A leading restaurant chain from India opened its first outlet in Bahrain last night.

The Great Kabab Factory was launched by the Jawad Business Group at the Jawad Dome in Barbar.

Shura Council chairman Ali Saleh Al Saleh was the chief guest at the launching ceremony, which was also attended by leading businessmen from Baharain and India, including Radisson Hotel (Delhi) managing director Dr Ramesh Kapur.

This is the first time a restaurant is opened in Bahrain with franchise from a top Indian chain, said Jawad Business Group chairman and chief executive officer Faisal Jawad.

'Our initial investment is BD200,000,' he told the Gulf Daily News, our sister newspaper.

'We will open another two or three branches in Bahrain and will also roll out the business to other countries in the Gulf. Over the coming 18 months, we will invest BD800,000 to establish the popular Indian chain in the region.'

Kababs prepared in seven different styles and dishes like biriyanis will be served at the new outlet which can accommodate about 100 people, said Mr Jawad.

Dr Kapur, who is also the managing director of Radisson Hotel Management Services (RHW), which franchises and manages The Great Kabab Factory, said the Bahrain outlet is the first to be opened by his group outside India.

'We are privileged to have our presence in Bahrain. We have already signed an agreement with the Jawad Business Group to have five outlets in Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia,' he said.

'Currently, The Great Kabab Factory, which opened its first outlet at the Radisson Hotel in Delhi, has eight branches in India.' - TradeArabia News Service