ABCC
Updates and useful information from the largest ethnic support organisation in the UK
Contact: Anjum Khan T: 0845 603 6650
Providing a voice for 30 years By Philip Parkin
Asian Business Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) is approaching a significant milestone this year, the organisation’s 30th anniversary. The event will be celebrated at the ABCC’s
annual dinner and awards, which takes place at the International Convention Centre (ICC) on 2 December. The organisation has its roots in a troubled
time in Birmingham’s history, namely the Handsworth riots of 1985. These riots were actually centred on Lozells,
and were widely believed to have been sparked by high unemployment in the area, and also racial unrest. Many Asian businesses were destroyed during the events of 9-11 September, and two Asian brothers were burnt to death in the post office they ran. After the riots, local Asian businessmen
approached the Handsworth Task Force, with the idea of setting up an employer’s body which could represent and advance the interests of ethnic businesses. A study into this idea was sanctioned by the Department of Trade and Industry in 1986, and a key conclusion was that assistance and advice to those inner city based businesses, especially those involved in manufacturing/wholesaling, would improve the social fabric of deprived areas like Handsworth.
‘We are strongest when we are working together, with pride for our culture and our region’
The result was the establishment of the Institute of Asian Businesses, on 25 November 1987, under the chairmanship of the late Omkar Parmar. The DTI report – which had a great deal of
input from the Chamber – estimated that one in five businesses in Birmingham were owned by people with an ethnic background, of which approximately 90 per cent were Asian. Om Parmar had been shocked by the riots,
and saw the IAB as a means of taking the heat out of racial tension. He remained as chairman for four years, but was re-elected in 1997, on the IAB’s tenth anniversary. Others have followed in his footsteps, including
Dr Sarindar Singh Sahota (2003-5), Dr Gurjeet Bains (2005-7) and Nasir Awan, who was appointed the IAB’s first honorary chairman in 2014. At the same time, local accountant Saqib Bhatti was named as president. His father, Mohammad Younis Bhatti, served as chairman between 1993 and 1994. In 2015, the IAB was renamed Asian Business
Chamber of Commerce (ABCC), and Saqib remains president. He said: “The ABCC is an institution steeped in history, tradition and
38 CHAMBERLINK April 2017 Saqib Bhatti and his father Younis
ABCC stars (L-R): John Crabtree, Omkar Parmar, Sarinder Sahota and Gurjeet Bains
heritage. Leading it, as President, is a great privilege, honour and responsibility. This year we celebrate the journey that has got us to where we are and we set the standard for the next 30 years. “We recognise those that gave us their time
and effort and it just goes to show, we are strongest when we are working together, with pride for our culture and our region.” Younis Bhatti said: “When we started the
ABCC, we were crying out for a voice for the Asian business community. It was hard and took a lot of effort but it gives me so much pride to see where the next generation has taken the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce. We lit the torch for them but they are the ones that are taking it to new heights.” ABCC director Anjum Khan said: “Asian Business
Chambers of Commerce was created to help inner city businesses, which would in turn bring about improvements in the deprived areas where they were often located. Today, Asian businesses are not confined to these areas, and play a much bigger role in the business community of not just Birmingham, but the UK as a whole.”
Gurjeet Bains, the first woman to lead the IAB,
said: “Asian businesses have led the way in Birmingham and the entrepreneurialism shown by these businesses is to be admired. “As the first woman to have the privilege to
lead the Institute of Asian businesses, I realise this was a pivotal moment in the history of the IAB and I do hope I am allowed others to inspire to follow ‘educate a woman and you educate a nation’ – I firmly believe this.” Sarinder Sahota said: “Congratulations on the
30th Anniversary. I had the privilege of serving and chairing the Institute of Asian Businesses. Best wishes to ABCC, the successor to IAB, for the future.” John Crabtree, a former Chamber president
who has this year taken on a new role as Lord Lieutenant to the West Midlands, said: “I am absolutely delighted to be part of the celebration of the 30th Anniversary. I had the privilege of working closely with members of what was then the IAB in my year as president of the Chamber and it is wonderful to see the organisation go from strength-to-strength.”
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