BUSINESS LEADERS BACK ASIAN EVENT
THE Asian Business Forum North-East (ABF) in association with Allied Irish Bank (GB) is being heavily backed by some of the region’s most high-profile business people in the run-up to what is set to be its biggest ever event.
Fiona Cruickshank, managing director of the North-East’s only Sunday Times Fast Track 100 listed company, The Specials Laboratory, and John Holland, owner of the region’s biggest fresh produce business, J.R. Holland, have voiced their support for the ABF and will both be in attendance at this year’s annual dinner.
Ms Cruickshank said: “We work very closely with a huge amount of Asian-owned Pharmacies and such an event is a celebration of the work ethic and achievements of such businesses. Our company would certainly not have experienced the growth it has over the years if it was not for our Asian customers.”
This year’s event will be the largest ever after almost all tickets were snapped up in less than two weeks. The dinner at the end of November will host over 50 percent more people than any previous ABF event, signifying the largest ever single gathering of Asian business people in the North-East.
John Holland has worked with Asian business in the North-East for over 30 years, he said: “The first generation to arrive in the region demonstrated incredible resolve and determination to make their businesses work, forming a solid foundation that has no doubt paved the way for other Asian businesses to prosper.
“The ABF will play an increasingly important role as the voice for Asian business in the region as such companies are an intrinsic part of our community, benefiting both the culture and economy of the North-East.”
This year’s Allied Irish Bank (GB) ABF annual dinner will be a glitzy black-tie event held at the Gateshead Hilton on Sunday 25th November. Along with the turnout of leading North-East business people, the event will also include a keynote speech from Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, Vice Chair of the Conservative Party.
Hina Joshi, Vice Chairman at the ABF, said: “Having such esteemed business people present at our annual dinner not only reinforces the credibility of the event, but more importantly helps raise the profile of the North-East’s Asian businesses and contribution to the region’s economy.
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. Now in its fourth year, the ABF also encourages networking within the region and continues to raise its profile through working partnerships with key organisations in the region.
In addition to the 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’s main sponsor this year is Allied Irish Bank (GB) in Newcastle, which has an enviable track record as a business bank that supports businesses in the community and the region.
The ABF dinner is also being heavily backed by a number of additional corporate sponsors, many of which who will be exhibiting at the event. These include Ernest & Young, Sintons, Bentley, Karol Marketing Group, Mencap, Flats.co.uk, Overseas Property Group and Payal Event Management.