It is a boom time for Asian entrepreneurs, particularly the Non-Resident Indians, in Britain who are creating wealth at three times the pace of the country's economic growth while dramatically shifting to hi-tech sectors, according to a new study.
The real wealth of Asian business people jumped by 69 per cent between 1998 and 2005, according to Barclays, whose business banking division carried out the survey anlaysing the fortunes of the United Kingdom's 200 richest Asians in the eight years.
Over the same period the UK economy grew by 22.8 per cent. As well as dramatically increasing its total wealth, the group made a significant shift towards high-tech sectors, such as pharmaceuticals, information technology and the media, the study, published in The Daily Telegraph on Monday, said.
Number one in the survey was Mike Jatania who, with his family, sits atop a branded cosmetics business, Lornamead, valued at £650 million, followed by teh Patel brothers, Vijay and Bikhu, worth £455 million who have been on a 30-year mission to create an 'Asian Glaxo.' Pharmacy was the single biggest sector in the survey.
Third on the list is Lord Swraj Paul, Ambassador for Overseas British Business, whose Caparo Group has sales of £650 million. He is a member of the Lords select committees for science and technology and economic affairs, and is chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton.
"Asian wealth is now built on a much broader base of entrepreneurs who are challenging traditional stereotypes and making serious money in high-tech industries," Satish Kanabar, corporate director of Barclays business banking, said.
© 2026