In the 1950s, Ram Bhakta Saakha, the father of Ganesh Bhakta Saakha, was a Bhaktapur-based trader who traded in clothing, edible oils, coconuts and thread. After one hundred years in trade and business, Saakha Group can be considered as one of the oldest business houses of Nepal. To build on the company’s traditional business activities, Ram Bhakta Saakha sent his son to Mumbai (then known as Bombay) to study business. Upon his return from Mumbai, Ganesh Saakha started importing adhesive glues for industrial use in Nepal and further imported dyes and chemicals. At times, Ganesh Saakha also imported shoes, cloths and umbrellas from China but with the increase in demand for industrial intermediary goods, he decided to establish Nepal Polycal Industries. The establishment of the industry in 2035 BS in Hattisar marked the beginning of Saakhas as a business house in Nepal.
In the 1980s, Saakha Group entered into garment production but the business declined in the mid-2000s and the group had to withdraw from it. In 1983, the group established Nepal Paints Pvt. Ltd. in technical collaboration with a Korean franchise. Later, their Saakha Metal Industries started the production of non-ferrous metal sheets and circles (copper, brass, and aluminium sheets) which are primarily used in the production of utensils. In 1995, Saakha Steel Industries was founded which produced ToR-steel using a Luxemburg-based franchise. 15 years later, the company upgraded its plant to produce TMT bars. Today, it is one of the leading Nepali steel manufacturers. Ganesh Bhakta Saakha believes that his life as an industrialist actually started from 2041 BS onwards after his venture into large scale industries such as Nepal Paint Industries, Saakha Metal Industries and Unisa Polychem Industries.
In 2001, the group bought a 33 percent stake in Chemidrug Industries which is one of the oldest Nepali pharmaceuticals established in the 1970s. Saakha Group is also engaged in the import of automobiles, dyes and chemicals, solar products and prefab houses. Real estate, finance and education are other areas of business where Saakha Group has investments.