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Invest in India, Indore MP tells expats in UAE

Dubai - Lalwani has observed that in the UAE, "the Sindhi community in the UAE is doing so well".

While Indian expats are building their success stories in the UAE, they must also think about the development of their home country, said Shankar Lalwani, a first-time member of the Indian parliament (MP).
During a visit to Dubai on Sunday, the Indian politician told Khaleej Times: "There are excellent investment opportunities in the state of Madhya Pradesh, and there is a thriving community of people from the state here in the UAE."
He was joined by Ram Buxani, veteran entrepreneur in Dubai and chairman of the ITL Cosmos Group, and other officials.
The two discussed various issues faced by non-resident Indians (NRIs) in the UAE, and the MP provided an insight into developmental programmes in Indore city.
Lalwani, who represents the Indore constituency, had replaced eight-time MP and Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan.
He was also the former chairman of the Indore Development Authority, and he said he has a "grand vision for Indore's development".
"Over the years, NRI investment has drastically improved in Madhya Pradesh. Especially, in the infrastructure and trade sectors," he said. "The state offers high standards of education. There are several investments in the automobile, IT, food chain, and related industries."
Unifying the Sindhi community
While Lalwani represents the Indore constituency in the parliament, he is also the 'unofficial spokesperson' for the Sindhi community.
Buxani and the MP told Khaleej Times that currently, there has been a growing sentiment among Sindhis about unifying the community and preserving their culture and traditions.
"Though our community is happy and prosperous, our 7,500-year-old tradition is being lost. After the partition in 1947, Sindhis were scattered all across India and the world. 
"Now, there is a collective desire among the global Sindhi community to have a more unified voice," Buxani said. 
Lalwani has observed that in the UAE, "the Sindhi community in the UAE is doing so well".
"In fact, so many speak Arabic fluently," he said. "Our cultures have been greatly merged with local culture." The two called for a stronger drive to unify the community.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com