Dubai-based Lulu group — a leading group of retail shopping centers in Gulf countries — led by its Chief Executive Officer Saifee Rupawala on Friday expressed keen interest to start its venture in Punjab through an integrated project preferably in Mohali. 

During an interactive session held at Invest Punjab — a one-stop platform for all business related regulatory clearances and approvals, the Group evinced that it already had a vast network of 157 retail shopping centers in Gulf and other countries, and now they are contemplating to introduce an integrated project having shopping centre, convention centre and hotel in Punjab.

Group CEO Saifee Rupawala apprised the state Additional Chief Secretary Investment Promotion Vini Mahajan that Lulu group had come up with a largest mall in India at Kochi, where the daily footfall was around one lakh and they also plan to launch the similar project in Punjab. 

He desired that Company needs a chunk of nearly 25 acres of land for the proposed project.

The delegation comprising Chief Operating Officer of Lulu group international Saleem VI, Directors Salim, Ananth, Buying Manager Zulfiker K and Manager PDD Shamim S also expressed keen interest in import of fresh vegetable, fruits, basmati, organic products, milk products etc.

Assuring support and excellent infrastructure from the Punjab Government, Mahajan said Punjab was offering immense potential for global investment and capital fund companies with a great thrust on industrial and infrastructure development.

She informed the delegation that Punjab Government had signed a MoU with Airports Authority of India to begin Perishable Cargo Centre at Amritsar airport, which will be made operational by December 2019.