Surat being a major port city, from early times, Variavwala were sea faring people interested in trade and commerce and traveled to foreign lands, undertaking long sea voyages. Many foreigners who came to Surat assimilated and some settled in Variav. People also left Variav in the early 19th century to settle in Burma, where they established many businesses and were great entrepreneurs; a number of them even became advisers to the Burmese rulers and contributed greatly to Burma's economic development.