Lakshmi Mittal named most powerful Asian in UK

London, Nov 24: Lakshmi Mittal, the NRI steel tycoon with a fortune estimated at £15.5 billion, is the most powerful Asian in Britain, according to a new list of eminent Asians in the country.

Mittal, 61, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of ArcelorMittal, the world's leading integrated steel and mining company, heads the Power list of 101 in the category of Industry published by Eastern Eye, a weekly newspaper here.

"Today, Mittal has all the trappings of wealth, power and influence - properties in Kensinghton Palace Gardens, a private jet, a £266 million yacht, and an eco-friendly house set on a 340-acre estate in Surrey," according to the GG2 (Garavi Gujarat) Power 101, Britain's Most Influential Asians 2011.

The list was released by Britain's Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg at the GG2 Leadership Awards here last night.

Leading NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul ranked 17th in the list in the category of Industry.

According to the report, Lord Paul was influential enough to get the Lancaster House, which is generally reserved for government functions, as a venue for a wedding reception for his youngest son Angad in 2005.

"One of the painful things has been to reduce the guest list - in the end we could invite only 1,600 people," Lord Paul said at the time.

"There are people from the Lords, MPs, opposition, business, and there will be a substantial number from the government. I have not invited anybody on the basis of their profession. I have invited friends."

According to the report, Lord Paul does have many friends, among them Sarah and Gordon, a reference to Sarah and Gordon Brown, the then Prime Minister. A point in Lord Paul's favour is that he is not a fair-weather friend.

PTI