Mumbai

Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is the capital of Maharashtra state and one of the most important cities in India.

In Hindi, Bombay means "good beach." The Portuguese colonists gave this name to the city. In 1996, the city's name was changed to Mumbai, which is the name of a Hindu goddess. However, outside India, this major port is still known as Bombay.

With an area of 603 square kilometers and a population of over 13 million, this city is one of the four largest and most populous cities in India. It is located in western India on the coast of the Arabian Sea. Bombay is one of India's largest and most populous cities and is considered its commercial capital.

Bombay is India's largest port on its western coast. The city is essentially the banking, trade, financial, commercial, and shipbuilding center of India. The concentration of economic and commercial activities in Bombay has continued since India's independence, and it has maintained its strategic importance as India's communication artery with Iran and the Arab world. Bombay Port is the largest producer of cotton textiles and motion pictures in the Indian subcontinent, and is therefore also known as Bollywood.

Currently, out of Maharashtra state's population of about 70 million, over 20% live below the poverty line, and Bombay itself has the largest slum population in India. India's per capita income is about $1,089, but Maharashtra state, having the largest share in India's one-trillion-dollar economy, ranks eleventh in per capita income among Indian states. The city's population, together with its suburbs, reaches about twenty million. The starkest manifestations of India's class contradictions can be found in this city. On one hand, the wealthy live here, and on the other, masses of poor people who cannot even fill their stomachs. More than half of the city's population lives in miserable conditions in slums.

Bombay was formed by connecting seven islands during the British presence in India. Many Indian citizens from various states migrate to this city hoping for job opportunities. Therefore, the number of residents in this city during the day is estimated to be 3 million more than at night. During British colonial rule in India, Bombay was the center of British administrative and governmental departments in the Indian subcontinent and was considered by Britain as the gateway to India. Today, Bombay is one of India's major commercial, cultural, and tourist centers.

Bombay is considered India's commercial capital due to the concentration of various business companies.

Bombay accounts for one-third of India's tax revenue, over 50% of customs duties, and one-fifth of production tax.

About one-sixth of the country's production value depends on this city.

There are 80 consulates in this city, of which 40 are official consulates. Of the 40 official consulates, 13 belong to Islamic countries, and the rest are run by honorary consuls. Numerous foreign business offices are also located in this city.

India's banking system and economic activities are concentrated in this city. The headquarters of almost all major banks, financial institutions, and insurance companies are located here.

The banks' foreign exchange trading fund is in Bombay. Banks located in this city provide more than 25% of the country's bank credit.

More than 35% of check transactions are also conducted in this city.

The main office of the Indian stock market, one of India's oldest stock exchanges, operates as the Bombay Stock Exchange in Mumbai, with over 900 companies participating in Indian stock trading, the majority of which are based in this city.

About 44% of the country's maritime traffic is loaded and unloaded at Bombay Port. There are four crude oil loading and unloading docks at Bombay Port.

Maharashtra has the highest electricity generation in India, 82% of which is generated through thermal energy. It is worth noting that 4,750 megawatts of nuclear electricity are generated in all of India.

Bombay is one of the most important diamond trading centers. So much so that 80% of the diamonds cut in Gujarat state end up in Bombay. Over 75,000 people in this city earn a living from diamond-related activities.

India's film industry is largely concentrated in Bombay, and a major share of the annual production of 900 to 1,000 films takes place in this city and its film center known as Bollywood. In addition to economic matters, Bollywood plays a major role in the cultural affairs of this city, the country of India, and even neighboring countries.

سیستم بانکی و فعالیت های اقتصادی هند در این شهر متمرکز است. همچنین دفتر مرکزی تقریبا تمام بانک‌های معتبر، موسسات مالی و شرکتهای بیمه در این شهر قرار دارند.
صندوق معاملات ارزی بانکها در بمبئی است. بیش از ۲۵ درصد اعتبارات بانکی کشور را بانکهای مستقر در این شهر تامین می‌نمایند.
بیش از ۳۵ درصد معاملات چک نیز در این شهر انجام می‌گردد.
دفتر اصلی بازار سهام هند که یکی از قدیمی ترین بازارهای بورس سهام هند بشمار می رود تحت عنوان بمبئي استاك اكسچنج (Bombay Stock Excahange) در مومبای فعالیت می نماید كه بیش از ۹۰۰ شرکت در خرید و فروش سهام هند حضور دارند که اکثریت آنها در اين شهر مستقر هستند.
حدود ۴۴ درصد ترافیک دریایی کل کشور در بندر بمبئی تخلیه و بارگیری می گردد. در بندر بمبئی چهار اسکله تخلیه و بارگیری نفت خام وجود دارد.
مهاراشترا بالاترین رقم تولید برق را در هندوستان دارا بوده که ۸۲ درصد آن از طریق انرژی گرمائی تولید می‌شود گفتنی است ۴۷۵۰ مگا وات برق هسته ای در کل هند تولید می گردد.
شهر بمبئی از مهم ترین مراکز تجارت الماس به شمار می رود. تا جایی که ۸۰ درصد الماس هایی که در ایالت گجرات تراش داده می‌شوند به بمبئی می رسد. بیش از ۷۵۰۰۰ نفر در این شهر از فعالیتهای مربوط به الماس امرار معاشق می کنند.
صنعت فیلم هند تا حدود زیادی در بمبئی متمرکز است و سهم عمده ای از تولید سالانه ۹۰۰ تا هزار فیلم در این شهر و در مرکز سینمایی آن موسوم به بالیوود انجام می‌شود. بالیوود افزون بر مسائل اقتصادی نقش عمده ای در مسائل فرهنگی این شهر و کشور هند و حتی کشورهای همجوار به‌عهده دارد.