IAB set to play key role supporting Team Birmingham
THE Institute of Asian Businesses is playing a key role in Team Birmingham – the movement backing the city’s massive revival, the organisation has said.
IAB president, Saqib Bhatti said the organisation was playing a significant part in the continued development of the business community.
The IAB, which is part of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, is the largest ethnic support organisation in the UK.
Speaking at the organisation’s annual general meeting, following his re-appointment for a second year, Mr Bhatti said his key priority would be for the organisation to continue to lobby on issues that were of concern not only to members but also the wider Asian business community.
He said the IAB would also give priority to delivering high quality business services to support a growth in membership and give its backing to the chamber’s Patrons and Premier Plus Partners schemes.
“Our voice is being heard at the highest level,” he said, adding that discussions had already taken place with both the Government and opposition MPs regarding issues such as business rates.
“We must not forget that SMEs are the backbone of the country,” added Mr Bhatti, who last month joined the board of the Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership as a director.
IAB honorary chairman Nasir Awan said the organisation represented the catalyst for providing new opportunities for the Asian business community.
The AGM also saw the appointment of two new vice-presidents – Anita Champaneri, a director of public relations and events company Delicious PR and Waheed Saleem, non-executive director of the charity, Caring Minds.
Also selected to the executive committee were Lakhbir Singh, business development manager, BCRS Business Loans; Aftab Chughtai, owner of Aftabs; Nasir Awan, managing director of Awan Marketing; Omer Simjee, partner, Irwin Mitchell; Kadeer Arif, managing director, KA Consulting; Majid Salim, director, Kingsland Business Recovery; Aftab Rahman, director, Legacy WM; Manjit Kang, real estate finance manager, NatWest; Shaun Hindle, senior director employment and skills, Solihull College and University Centre; Kavita Parmar, director, Word 360 Language Services and Dr Haseena Lockhat, managing partner, Vista Apartments.
