Page 58 - Arabian Business

INDIAN ACES POWERED BY:

A q I BELIEVE THERE’S ALWAYS
A SPACE IN ANY INDUSTRY;
B
IT JUST DEPENDS HOW GOOD
C A FIGHTER YOU ARE, HOW
D COMPETITIVE YOU ARE,
E HOW ENERGETIC YOU ARE”
F
G

H
I
J

K
L
M
N Paras
O
Shahdadpuri
P
Q
R
Chairman
S NIKAI GROUP
T Retail
U THE ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY the UAE’s major retailers. It has even
of Paras Shahdadpuri has become the managed to penetrate the US.
V
stuff of legend in the UAE business Today, Shahdadpuri heads up all
W community. Perhaps the very definition 12 companies of the Nikai Group, a
of a late bloomer, Paras was edging conglomerate that deals in appliances,
X
towards his 50th birthday when he food products, outsourcing and
Y decided to risk it all and leave a long- restaurants from their offices spanning
term diplomatic career with the Indian China, KSA, Georgia and Russia.
Z Ministry of Foreign Affairs to embark on His achievements haven’t gone
a career in the corporate sector. In the unnoticed. From 1999 to 2001, the
20-plus years since, he has continued Indian business community elected
to prove that it was not only the right Shahdadpuri the UAE chairman of the
decision, it was an inspired one. Overseas Indians Economic Forum,
He initially intended to import with the job of promoting Indian
pre-branded electronics to the UAE companies and investment abroad.
and sell them at a profit, and that In 2005, he was awarded the
would surely have been a successful, prestigious Bharat Shiromani Award by
if small, enterprise. However, a former Prime Minister of India lK Gujral
Japanese supplier had a different in recognition of his business career.
idea: instead of simply importing the
products of existing companies, why
not create a new brand and sell the 60
products under that? So, the Nikai
company and product line was born –
and three decades later, despite the rise The number of countries
of Apple and Samsung, it remains one around the world in which you
of the top-selling electronics brands in can buy Nikai products
58 Vol. 19/04, January – February 2018