Mumbai, formerly Bombay, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. With an estimated population of thirteen million, it is the most populous city in the world. Along with the neighbouring suburbs of Navi Mumbai and Thane, it forms, at nineteen million, the world’s fifth most populous metropolitan area. Mumbai is one of the world’s top ten centres of commerce by global financial flow and is home to such important financial institutions as the Reserve Bank of India, the Bombay Stock Exchange, the National Stock Exchange of India, as well as the corporate headquarters of many Indian companies and numerous multinational corporations. The city also houses India’s Hindi film and television industry, known as Bollywood. Mumbai’s business opportunities, as well as its high standard of living, attract migrants from all over India and overseas. The city provides for 10% of all factory employment, 40% of all income tax collections, 60% of all customs duty collections, 20% of all central excise tax collections and 40% of India’s foreign trade. Many of India’s numerous conglomerates have their home in Mumbai
Transport infrastructure was originally the Achilles Heel of Mumbai, but with substantial investment by the local government for the improvement of roads, as well as the expansion of the Mumbai Metro rail system, Mumbai’s status as one of the world’s major economic hubs has been all but consolidated.
The most prefered expat locations include Peddar Road, Napean Sea Road, Breach Candy and Walkeshwar Road in South Mumbai, and Bandra, Juhu and Powai in North Mumbai. Recently, given commerical and industrial expansion into Navi Mumbai, there’s has been a dramatic increase in construction of top quality luxury housing, and many expats are now looking to live in this region for convenience. Many Japanese corporates who are moving to Mumbai with their family opt to be located near the prestigiuos Bombay Japanese School in Worli in South Mumbai.
