Dinner Marks A First For Asian Business Forum
Apr 24 2006 By The Journal
Business people from across the region will unite this week at the Asian Business Forum's first annual dinner.
Key members of the North-East business community will gather at the Premier Travel Inn, Newcastle, on Wednesday evening for a night of networking and entertainment. The event will bring together business people from all faiths, as well as representatives from various professional services including banks, solicitors and accountants.
As well as the chance to network, there will be a drinks reception, entertainment from Bollywood dancers, a four-course meal and a fashion show.
Sunil Paul Khanna, chairman of the forum and owner of the Medicentre chain of chemists, says: "It will be a splendid evening and a great opportunity to network. Young and old members of the business community can share advice, views and experiences, as well as striking up new business relationships. For just £20 you get to meet a lot of business people, as well as solicitors and bankers, which normally you might not get the opportunity to do."
The dinner will also be valuable for businesswomen, says Hina Joshi, vice chair of the Asian Business Forum and business adviser with Business Link Tyne & Wear.
She said: "Women are very much involved in the Asian Business Forum and are a huge influence in Asian business generally. More and more Asian women are going into business and they need to get out there and network.
"The Asian Business Forum gives them the opportunity, as well as allowing them to gain access to valuable business advice and support.
"Traditionally, Asian women found it difficult to work due to culture and language barriers, but this has changed dramatically. The younger generation of Asian women, who were born, raised, and educated here, go to work and run their own businesses. They are a valuable asset to the business community."
Sisters Sultana Kimti and Samina Qureshi are two who have received support and advice from the Asian Business Forum. After launching their Asian clothing shop, 5 Rivers Boutique, in Coatsworth Road, Gateshead, last year, the business has gone from strength to strength. The shop stocks day and evening wear, exclusive wedding collections, footwear, jewellery, fabrics, and accessories, as well as a full range of children's clothing. 5 Rivers also offers an in-house design service and is to launch a website giving customers the opportunity to buy on-line.
It will be showing off its latest collections on the catwalk at Wednesday's ABF dinner.
Sultana said: "We are proud to support the event and are especially proud of the business. We have received some excellent feedback from customers, from a wide range of communities across the region."
Speakers at the event include chairman of the forum, Sunil, businesswoman Sultana, and representatives from Lloyds bank and Newcastle law firm Dickinson Dees.
Dickinson Dees senior partner Robin Bloom said: "It is very important from the perspective of Dickinson Dees that we, as part of the wider business community, support organisations like the Asian Business Forum. We are delighted to be sponsoring its first annual dinner."
As well as a four-course meal, you can experience the taste of classical Indian desserts cooked on site by professional chefs. A first for corporate events in the region, traditional Indian paan, a chew made from a betel leaf stuffed with mixed spices and known for its cleansing and digestive qualities, will be served. Local catering company Nadeems, which specialises in Punjabi Indian cuisine, will be providing the food for the event.
Owner Mohammed Nadeen said: "It is a great pleasure for me to have members of the Asian Business Forum sample my dishes, and to support such a great event."
Launched in April 2005, the ABF seeks to provide Asian business owners with a wider voice in the North-East business arena. It aims to provide a unique regional forum for all Asian business to voice their views on issues that affect their development with local and national Government. It also seeks to identify areas of activity where North-East businesses can be nurtured and grown in partnership with regional agencies and the wider support network.
The forum creates networking opportunities and provides valuable advice on running a business. It has attracted support from public and private sector companies such as One NorthEast, Government Office for the North East, the North East Chamber of Commerce, Lloyds Bank, Tyne Tees Television and The Journal.
Leigh Taylor, area director of Lloyds TSB Business Banking North, said: "Lloyds TSB Business Banking has supported the Asian Business Forum since its inception. By encouraging the spread of best practice the Asian Business Forum is certainly assisting the growth of businesses in the Asian community.
"We recognise how vibrant these businesses are and we have a dedicated business manager team specifically working in the Asian community offering not only traditional banking solutions but, importantly, a close working relationship."
Steve Bond, commercial relationship director at Lloyds TSB Corporate, said: "Some recent surveys revealed that while the Asian business sector is growing significantly, little was being done to address its banking needs. Only one in five Asian businesses felt that their banking needs were being met and we at Lloyds TSB Corporate and Business Banking want to get closer to the community to ensure we are doing just that.
"By working with the Asian Business Forum we are starting to understand how we can really add value to the Asian businesses in the Newcastle area. We know there is more we could be doing so please come and talk to us."
Sunil said: "The past 12 months have been about setting up a solid structure and letting people know we are here. We are very grateful to Lloyds for standing by us and offering us its support. There are a lot of big name organisations who want to do business with the Asian community and the ABF is a platform which enables us to share experiences and issues with other businesses and agencies.
"We are seeking to forge more links with business communities and Government bodies. We have had a great response from the various seminars we have held and have more planned with law firms Sintons and Dickinson Dees.
The forum is also staging its first AGM and we are looking for young, energetic people who feel they could contribute to moving it forward."
* For more information visit the website at www.abfne.co.uk