Asian Business Association Celebrates Asian Businesses in the UK
Affluent members of the Asian Community were invited to the Asian Business Association‘s (ABA) Annual Dinner on 11th November at the plush Grange Hotel, Tower Bridge.
At the event Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg attributed South Asia’s projected growth momentum this year to the “Modi dividend”, citing the Indian Prime Minister’s initiatives for boosting investment and jobs. The UK’s coalition leader quoted recent World Bank figures, which forecast South Asia to grow by over 6% this year, making it the second-fastest growing region in the world after East Asia and the Pacific region.
Addressing the attendees he stressed on the important contribution made by Asian businesses to the British economy. Mr Clegg said: “There are an estimated 300,000 ethnic-minority led SMEs (small and medium enterprises) in the UK, contributing around £30 billion to the UK economy every year. You are wealth creators in every sense of the word.
“I have been clear about my concerns regarding the way in which the debates over immigration and Europe in this country are moving. There are critical issues to address… but, more than ever, responsible politicians and businesses need to defend Britain’s status as an open economy.”
Talking about how the ABA will continue to campaign promoting Asian businesses, Chairman Vijay Goel said: “We with the London Chamber of Commerce will continue to campaign for a freeze, and gradual reduction, in air passenger duty (APD) to put us on a level playing field with our competitors and European partners. As an island economy dependent on air links, the UK should encourage, rather than penalise activity like air travel that connects people and markets enabling greater trade.
“In a similar vein, we will lobby for changes to the UK visa regime to ensure that genuine businessmen and women – the very life-blood of the capital’s economy – can swiftly enter the UK to do business without enduring bureaucratic delays in processing or lengthy queues upon arrival at London airports,” Goel said.Attending the event was Co-chairman of the Hinduja Group Gopichand Hinduja, Deputy High Commissioner of India to the UK Virender Paul, Shahnaz Hussain, CEO of Bank of Baroda UK Dhimant Trivedi and Managing Director of Here and Now 365 Manish Tiwari.
Here and Now 365 has always prided itself for promoting multiculturalism and celebrating the ethnic diversity of the UK.
