Balram Chainrai (Nepali: बलराम चैनराई; born October 1958) is a British businessman of Nepali origin. He is the son of P. G. Chainrai, a former soldier in the British Gorkha Army. Chainrai was born in

Okhaldhunga District Okhaldhunga District () is one of 14 districts of Koshi Province in eastern Nepal. The district, with the municipality of Okhaldhunga as its district headquarters, covers an area of and had a population of 156,702 in 2001 and 147,984 in 2011.

, Nepal, and later moved to

Hong Kong Hong Kong)., Legally Hong Kong, China in international treaties and organizations. is a special administrative region of China. With 7.5 million residents in a territory, Hong Kong is the fourth most densely populated region in the wor ...

, where he established a career in business. He is fluent in

Cantonese Cantonese is the traditional prestige variety of Yue Chinese, a Sinitic language belonging to the Sino-Tibetan language family. It originated in the city of Guangzhou (formerly known as Canton) and its surrounding Pearl River Delta. While th ...

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Culture, language and peoples * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England * ''English'', an Amish ter ...

, and Sindhi.

Early life and education

Balram Chainrai was born in October 1958 in

, Nepal. His family relocated to

at an early stage in his life, where he received his education. Growing up in a multicultural environment, Chainrai developed proficiency in multiple languages, which later facilitated his international business ventures.

Business career

Chainrai began his business career in Hong Kong, where he established Hornington Enterprises Limited in 1984. The company initially focused on the manufacture and trade of electronic goods, home appliances, and toys, later expanding into the distribution of computers and related accessories. The company also engaged in trade finance activities. Over time, Hornington Enterprises expanded its operations into various markets, including

Asia Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...

, the

Middle East The Middle East (term originally coined in English language) is a geopolitical region encompassing the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and Iraq. The term came into widespread usage by the United Kingdom and western Eur ...

, and

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

. Chainrai later diversified his business interests into sectors such as real estate development, hospitality, entertainment, and renewable energy, with a particular focus on solar power projects.

Philanthropy and social contributions

Chainrai has been involved in philanthropic efforts, supporting various charitable initiatives. He has been a member of

Rotary International Rotary International is one of the largest service organizations in the world. The self-declared mission of Rotary, as stated on its website, is to "provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and p ...

and has participated in business and trade organizations. From 2001 to 2006, he served as the vice chairman of the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, later becoming its president in 2007. In this role, he contributed to trade delegations and business collaborations involving Hong Kong government officials and business leaders. He is also associated with "The One," a charitable organization that recognizes individuals for their contributions to social causes. His philanthropic focus includes education, healthcare, and community development.

Involvement in football

Balram Chainrai became widely known for his involvement with

Portsmouth F.C. Portsmouth Football Club is a professional association football club based in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. The team is currently competing in the EFL Championship, the second level of the English football league system in the 2024–25 ...

, an English football club that was facing financial difficulties. He acquired a controlling interest in the club in 2009 through his company, Portpin. His tenure as owner was marked by efforts to stabilize the club’s financial situation, but he later relinquished ownership. His son, Karan Chainrai, was also involved with the club and was seen on the pitch during the 2010

FA Cup The Football Association Challenge Cup, more commonly known as the FA Cup, is an annual Single-elimination tournament, knockout association football, football competition in domestic Football in England, English football. First played during ...

Final, in which Portsmouth faced Chelsea.

Personal life

Balram Chainrai is married and has a son, Karan Chainrai, who has been involved in the family's business ventures. The Chainrai family maintains ties with both Hong Kong and Nepal.

References

External links

Official Website of Balram Chainrai
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chainrai, Balram Hong Kong business executives Living people People from Okhaldhunga District Hong Kong people of Nepalese descent Nepalese expatriates in Hong Kong 1958 births