The UKBCCI held their AGM on Monday 19th September. Plenty of dedicated input into the meeting from members. There was a full agenda covering successes to date and future plans that Directors relayed to the assembled audience.
The UK Bangladesh Catalysts of Commerce & Industry (UKBCCI), the leading umbrella business organisation, which aims to bring together and nurture successful British-Bangladeshi entrepreneurs in the UK and Bangladesh, is proud to announce the launch of its inaugural Business & Entrepreneur Excellence Awards 2016 and Gala Dinner, to be held on 20th November 2016, at the London Hilton Park Lane. Highly anticipated, the awards are set to become a prestige event in the annual business calendar. Celebrating and recognising the achievements and outstanding contributions made by individuals and companies to business and the wider community, the awards will cover a range of sectors and industries across the UK, Bangladesh and even internationally. Founded by some of the most prominent and philanthropic members of the Bangladeshi community, including the Chairman of the UKBCCI, Iqbal Ahmed OBE, and President Bajloor Rashid MBE, the organisation brings forth the knowledge and experience of these individuals to further enhance their aims and objectives for the benefit of the business community.
Please visit the ‘Awards’ website here
UKBCCI assist in inspiring entrepreneurs and businesses by offering advice, sign posting, training and networking through seminars, which are addressed and attended by key government ministers, departments, organisations, various chambers of commerce and personnel from both the UK and Bangladesh. The organisation also has road shows, direct business to business links, programmes and projects. These not only build up confidence in new and existing businesses supported by UKBCCI, but also connect with them both in the UK and Bangladesh. “There are in excess of 500,000 Bangladeshis in the UK and they have played a tremendous part in the economic prosperity of this country,” said Rashid. “It’s a community with a strong work ethic and a fantastic entrepreneurial zeal. Along with our Chairman and all my directors and members, I’m extremely proud of the fact that in the short period of just over two years, when our organisation was formed, UKBCCI have come a long way.
We have filled a gap for entrepreneurs new and established and now we are able to have our inaugural awards that acknowledge and give a nod to those exceptional business leaders who are a shining example to others. “We have a range of nomination categories that cover the gamut of business and entrepreneurial excellence, ranging from ‘Best New Business’ to ‘Businesswoman of the Year’, and from ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’ to the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ along with several other categories. The event will have the crème de la crème of the business community, plus dignitaries MPs and other VIPs. UKBCCI is also very fortunate in having a prominent judging panel for the awards, headed by Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE, DL, founder of Cobra Beer and Chairman of the Cobra Beer Partnership Limited.”
The United Kingdom has elected a new Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party Theresa May.
On behalf of all our directors and members, UKBCCI would like to congratulate Mrs May on her appointment as well as to thank outgoing Prime Minister David Cameron for his valuable contributions, his guidance and strong handling of our country’s affairs.
Though this may be a time for economic uncertainty after the referendum, we want to offer Mrs May our warmest congratulations and sincere greetings, as she begins her tenure as the Prime Minister of our great nation.
With the referendum now decided I wanted to share my thoughts with members, colleagues and friends.
As I write this, after seven days of momentous events, we must cure the political crisis that exists in the UK. Only then will the government be able to offer clear direction and confidence.
My wish would be for ‘red tape’ to be reduced, perhaps the simplification of the UK’s tax system, and at the same time the ability to continue keeping and attracting big businesses who operate in the UK and encourage the necessary investment. There also needs to be reassurance for workers and greater education and training.
The UKBCCI was formed not just for the purpose of improving trade links between the UK and Bangladesh, but to also generate greater degrees of inward investment from countries around the world. Both the UK and Bangladesh have the capacity to tap into other countries’ growing economies and we at the UKBCCI should strive to play our part in facilitating this.
Turning back to the referendum result, I can only hope that the tide of fear will be overturned by the will of our people. We must stand united against it and overcome any adversity that may lie ahead.
Though there is worry because of the turbulence the vote has had on our political situation, as business people we must stay calm and collected whilst the solution is worked out.
This is is unchartered territory for our nation, so we must play our part in adopting a positive attitude, whatever your voting intentions were.
In life, faced with a personal challenge, do you give up, or do you find hope and a solution? Of course, most people face the challenge and do their best to overcome it. That is what we must do, embrace it and work as a ‘national team’.
What we don’t want to have is an atmosphere of doom and gloom.
One criticism I have of Great Britain though is the negative game some of our newspapers and media play. For too long they have adopted a ‘bad news sells’ mentality, with an avoidance to publicise success and positivity over and above squalid and bad news, the EU Referendum was just another example of this.
We have much to be proud, let’s look at how we portrayed the nation at the London Olympics in 2012. Success was achieved magnificently by a nation who have many shades of colour. Let’s also not forget how patriotic we felt as the opening ceremony showed just how influential this small island has been through the centuries.
The fabric of the people is to face adversity when it is there, overcome it and as a result improve the way we live. So there lies our next challenge.
I have great faith that we will find our course and optimistic that Great Britain can change things for the better, remember we have a history of this!
Bajloor Rashid MBE UKBCCI President
Friday 1st July 2016
Despite the former High Commissioner of Bangladesh H.E Mr. Md. Abdul Hannan, vacating his post, the patronship which he bestowed upon UKBCCI in November last year, will continue under the role of any High Comissioner who replaces him.
“We are extremely pleased and honoured,” said Bajloor Rashid MBE, President of UKBCCI and Iqbal Ahmed, Chairman of UKBCCI. in a joint statement, “that the patronship we received will continue regardless.
The UKBCCI couldn’t be more proud and humbled to have the highest authority in the UK from Bangladesh give us the patronship for our organisation. It has always given a huge boost to our directors and also all our members to strive to continue the work we do both in the UK and Bangladesh as well as to assist and encourage existing and new entrepreneurs. We are truly happy of this blessing.”
(Image shows H.E. Mr. Md. Abdul Hannan High Commissioner of Bangladesh to UK, receiving a leaving card from the UKBCCI Chairman Iqbal Ahmed OBE)
