I read your editorial about the Patel brothers with interest. It reminds us all that the notion that British mainstream business organisations somehow integrate the interests and wellbeing of Asian Businesses, at times of crisis, is a fallacy.
Whilst, the local University benefits from an endowment, four hundred yards away at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, patients with critical illness have to be rationed or denied lifesaving medicines, as NHS budgets cannot cope with the demand.
So where does the British Asian entrepreneur, who rightly or by implication falls foul of UK's regulatory landscape, or comes under intense media scrutiny, turn to for support? Under your stewardship, Asian Voice stands out as a champion for equity in coverage and support for the venerable and the marginalised. Sadly, by and large most ethnic publications now take a religious or political line. Often driven by advertising, awards dinner sponsorship and other commercial realities. Add to this the Asian adage, "if there is smoke there must be fire". Even if the fire is virtual and often electronically generated. As a result, Asian business interest and wellbeing is often at the mercy of the free-press. Whilst, commercial and personal reputations are muddied.
There is a lesson to be learned from the African American, Asian (Korean, Japanese and Chinese) and the Hispanic Chambers in the USA. They are able to represent the distinct interest of their members at the highest level in the land, especially businesses hounded by the 24/7 multimedia. We need to embrace some of their best practice for the benefit of the next generation of British Asian entrepreneurs. I fully accede the position that many successful entrepreneurs in their trajectory to the top don't regard themselves as Asian, till they fall foul of media or regulatory scrutiny.
As a community we accept regulation and abhor business practice that is just on the right side of legality. Without this acceptance we, as a community, are vulnerable to a cynical, manipulative, pre-judged and hostile opinion of us, expressed by those same British institutions who are happy to give us a gong or a medal.
At the National Asian Business Association, through our regional Associations (NABA), we continue to champion the interests of the British Asian business communities: at numerous Select Committees at Westminster; in regular contributions to White and Green paper consultations with Brussels, on wide range of issues including fresh fruit and vegetable import bans; in tackling excessive and often disproportionate burdens of regulatory challenges on the British Asian communities - from Health & Safety, Policing, passport fraud, Travel fraud, Halal meat contamination – with august bodies such as Trading Standards, the Food Standards Agency, the NHS, the Solicitors Regulatory Authority and HMRC; and biased or misunderstood representation of ourselves in the news and content at the BBC and other media outlets.
This advocacy has often been led by handful of enlightened individuals and Business Associations in their own time without any support - morally, financial or resources by the people or the industry directly affected. The Asian captains of industry will quite happily sponsor umpteen business awards (often recipients of the awards themselves) and voluntarily enslave themselves to the creeping conformity of the UK’s honours regime. Yet will not support local Asian Business Associations either with memberships fees or sponsorships, or the exemplar advocacy of the Asian Voice. This is not a case for CSR or a plea for philanthropy, but of blatant commercial self-interest in ensuring there is a national cohesive and articulate support for them and their brand when it comes under scrutiny. It is time for you to support these organisations, who will support your direct interest in Britain.
Uday Dholakia
Chairman
