London: Leading London-based NRI industrial tycoons, the Hinduja family has topped the Asian Rich List 2019 for the sixth successive year with an estimated net worth of 25.2 billion pounds, an increase of over three billion pounds over the previous year.
According to the list released at the Asian Business Awards here Friday night, steel magnates Lakshmi Mittal and his son Aditya Mittal remained in second place, with 11.2 billion pounds- down 2.8 billion pounds. SP Lohia (Petrochemicals) took the third place with 5.8 billion pounds.
India’s High Commissioner to the UK Ruchi Ghanashyam released the list which is a compilation of the 101 wealthiest Asians in Britain, highlighting exceptional entrepreneurial achievement over the last 12 months.
The entries of the list 2019 have a combined wealth of more than 85.2 billion pounds. The figure is increasing year on year and this year’s overall wealth has increased by over five billion pounds.
The list features seven new entries, including Hotelier Joginder Sanger and his son Girish Sanger who enter at No. 40 on the list with an estimated value of 300 million pounds.
Leading NRI entrepreneur Lord Swraj Paul and family are 17th in the list with a net worth 900 million pounds – an increase of 100 million pounds over the previous year.
Shailesh Solanki, executive editor of Asian Marketing Group (AMG) publisher of the ‘Rich List’ said, “The Asian Rich List is carefully compiled by a team of experts and it is the definitive guide to Asian wealth in Britain.”
Gopi Chand Hinduja, co-chairman of the Hinduja Group said “Our existing portfolio of companies is all in the sunrise sectors. Our focus is on banking and financial services, healthcare and of course, philanthropy.”
In this city, the Hindujas are continuing with the conversion of the Old War Office, on which they have a 250-year lease, into a luxury residential and 125-room Raffles Hotel complex. He also stated that in India, there has been investment worth Rs 1,000 crore (108 million pounds) in car and bus manufacturers Ashok Leyland, where Gopi’s younger son, Dheeraj Hinduja, is chairman.
Gopi also added, “All our businesses are going through a digital transformation journey.”
PTI