By Abdul Hameed, TwoCircles.net
Mumbai: In order to promote inter-community business, the Burhaniya Business Counseling Centre (BBCC) organized a three-day ‘Burhani Expo 2009’ – an International Dawoodi Bohra Industrial & Trade Exhibition – starting from Sunday, at World Trade Centre in Mumbai. The expo was inaugurated by Mr. Murli Deoara, Indian Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
Mr. Abbas Merchant, Director of BBCC, stated in inaugural address, “In today’s competitive scenario, business is not about selling goods but about building relationships. We facilitate this and give the community a consolidated platform to conduct business and to entrepreneurs to network and build relations.”
The Expo is divided into different sections including Industry & Manufacturing, Service & Import/Export, Trade & Wholesale, Retail & Others and Upliftment.
The Upliftment Section at the expo has specifically provided small and upcoming Dawoodi Bohra businessmen special facilities with space rentals at highly subsidized rates as to get opportunity to show their products and get international exposure.
The 5th Burhani Expo being held under the guardianship of Shehzada Idris Bahisaheb, son of Bohra community leader Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin has followed the ones held in 2001-the first one- 2005, 2007, and the one global expo 2008 in Dubai. ‘It is the practical version of the vision given by Idris Bahisaheb some years ago,’ said Abbas.
One of the organizers said: though visitors of the expo may be from any community, those who have arranged stalls are from Bohra community. ‘Dawoodi Bohra manufactures, industrialists and traders from across thirty cities of India and from countries from Far East, Middle East, Europe and North Africa are participating in this exposition,’ states a press release issued by BBCC.
Spice Kitchen concepts PVT. LTD. (Hyderabad), Al Falah Energy Solutions (UAE), Motiwala Jewelers (Mumbai), ITS Tooling PVT. LTD. (Chennai), EZZY Bio Sciences Pvt. Ltd. (MP), Hakimi Steel Works (Pune), Bengal Sheet Metal Works (Kolkata), Hindustan Tools (Coimbatore), Hajoori’s Frootreet Ice-cream (Surat) and Forever Living Products (Mumbai) are some of the firms out of 30 taking part in the expo.
There is free entrance for any one from any community during the exhibition time, from 10am to 8pm. BBCC has also arranged seminar on variety of topics to be presented by experts and professionals from 1 to 7pm.
Tomorrow, experts of various business fields will speak on ‘Communication Skills in Business’, ‘Power of positive thinking’, Solar Energy’ and ‘Secrets of Rich and Famous’ etc.
The Burhaniyah Business Counselling Centre is an international body formed by Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin. One of its main objectives is to help Dawoodi Bohras prosper in their businesses.