London Networking & Luncheon Event
Amanah Banqueting Hall, London
21 July 2015
Hosting a major networking event at the Amanah Banqueting Hall in London, the UKBCCI hosted a session with its directors, members, key dignitaries and representatives from the UKTI, bringing together a number of entrepreneurs, business heads and organisers, along with those involved in dealing with trade between the UK and Bangladesh. Six new directors were inducted too.
A meeting between the directors of the Sylhet Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the President of the UKBCCI Bajloor Rashid MBE and Director Jamal Uddin, took place at the UKBCCI London offices on 2nd June.
The directors, headed by ATM Shoeb and Anamul Kuddus Chowdhury, indicated to the President that they were keen to work with the UKBCCI with a view to signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), in looking at developing Sylhet as a major tourist destination. It was also indicated by the Chamber representatives that they would like to encourage British investment in Sylhet and see it give fruition as an important industrial hub.
On a recent visit to Bangladesh in March of this year, the key leaders of UKBCCI had a breakfast meeting with the British High Commissioner Robert W Gibson in Dhaka to discuss how entrepreneurs can benefit through enhancement of investment. The agenda included discussion on the expansion of Bangladeshi products in the UK and how to mitigate the trade deficit between the two countries.
Organisation leaders also put emphasis on creating an exclusive economic zone for British entrepreneurs. Those present included UKBCCI Chairman Iqbal Ahmed OBE, President Bajloor Rashid MBE, Senior Vice President MA Rouf JP, IKTI Director Ruzina Hasan and International Trade Relations Director Azad Ali.
Four UCL Undergraduates became ambassadors for the UKBCCI. They were introduced to influential business guests at a UKBCCI meeting in London, January 2015.
Winning a prestigious award is no mean feat in itself, but UKBCCI Director Farzana Hossain Neela went further by being awarded by Prime Minister David Cameron at the recent British Bangladeshi Business Awards 2015.
The category awarded was the highly coveted Best Business Woman Entrepreneur
In front of an array of the crème de la crème of the British Bangladeshi business community, Neela, who is the Managing Director of Neela’s Home Ltd, which successfully imports spices into the UK from Bangladesh, was handed the award by the Prime Minister, who then proceeded to speak to her on stage.
“The funny thing is,” said Neela, “I was originally told that it would be the Deputy Prime Minister who would be presenting me the award. But when I realised it was the Prime Minister himself, I immediately started shaking because I never could have imagined I would be presented such an award by the top man in the country. It was the best gift of my life!”
Neela added: “Mr Cameron asked me how many employees I had and a few other quick questions as I received the award. It’s such a lovely validation of my business I feel and what it does is that it also makes me want to go further and keep on improving and expanding my business.”
