Gujarat to Host India's Largest Mall Following the World's Largest Office

The ongoing Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024 has garnered substantial interest from international leaders and companies, aiming to boost investments in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state. Among the prominent figures, MA Yusuff Ali, Chairman of UAE-based Lulu Group International, addressed the inaugural session and expressed the group's commitment to increased investments in India. Notably, the conglomerate is set to embark on the construction of a grand mall in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, touted as the largest in India.

During the summit on Thursday, Ali disclosed that the construction of the shopping mall, with an estimated cost of Rs. 3,000 crore, will commence this year. The project, announced in 2022, is part of Lulu Group's broader investment plan of Rs. 10,000 crore in India for various ongoing projects over the next three years, starting from 2024.

Upon completion, the mall is projected to generate employment for 6,000 people. The expansive facility is planned to house 300 national and international brands, India's largest children's amusement center, and a food court accommodating up to 3,000 people.

This development marks Lulu Group's third mall in India, following units in Kochi, Kerala, and Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. The conglomerate, headquartered in Abu Dhabi, has already invested over Rs 20,000 crore in the country and operates in 23 countries with an annual turnover of $8 billion.

The ambitious project aligns with Gujarat's position as a hub for major achievements, hosting not only the upcoming largest mall but also the world's largest office. The 'Surat Diamond Bourse,' inaugurated in December last year, surpassed the Pentagon in the United States, becoming the world's largest office. Spread over 35 acres in Surat city, the corporate campus was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 16.

BS