28-year-old Nishita Shah describes her entry in the Forbes’ next generation billionaires list as “overwhelming and a push to make it to the billionaires list”.
Nishita Shah is MD of diversified GP group in Thailand
AHMEDABAD: The only Indian to have made it to the US business magazine Forbes’ next generation billionaires list is a Gujarati-origin girl. Twenty eight year-old Nishita Shah, a Thai citizen, describes her entry in the list as “overwhelming and a push to make it to the billionaires list”.
Shah is glamourous, single and constantly looking out for new business ventures. Being the managing director of the diversified GP Group and the director of Thai-listed Precious Shipping that owns a fleet of 44 ships, Shah’s stake in the family’s sprawling business empire stands at an estimated net worth of $375 million.
Recently, Forbes Asia listed Shah as Thailand’s nineteenth richest, who was also the youngest on the list of 40. Talking to DNA over the phone, Shah said, “My entry to the Next-Gen Billionaires list is quite overwhelming.”
“It has given a push to my expectation to make it to the top of the list soon. I would like to preserve and add to the hard-earned wealth of my parents,” said Shah, who has completed her graduation in business administration from Boston University, USA.
Originally from Kutch, Shah’s forefathers first moved to Mumbai in 1868, then to Myanmar and finally settled in Bangkok in 1918.
On her trip to Rajkot in June this year, Shah visited patients at the Life Foundation, an NGO that works towards voluntary blood banking and prevention and eradication of Thalassaemia.
“I look to soon set up Life Foundation in Thailand so that Indians across the globe can involve themselves in charity for the Thai people. I visit Gujarat once every year for business and charity purposes,” said Shah.
She has also received an instrument rating for a single-engine plane and a private pilot’s license. This apart, her company provides private jet charter services.
Also, after tsunami, Shah helped the fishing village Baan Talay Nok, promising to help it cover the educational costs through university for children who lost one or both parents.
With her mother, Anju, she’s a patron and fund raiser for the Queen Sirikit Centre for Breast Cancer.
Informing about her business plans in India, Shah said, “There is a huge potential in the hospitality industry of India. We are already talking to people and would soon enter the Indian market.”
“In October, I am launching my own fashion label — Nsha—in Bangkok and in selected fashion stores across America by the end of this year. Europe will be the next place for the launch,” said Shah.
“We speak English at home as my Gujarati is quite weak. And the second reason is that my mother is a non-Gujarati. But, I am a follower of Sai Baba and prefer the Gujarati dal for lunch everyday,” said Shah, who is the eldest of the three siblings.
Talking about her single status, Shah said, “Though my parents insist that I should now get settled in life, I haven’t planned anything as I haven’t come across that Mr
Right as yet.”
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}