Bhubaneswar, Aug. 23: The city is attracting a new set of entrepreneurs from outside the state. And these new-age businessmen are flying in from places such as Jaipur and Calcutta, ignoring the lure of operating from metro centres.
These entrepreneurs say that they have descended here because of the high-end clientele it offers and the city's comfortable environment that would help their business grow.
Meet Sapna, 24, who hails from distant Jaipur. Her dream of becoming an entrepreneur came true here. Last year, she read a World Bank report that described the temple city as a great place for doing business. She knew her destination and lost no time in heading for the city to test her entrepreneurial skills.
"I wanted a friendly and safe environment since I was a beginner in entrepreneurship. My dream of taking art and crafts and handlooms of Rajasthan outside the state took shape a couple of years ago in the form of my boutique, which I named Hri. But I was confused where to begin," she reminisced.
"When I read that the World Bank has ranked Bhubaneswar as a top-notch city when it comes to start a business venture, I knew my calling. I had no doubts that I would begin my business here," said Sapna. She now runs her apparel and crafts store in an upmarket area near the Kalinga Stadium.
Much like Sapna, Arun Bera from Calcutta, who is an art dealer, is extremely happy with his decision to base his business here.
Bera decided to move here as he felt that Bhubaneswar was a city of high-end clients.
"I saw all the world's best four-wheeler brands whenever I visited the city. I got convinced that people here are willing to spend on deserving items. Plus, with its rich heritage of art and culture, Bhubaneswar was the best place for setting up the headquarters of my art gallery. So, though I had centres in Calcutta and Mumbai earlier, I chose Bhubaneswar as the headquarters for my venture," said Bera.
He has also opened an ice-cream parlour in the city that offers international brands of repute.
Interestingly, it is not now that people from different states are moving to the city for business. Many traders and businessmen from Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Bengal, Bihar and many other states have been settled here since decades and flourishing in their respective fields. Many of them have become the leading names in their chosen field. But, there seems to be something different about the new-age entrepreneurs.
"Bhubaneswar was always friendly to businessmen from outside the state. But that information was reserved for those who came here and witnessed it first hand," said Sanjeev Marik, a veteran businessman from Bengal who settled in Bhubaneswar 30 years back. He deals in musical instruments.
"Now, people come here ready with all the information about the city and the facilities that it offers. During our times, we shifted with our families and made Bhubaneswar our home. The new generation entrepreneurs have purely business links with the city," said Marik.
