 Whether lured by India’s rising business opportunities, or a simple tinge of nostalgia, these NRI businessmen have relocated to their native Punjab to set up ventures.
Their numbers are still small—there are roughly two million expatriates of Punjab-origin—but they certainly represent a trend that augurs well for the state, which desperately needs NRI investment to boost its sagging economy.
Some of them are replicating success stories, while others are creating new business models. Simply Punjabi profiles eight such entrepreneurs.
Observing the vast potential in IT in India, these two brothers came up with a successful database company in Mohali. Ajay, 38, based in Mohali, is the company’s CEO, and Sanjai, 42, who now lives in Tokyo with his Japanese wife and children, is the chairman. Although not Punjabi, these brothers invested in Punjab and have no regrets.
Sanjai, armed with a PhD in software engineering from Stanford University, set up a consulting company in California, SmartData Enterprises Inc, in 1996. In 1999, the company expanded to India, starting with a team of four members, which has now grown to 300.
“We decided to focus more on India as there are more possibilities here,” says Sanjai. Their company is export orientated, making websites and databases for real estate, healthcare, e-commerce, community portals and infotainment for clients in the US, UK, Europe, Australia and Singapore.
“We are fully satisfied and happy,” says Ajay. “Punjab is very positive towards IT growth.” The company’s future looks bright as they plan on expansion, to several places around the country, including Nagpur, Jaipur, and Dehradun.
By Ramesh Vinayak and Priya Gill.
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