The entrepreneurial edge

With India now a trillion dollar economy and Indian industry putting its hand up on the world stage, the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce-India (WZCCI) is making strenuous efforts to accelerate the spirit of entrepreneurship in the community so that Zoroastrian businesses do not find themselves timed out by the surge of competition.

The WZCCI held its fourth annual general meeting (AGM) and that of its Mumbai Chapter for the period ended March 31, 2007 at the West End Hotel in Bombay on September 30, 2007. Members from Poona, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Hyderabad, Calcutta, Madras and Bombay met for a distillation of thoughts to provide the entrepreneurial edge.

Presenting his report, Farrokh Rustomji, secretary of the India Chamber, stated: "Interestingly, the next world (WZCC) AGM is also going to be held in India on January 12/13, 2008 in Poona.” On January 7, 2007, the WZCC international board of directors had selected India as their venue for holding their AGM, with the Mumbai Chapter, the largest and most active so far, hosting the event. This had been preceded by a trip to Poona by members/delegates and included a visit to the manufacturing facility of Poona’s well-known engineering group Forbes Marshall.

Three members of the Mumbai Chapter have been inducted as directors and office bearers on the international board — Kersi Limathwalla as vice president, Zarine Commissariat as corporate secretary and Yazdi Tantra as technical (IT) director. Heading the board as president is Bomy Boyce of Toronto, with the baton having passed to him from founder president Rohinton Rivetna.

Aiming to transform tomorrow for youngsters, the Mumbai Chapter has organized a seven-day residential program at Ahmedabad’s prestigious Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDI) from November 19-25, 2007. Entitled "Own Your Business (OYB) Program 2007,” the training covers the gamut of lectures, case studies, interactions with established entrepreneurs, banks and financial institutions and industrial visits. "We will consider sponsorship for deserving candidates. The EDI has a lovely campus and this is a very important program for young people to develop as entrepreneurs. Your children will thank you for sending them,” Dolly Dhamodiwala exhorted hesitant parents. A Business Cell has been specially established in Bombay with Tantra, Dhamodiwala and Prof Faredoon Kapadia as committee members.

Of special concern is the drop in membership renewals, pointed out Kersi Commissariat, WZCCI honorary treasurer. "This is alarming. We should do something about this. If you could please care to renew your membership,” he urged members. The accounts for the year showed a deficit of Rs 34,000, Commissariat stated. Commending Kalyaniwalla and Mistry, Chartered Accountants, for a job well done, Commissariat suggested they be reappointed, which was accepted and carried.

With only six nominations received for elections to the all India board, Shavak Bhumgara quipped: "Unlike national elections, everyone gets elected.” Rustomji, Kersi Commissariat, Minoo Shroff, Dadi Mistry, Limathwalla and Kapadia are the elected members, with chapter chairs on board as ex officio members. For the Mumbai Chapter, 14 nominations were received for the 15 managing committee seats. Elections are held every three years. Members observed a moment’s silence in remembrance of the late Lt Gen Adi Sethna who had played an active role in bringing WZCC to India.

With a large WZCCI trade delegation having visited Pakistan from September 8-13, 2007, Mumbai Chapter chair Edil Katrak expressed special thanks to Byram Avari, well known Karachi businessman and WZCC honorary member, his wife Goshpi and sons Dinshaw and Xerxes for having made the trade delegation’s visit a great success. An MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) was signed with the Karachi Chamber of Commerce, a first in the history of the WZCC. Preparations were also put in place for the establishment of a WZCC Karachi Chapter. "The trip was excellently coordinated from beginning to end by our very dynamic Chapter chair (Katrak) who not only took all the trouble to liaise with our host but also went personally to Delhi to obtain all the permissions,” commended Zarine Commissariat.

"Initially I was cynical,” (about the visit of the trade delegation to Pakistan, given the current turmoil there) stated WZCCI president and Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) chairman Minoo Shroff, introduced by Zarine as "our very very efficient, warm hearted and wonderful all-India head.” Shroff noted that they (the delegation) was very well received by the local administration including the governor of Sind, the Press and TV.” Everything went like clockwork. There is a lot of ignorance about Parsis... but ample scope for trade. Don’t write off the country. We have to take a medium to long-term perspective. Once we have broken the glass ceiling, we are there to stay.”

Terming the North American Zoroastrian Congress in Toronto in June 2007 a "beautifully organized congress,” Shroff told the AGM that Zoroastrians in America want synergy with India: "There is a perception that we are among the wealthiest minorities...People look to India, particularly Bombay, to spearhead the movement as others are widely scattered. Bombay is the fount of all our endowments, much of our enterprise.” The first ever multimedia interactive program (video conference) at the Toronto Congress brought within touching distance of each other (albeit via audio/video) Shroff and Avari in Toronto, Ratan Tata and Nadir Godrej in Bombay, Fali Nariman in Delhi, Lord Karan Bilimoria in South Africa (where he was on a visit). "Give me a robust plan and we (the Tatas) are willing to help,” Shroff quoted Ratan Tata. "The WZCC has taken some time to peak, there is a genuine apathy (to get into business). The feeling is why risk your shirt. Jobs are preferable. Boyce is struggling hard (for WZCC success). Struggle is the right word. We have to give commitment, time, resources,” Shroff delinated the strategies for survival, adding however that he was very optimistic about a "vibrant WZCC” in the near future.

With many chapter chairs rueing the fact that enthusiasm seemed to fizzle even where chapters had been started "with a bang,” Limathwalla observed that WZCC had a very good website (www.wzcc.net) and network system (zchamber@yahoogroups.com). "Where the Zoroastrian population is small, we can have Chamber representatives. Do let us know... WZCC is a true welfare organization. It does not give you fish, it teaches you to fish…” Members were informed about the recently published Parsiana Yellow Pages which made contact points easier.

With Rustom Daroga having resigned as Chapter chair, Delhi is revamping its committee, hoping to bring in younger people. Venture capital or loans are not difficult to get from banks in Delhi, stated Dadi Mistry. "The impression is bawaji hai, jabani hai, pura karéga (he is a bawaji, he will honor his word). We have to instil this spirit into youngsters.”

Chairperson of the Ahmedabad Chapter Oorvaksh Medhora informed the gathering that they had formed four mentoring cells — financial, management, technical, legal — to assist entrepreneurs. He noted that Boyce’s trip to Ahmedabad, his first since taking over as president, had been a source of encouragement.

"WZCC is not a vehicle to dole out money. You must have a viable business,” stated Adi Engineer, head of the Poona Chapter, touching briefly on Poona success stories like the entrepreneur who has forayed into the manufacture of furniture with Italian collaboration as well as the software expert who has expanded his business internationally. He urged members to make their hotel/dharamshala bookings early for the global AGM in January, as Poona faced a dearth of hotel rooms, particularly in the winter season.

Rustomji expressed gratitude to the BPP for allowing the use of their premises at Gamadia Polyclinic in Tardeo for the WZCCI office. He also thanked writer/editor Shernaaz Engineer and her team for the WZCC newsletter.