Chinese people in India are separate communities with separate origins and settlement. There are permanent communities descended from immigrants and refugees from China and the other is an expatriate community in India on a temporary basis. The immigrant community started centuries ago and became more prominent in the late 18th century with arrivals working at the ports in Calcutta and Madras and has gone on to contribute to the social and economic life of Kolkata through manufacturing and trade of leather products and running Chinese restaurants.