steel major Posco (70).

The Asia Business Week Magazine is an annual ranking of Asia's best performing companies across all sectors, which have been evaluated over both one year and three-year time frames.

''Getting featured on this list is a proud moment for all of us, and highlights our relentless pursuit to create a world-class organisation that provides best in class services,'' Bharti Airtel Chairman and MD Sunil Mittal said.

For Airtel, the Business Week said the company will spend 2 billion dollars on network expansions and marketing to reach underserved markets in rural India. Investors already like what they see.

Bharti Airtel delivered 30 per cent total shareholder returns in 2005, and 45 per cent over the last three years.

UNI