NRI, Gill, last year sold £8million for the
Harlequin chain of Indian restaurants- 16 restaurants
and 350 staff with a £12m annual turnover to
another NRI, decided to establish Scotland House in
India to explore Scottish businesses in Indian market.
Read More:
NRI for stronger ties between Scots, Indians
London, February 8, 2006
Nabanita Sircar
Hindustan Times
Scotland's Indian tycoon Charan Gill has launched
a bid to improve business links between Scotland and
India.
Gill of Glasgow has set up Scotland House in Delhi
to forge links with companies and entrepreneurs aiming
to expand. He aims to help Scottish firms tap into
the lucrative Indian market.
He said, "The number of friends and associates
who have been enquiring if I had any business contacts
in India has been growing to such an extent over recent
months that I felt I had to do something to help progressive
Scottish companies exploit the massive commercial
opportunities available to them in India."
"The opening of Scotland House marks the first
step towards realising my desire to build a bridge
which will enable Scottish businesses to explore markets
which they currently find daunting. SMEs in Scotland
don't have a phone for the local guy in India but
they have a phone number for me."
So he has made it his job to create a link "between
those people and the people in India".
"I have always believed business is done on
the streets. Business is done by people who know local
people. India is very entrepreneurial," he said.
He plans to promote investment in real estate and
business parks as well as the development of rural
areas and wants to work with Scottish colleges and
universities in an effort to attract students from
India.
He decided to establish Scotland House after a recent
visit to Tallinn in Estonia where friend and fellow
entrepreneur John McGlynn has set-up a similar venture.
The launch this week was attended by delegates on
a trade mission to Delhi which had been organised
by the Scottish Council for Development and Industry.
Gill, who last year sold his Harlequin restaurant
chain for £8 million, said, "I'm honoured
by the SCDI's support for Scotland House. As can be
seen from its current trade mission to India, the
SCDI is already doing a fantastic job here and I hope
to work closely with it, and other organisations,
to help foster business relationships.
"I think, for me to make this work, I have got
to spend more time in India. I want to spend time
between Scotland and India. They are my homes."
CURRY king Charan Gill is to visit tsunami victims
in Sri Lanka after raising £76,000 from a karaoke
night for entrepreneurs.
Mr Gill, who owns the Harlequin empire, invited 125
friends to a curry karaoke fund-raiser at his daughter's
restaurant in Glasgow to raise cash for the Hikkaduwa
Area Relief Fund.
The money raised was matched by a £25,000 donation
from Glasgow's Sikh community and the £100,000
donation will help build a school and orphanage for
needy kids in Hikkaduwa.
Entrepreneurs John Boyle Chris and Mary Gorman of
The Gadget Shop, and Jim McGonigle of Qube shoe shop
were among those invited to the karaoke night.
Mr Gill said: "I was watching TV when the phone
numbers came up to make a contribution. I was going
to call in and ease my conscience, but decided to
call my daughter Ceetl, who runs Curry Karaoke Club
with her husband.
"I asked if I could borrow the club for a night.
We set a date and I texted a few friends. Within two
hours all the seats were gone." Every penny raised
from the £40-a-head event went to the fund.
Staff worked for free and suppliers donated stock.
The Hikkaduwa Relief Fund was launched last month
by Glasgow City Council Lord Provost Liz Cameron and
businessman Neil Butler to help the people of Hikkaduwa
- an area of Sri Lanka where 6% of the population
died.
Mr Gill hopes a new primary school and orphanage can
be built with his contribution and has vowed to visit
Hikkaduwa in early March. He will also meet up with
Mr Butler, who has a hotel in the disaster-hit area.
Mr Gill added: "I promised everyone I would see
this through. I'm not one for just writing cheques.
"We need to do something for the children."
The Hikkaduwa Area Relief Fund currently stands at
just under £300,000. But once the latest donations
from Mr Gill, a recent chef's gala dinner and the
World is One concert are added, the figure is expected
to double. CURRY king Charan Gill is to visit tsunami
victims in Sri Lanka after raising £76,000 from
a karaoke night for entrepreneurs. (The Evening Time,
Glasgow)
