“Getting warmer”

There is "so much business that can be activated with Pakistan,” said Karachi based hotelier and businessman Byram Avari at a function to "cultivate interest and form the Karachi chapter of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC).”

Local businesspeople and their spouses had been invited to the September 9, 2007 function held at the Avari Towers to meet the WZCC delegation from India. Avari believed the Karachi chapter would "give back-up support” to develop entrepreneurs. Stating the WZCC-India chapter was "extremely beholden” to Avari for hosting the delegation and arranging meetings with top Pakistani government and business officials, WZCC-India president and Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) chairman Minoo Shroff noted, "India is growing at 9.5 percent per year. (We) are on a roll. Zoroastrian enterprise is coming to the fore but not to the extent necessary.”

Shroff observed the economy had "undergone a sea change.” He referred to the Tata Steel takeover of the UK based Corus industries for $ 12 billion of which nine billion was "raised from loans.”

The "rewards are phenomenal” in international business, he added, but "the risks are enormous.”

India-Pakistan trade was "getting warmer,” but at present remained "a measly one billion US dollars” per annum, he noted. The trade between India and China in contrast was $ 25 billion, "second only to India’s trade with the US.” He prophesied that China would one day be India’s largest trading partner.

Shroff told the gathering that WZCC was launched in Houston, Texas in the year 2000 and "was catching momentum.” WZCC-India was going to "send eight to 10 Parsis to an entrepreneurial institute in Ahmedabad” for training. The WZCC-BPP venture capital fund initially mooted by the Federation of Parsi Zoroastrian Anjumans of India had helped six entrepreneurs set up/expand their businesses, one of which included a tented camp resort outside the Kanha game sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.

"I’m only sorry I am not 30 years younger,” said the sprite 78-year-old chairman.

Above (from left): Soli Parakh, Viraf Daroga, Homi Ghadially, Sheroy Irani and Cyrus Kharas Below: Minoo Shroff presenting momento to Byram Avari while Kersi Limathwala (left) and Edil Katrak look on; Zenobia Davar presenting embroidered map to Avari

Zenobia Davar, a member of the Indian delegation who makes and sells embroidered fabrics, presented Avari with a framed embroidered map of the world in appreciation of the hospitality extended to the delegation and to her in particular. Avari had permitted Davar to display her creations at the Beach Luxury Hotel and the Avari Towers for several days without charge. In an e-mail to the delegates following the trip, Davar thanked Avari "for allowing me to showcase my creations to the people of Karachi.”

Earlier in the day at the inauguration of her exhibition Davar had stated, "I have always been keen on embroidery. I like to conduct classes...get others to do what I am doing. If you are determined you can push ahead.” Shroff described Davar as "a role model” for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Avari then announced the names of the board members of the newly formed WZCC-Karachi chapter: Soli Parakh (chairman), Viraf Daroga, Homi Gha­dially, Sheroy Irani and Cyrus Kharas.

A partner in A. F. Ferguson and Company, a member firm of Price Waterhouse Coopers, Parakh has over 20 years’ experience in the field of taxation and financial services. Parakh’s expertise is sought by some of the largest national and multinational corporations. Besides handling mergers and acquisitions he has been responsible for international tax services, tax planning and representation of clients at appeals before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal. Daroga has been in the aviation business for the last 47 years and is presently executive director of Avari Travel Agencies (Private) Limited. He has served different institutes and committees including as chairman, Facilitation Committee Board of Airline in Pakistan and trustee of the Karachi Parsi Anjuman Trust Fund. Ghadially has been in the family business of property consultancy and development, and additionally does part-time acting and social work. Irani who provides consultancy services on developing and maintaining gardens and landscapes established Orchids Galore, the first ever orchid nursery in Pakistan, in 2000. He supervised the development of Rustom Baugh Park, a three-acre Greenfield project in Clifton, Karachi. An electrical engineer by profession Kharas has for the last 30 years been working for AREVA T&D Pakistan (Private) Limited, a leading multinational organization in Pakistan engaged in electrical power transmission and distribution. He is presently general manager (operations) of this firm.