About 100 Indian people living in Shenzhen celebrated their country's 60th Independence Day at the Spice Circle Indian restaurant in Luohu District on Wednesday evening.

Dressed in colorful traditional costumes, they danced, sang and cheered, overwhelmed by the festive atmosphere.

"It's my sixth Independence Day in Shenzhen," said Sunny Bansal, who has a computer-parts business in Shenzhen.

"We are so happy to celebrate the big day with our Chinese staff here in Shenzhen," said Vinod Khullar, manager of Sino Star Trading Co. Ltd., which was represented by dozens of Indian and Chinese employees at the party.

"More Indian businesspeople are coming to work in Shenzhen over recent years, who are mainly engaged in the IT, electronics and trading sectors," S. Krishnamurthy, manager of Bank of India's Shenzhen Branch said during a phone interview Thursday.

"There are an estimated 2,000 Indians working and living in Shenzhen and the number of Indian firms and representative offices of Indian companies have reached more than 100," said Krishnamurthy, quoting the bank's internal research.

"Most of these people are in the IT industry or doing trading business in Shenzhen. Some have even moved their families here, the number of which is estimated at 100-150," he added.

The rich variety of products and convenient transportation in the Pear River Delta area are no doubt attractions for Indian businesspeople and their families, but the good living environment has also contributed to the Shenzhen rush, according to Yu Longyu, director of the Indian Research Center at Shenzhen University.

"These Indians like the warm weather and good urban infrastructure in Shenzhen," Yu said, adding that the city government should improve facilities and services to attract more Indians to Shenzhen as part of the city's drive to build a high-tech, international metropolis.

(Shenzhen Daily August 17, 2007)