Indian businessman eyes Saudi market

A Mumbai-based entrepreneur, who has introduced a new multilingual digital version of the Holy Qur’an in India, is currently scouting for business opportunities in real estate, housing and textile sectors in the Kingdom.
Haji Arafat Shaikh, vice president of India’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and president of Maharashtra Navnirman Vahtook Sena, expressed concern about businesses owned by the Muslim community in India.
During his visit, Shaikh held talks with several Saudi businessmen, including Prince Mashal bin Fahd Al-Faisal Al-Saud in Riyadh and Mohammed Ali Siddiqui, a Riyadh-based businessman and social activist. The meetings stressed the importance of enhancing business tie-ups with Saudi business houses.
The visiting leader, who runs the Mumbai-based Yasser Arafat Charitable Trust, has launched a major multimillion-dollar housing project in India, and is looking forward to invest in the Saudi market, especially in infrastructure and garment sectors.
Shaikh noted that he is working on a project to export to Saudi Arabia a newly designed ihram — two pieces of seamless clothes worn by Umrah and Haj pilgrims — that is produced by his garment factory in India. According to him, the high-tech ihram will be available with a unique belt using global positioning system (GPS) chips to locate the user.
Shaikh described the digital Qur’an that he introduced in India as a unique interactive version that allows readers to listen to the holy verses in 22 different languages, including Arabic.
He expressed happiness for having visited Makkah and Madinah. “I feel very lucky that Almighty Allah has given me this opportunity to perform Haj and Umrah,” he said. “I prayed for the entire community.”