Vijaya Popat (centre) and some of her teamImage source, Dan Newell
Image caption, Vijaya Popat (centre) opened her shop in 2011

At Popat Mithai & Farsan, owner Vijaya Popat and her all-female team are often so busy dealing with customers in multiple languages that they don't have time to sit down.

The business was set up by Mrs Popat in 2011 to sell Indian sweets and savouries and has grown to 15 people. An online operation was launched last year.

During the outbreak of the coronaviruses, customers sought more comfort food from countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, which led to a surge in sales.

Mrs Popat's son was asked to speak to the radio station. He says that his mother is the person that runs the business.

They want to speak to her to find out if she can source certain things.

Sweet treats from Popat Mithai & FarsanImage source, Dan Newell
Image caption, Popat Mithai & Farsan's online operation allows it to serve customers across the UK

It's not just first generation immigrants that make up the core customer base according to him. The second generation may be buying food for their families online.

The website has become a thriving arm of the business now that it's out of the lock down. Roughly one-quarter to one-third of the entire turnover is attributed to online sales.

The shop imports products from South Asia as well as buying from Africa.

Governments are becoming more aware of the economic importance of migrant populations and their descendants as a result of the boost that the world's diasporas give to trade between countries.

The US President Joe Biden will tell the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington that he wants to "amplify diaspora ties", after the country announced that it would be creating a new ministry for Kenyans living abroad.

Two pizzasImage source, Getty Images
Image caption, Pizza is a dish that became popular around the world thanks to Italian migration

The world's diasporas are large. There are 281 million people who live in other countries than the one in which they were born, according to a report.

It equates to one in 30 people. It doesn't include children that are born in a new country for people who have migrated before.

The term "migrants" and "diasporas" come from the Greek to scatter. Descendants of former migrants whose identity and sense of belonging have been shaped by their migration experience are included.

Billions of people equates to a lot of people, but it's difficult to say how many are because of a person's cultural identity. There are no attempts to measure global diaspora populations, according to the IOM.

The entrepreneurial drive in migrant populations has been recognised. Immigrants are more likely to create a new business than natives, according to a 2010 report.

Often those firms are involved in the importation of food, clothing or other goods from a migrant's former country. India's exports to the UK were worth $10.4 billion last year.

Habiyambere is based in Paris. He is the founder of a website that imports food and clothing from Africa and sells it to customers in Europe.

Olivier HabiyambereImage source, Olivier Habiyambere
Image caption, Olivier Habiyambere says that sales at Kenyan Diaspora Market have grown via word of mouth

After moving to Paris to study, Mr Habiyambere came up with the idea for the business.

The issue was bringing the products from Africa to the US. It is not possible for people to pick up products every year.

He launched the business to make it easier for people in Europe to buy things from home. Mr Habiyambere says that the business has grown thanks to the help of the community.

Kenyan Diaspora MarketImage source, Kenyan Diaspora Market
Image caption, Kenyan Diaspora Market sells hundreds of products, such as these, to Kenyans and other East Africans across Europe

Agora Greek Delicacies has more non-Greek customers than Greeks from within the UK.

A decade ago, it was set up by the husband and wife team of Christina and Michael. Imported Greek food and drink is supplied to restaurants, cafes, individuals, and other businesses.

Those travelling to Greece or had Greek friends in the British audience began to be expanded. The online shop saw an increase in sales of about 1000% in the first months of the lock down.

The behavioural and data scientist at the University of Loughborough purchases products from her native India for herself and her family in the UK.

Christina LyropoulouImage source, Christina Lyropoulou
Image caption, Christina Lyropoulou saw business boom during the coronavirus pandemic

She says it's about maintaining the connection with the motherland.

She admits that she would frequently order from a particular store online in order to get her mango fix during the Pandemic.

Growing up in India, I used to eat it after every meal.

Maria is an associate professor at the University of SouthernDenmark and she has a number of books and articles on diaspora and trade.

She says it's important to be aware of the way in which diaspora is framed, with migrants often described in two different ways.

There is a narrative that migration is problematic. That view is described by Prof Elo as a deficiency view. A big promise for business and economy is one of the positive narratives.

She says that research shows that diaspora entrepreneurs are flexible. We all eat pizza, although we're not all Italians and that crossed over a long time ago.

  • Immigration
  • Retailing
  • Global trade
  • Migration