The scale of development needed becomes clear when you break down the demographics of population and geography. It’s the seventh largest in the world by geographical area and the second most populated country on the planet.

Levels of poverty are still widespread and starkly severe, however, reforms instituted in 1991 are transforming the workforce into a knowledge and service based economy which has created a middle class measuring roughly 25% of the population. Over the following two decades economists predict that the middle class will grow to around 40% of the population. Right now the retail industry accounts for roughly 10% of India’s GDP and about 13% of employment. Retail is on track to be a $450 billion industry in India this year. India is today the seventh largest retail market in the world.

New malls and supermarkets are being planned and built in the hundreds. The skill to build and manage these new retail developments though is not widely available in the local market, creating opportunities for foreign retail mall management professionals.

“I have moved my whole family to Bangalore for at least the next four to five years in order to roll out retail mall management as a professional practice for one of the largest developers in the South of the country,” says Cape Town born retail mall guru Jonathan Yach. He has recently been appointed Head of Mall Management for Indian firm Mantri Developers.

“Our mall management company, PropCare Mall Management, has secured the management of two large and key projects: the Mantri Square measuring some 924 000ft2 with over 190 tenants both local and international, and the largest centre in Mangalore called “City Centre” measuring 520 000ft2 with over 130 tenants. Mantri Square when open, will be the largest centre in India. Other management contracts are being evaluated at present but as both centres open in March 2010, he and his team expect to be quite busy! It is for the City Centre Mangalore mall that a key senior position beckons.

Yach who has held a number of senior positions in South Africa with companies such as Broll, Gensec and Zenprop and who also set up his own retail research consultancy says there are myriad jobs available to experienced South African retail property professionals in India. “Simply put there is just not enough local experience to go around given the scale of development, so if you have a credible CV and an appetite for travel then there’s a wealth of opportunity here that is not only well paid but rewarding on a number of different levels.”

But what of cultural differences and adapting to a new way of life?  Yach agrees that while the expat life is not for everyone, South African’s seem to have a knack for working hard, adapting and fitting in. “My children are now enrolled at a top notch international school and are also receiving an education beyond that contained in text books and they’re thrilled to have this experience, knowing we’ll still be visiting Cape Town several times over the next few years,” he says.

Yach says he would encourage anyone thinking about making a move to speak to expats already living in the market to find out if India could be the right destination for them. “I’m always happy to take a call from a fellow South African property professional to answer questions and dispense any advice I can. It’s a big market out here and the more retail professionals in it the easier my job is!”