Asian businesses in UK to lead fight in global recession

LONDON (eTN) – This has been a turbulent year rocked by what some analysts have called the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression nearly 80 years ago.

LONDON (eTN) – This has been a turbulent year rocked by what some analysts have called the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression nearly 80 years ago.

However, the latest edition of Asian Whoโ€™s Who International was launched at a glitzy event here in London with encouraging words of hope from leading members of the business community. The editorโ€™s note summed up the prevailing mood: โ€œ I firmly believe that Asian businesses in the United Kingdom will lead the fight against the global recession and come out as winners.โ€

Awards were handed out in several categories and individual stories of the winners were inspirational and heart-warming. The award for โ€œAsian Leadership in Charityโ€ went to Gautam Lewis, who was abandoned in Calcutta in India at the age of three after contracting polio. He was rescued by Mother Teresaโ€™s missionaries, adopted by a female nuclear physicist with dual UK and Irish nationality and grew up in Britain. Among other things he became a music manager looking after some top British pop stars. He took up photography, trained as a pilot and is now spearheading a campaign to eradicate polio in India and worldwide.

The title of โ€œAsian of the Yearโ€ went to Ranjit Singh Baxi, a businessman and recognised expert in the recycling business. The award was presented by Lord Swraj Paul a past winner of the title. In his address, Lord Paul said, โ€œIf anyone can withstand the credit crunch it will be the Asian community.โ€

A new addition to the awards this year was one for โ€œAsian Leadership in Music and Culture,โ€ which was won by Channi Singh, a singer who has become an idol for fans of Bhangra music in the UK and around the world.

Speakers paid tribute to Jasbir Singh Sachar, who founded the Asian Whoโ€™s Who directory in 1975 at a time when a large influx of Asians from Asia and Africa were beginning to make their mark in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Sachar recalled the difficult early days. โ€œThey worked hard in factories, sold newspapers in their corner-shops and were not shy of doing any menial job for their survival.โ€

The Asian community has come a long way since then with ever-increasing numbers playing a leading role in fields as diverse as economy, politics, travel, tourism, religion, entertainment and arts. Their enterprise and determination could now play a key role in helping to overcome the current economic downturn. As their success and influence continues to grow, Asian Whoโ€™s Who International has become an essential point of reference for people within the community and outside.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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