ABF Annual Dinner 2007
INSPIRATIONAL: Baroness Sayeeda Warsi delivered a passionate speech about the growth of Asian Business
THE Asian Business Forum North-East (ABF) in association with Allied Irish Bank (GB), hosted its most successful ever annual dinner. Almost 500 leading business people attended the event, showing their support for the role of Asian businesses in the region.
Guests on the evening were treated to an unexpected address from Stefan Kosciuszko, incoming chief-of-staff at the Hinduja Group. The Group is owned by the Hinduja brothers who are reportedly worth £6.2 billion. Stefan commended the ABF’s work in the North-East and relayed a message of support direct from the Hinduja’s:
“We wish the ABF every success and hope it leads to greater business co-operation and significant new business initiatives in the North East. This great region with its historic associations and proud history has been revitalised with 21st Century entrepreneurship.
“Our family are so proud that the backbone of this vibrancy is Asian origin entrepreneurs. We would like to congratulate the ABF for bringing together such a distinguished crowd and wish you every success.”
The glitzy back-tie event, held at the Gateshead Hilton, also included an inspirational keynote speech from Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, a member of the Shadow Cabinet with responsibility for Community Cohesion. She said: “The evening has been a real celebration for the region’s Asian businesses, both in terms of what has been achieved and the huge potential for the future.
“I am honoured to have had the opportunity to speak to such a high calibre of business professionals. I sincerely hope I have helped the ABF meet its objectives for the evening, while reinforcing the value of the Forum to the North-East’s business sector.”
Also in attendance at this year’s Allied Irish Bank (GB) ABF annual dinner were the likes of Fiona Cruickshank, managing director of the North-East’s only Sunday Times Fast Track 100 listed company, The Specials Laboratory. Raj Sehgal of clothing company, Visage Imports, and hotelier Mukesh Chawla from Ailantus Hotels were also among the event’s impressive turnout.
Last night’s event was the largest in the ABF’s three year history, with over 50 percent more people in attendance than any previous event. The evening also signified the largest ever single gathering of Asian business people in the North-East.
The delighted Vice Chairman at the ABF, Hina Joshi, said: “The committee and I are over the moon with the success of this year’s annual dinner. Not only was it great to have many of our members present on the evening, but to host some of the most high-profile figures in North-East business was a massive bonus.”
In addition to Sunday’s annual dinner, the region’s only business forum of its type also hosts seminars and events throughout the year, which serve to inform members of relevant and topical issues, while providing a gateway to business support.
“The event provided a great platform for people to network and from the initial feedback we have received, people enjoyed themselves and gained a great deal from the evening. We hope these positive testimonials will translate into new members for the ABF and increased participation at our future events,” added Hina.
The ABF aims to be the voice of the Asian business community working within the business support network and One NorthEast. Its main function is to support and facilitate the growth of Asian business within the area. The ABF also encourages networking within the region and continues to raise its profile through working partnerships with key organisations in the region.
The event’s main sponsor this year was Allied Irish Bank (GB) in Newcastle.
The ABF dinner was also being heavily backed by a number of additional corporate sponsors, including Ernest & Young, Sintons, Bentley, Karol Marketing Group, Mencap, Flats.co.uk, Overseas Property Group and Payal Event Management.