The British East India Company was a major trading company that was based in Bombay (now known as Mumbai), India. It was founded in 1600 and was the first joint-stock company to be established in the British Empire. The company was granted a Royal Charter by Queen Elizabeth I, which allowed it to trade with the East Indies and other parts of Asia. The company's base in Bombay was an important hub for its operations and was the main port of entry for goods from the East Indies.