India not a 'popular' destination among expats

NEW DELHI: As multi-nationals make a beeline to benefit from India's growth story, the country has emerged as one of the top expatriation destinations, even if not a very popular one.
    
According to global human resource organisation ECA International, various Indian cities are becoming hub for international business. However, expatriates working for multi national corporations still face lot of problems in operating from the Indian locales.
   
"Although developing, there are still many difficulties for expatriates and their families throughout India," ECA International Hong Kong General Manager Lee Quane said.    

ECA International's Location Ranking survey shows that Bangalore at 175th position was the most favoured Indian location for Western European expatriates.
   
Next on the list was Chennai ranked 190th, while New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata were ranked at 201, 221 and 240 slots respectively.
   
The survey included 278 locations globally, which were ranked on climate, air quality, health services, housing and utilities, isolation, transportation, social network, leisure facilities, education, infrastructure, personal safety and political tensions.
   
While expatriates face regular problems in terms of commuting to and fro from their offices in metros like New Delhi and Mumbai, developing cities like Hyderabad and Pune offer little social interaction and leisure activities. As such expats based here feel left out or isolated, Quane added.