The Chairman’s Annual Report can be found below and also be downloaded here:
2nd National Conference
The year started with BBG Chennai bidding at Delhi with other BBGs to host the 2nd National BBG Conference at Chennai. With huge support from many members, 13 of whom sponsored bulk of finance to make event a resounding success. All our Committee as well as the solid backing / support from Mike Nithavrianakis, the Deputy High Commissioner and all his staff at BDHC/ Cottingley. A Sub-Committee headed by Ravi Kumar produced an excellent Conference Report which was distributed to all BBGs and is a useful presentation document
Membership/ New members
We had 85 members last year and now have 134, an increase of 57% (we fell short of target of 150, considering we lost 12 members from last year, level still reasonable) Getting new members is a priority area – all our Committee work to bring new members and we are grateful to Jamie Cribb and his colleagues in UKTI / BDHC in identifying new arrivals.
Monthly Meetings / Committee sittings
Other than major Conference Meeting in September 2012, 13 regular meetings and networking sessions were held.
Your hard-working Committee met more than twice monthly to make Conference happen/ get Report done/ handle issues of UKTI – UKIBC trade initiative actions / UK trade mission. We planned a trip to Mysore which did not happen and alas no cricket match was played with BDHC
Charitable Donations
In pursuit of our charity objectives, BBG Chennai made donations to Hand in Hand India and to Frontier Lifeline Hospital and two smaller donations. The Hand in hand India donation spurred TCS to take action and contribute water filters for 10 centres (under delivery)
Web-site Refresh/ launch
A small Sub-Committee under Peter Spackman worked with our Member, Vikas Chawla (of Social Beat) to completely refresh and rehash the web-site using the National Conference Logo / colours with sliding picture gallery/the Conference film “Old Madras, Chennai Today” as well as regular updated news. Our submission is that all members take an active interest in the web-site and make regular relevant contributions and suggestions to keep it interesting and active
Other New BBGs/ British Chambers of Commerce
We supported Gerry Duggan, our member as he moved to Hyderabad earlier this year with advice and assistance to get BBG Hyderabad launched in April 13 (growing slowly with 30 members)
We have also instigated conveners/ steering team in Bangalore to work into a BBG Bangalore – it took them 3 months and BBG Bangalore formally launched on 5th July 13 (15 members, forming Committee)
We have been in contact with BDHC, Kolkata to see if we can push for a BBG in that city too – not happened yet
The Chairman during a visit to Yangon in Myanmar attended the 2nd meeting of BBG Yangon in May. He has also attended meetings with the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand, Bangkok
Other Activities with BDHC / UKTI
From the outset, BBG Chennai have worked closely with both BDHC and with UKTI – useful regular meeting have taken place. Some of the following have resulted in connections / activity:
Meeting with EU commercial attaches visiting city
London Chamber of C&I visit
Lord Mayor of London visit
UK Health Minister visit
Healthcare delegation
Basildon Council CEO – Bala Mahendran
Chairman addressed UKTI Conference in April 12
David Cameron’s (UK PM) call for increased trade between UK & India – Chennai’s UK business mission
This raised a whole wade of activity during Jan / Feb 2013 including visits by UKTI London and UKIBC, London. A major meeting was held in Delhi and the UK Government committed a budget of Pds 8 million over 5 years in support. UKIBC India has now established and will have new British Business Centres in Gurgoan / Delhi /Mumbai
For our part, BBG Chennai decided to make an independent foray taking a trade/ business delegation into the UK 24/28 June 13. This took place with 13 members participating at opening seminar at UKTI, London. Break-out teams went to Bristol / Belfast and Basildon. Though not any big splash, we achieved modest take-aways with 2 or 3 delegations coming here/ 3 to 4 proposals being worked and individual members getting business done. We plan this to be an annual exercise
BBG Committee
Serving on Committees on voluntary basis can never be everyone’s cup-of-tea. Most times, thankless activity requiring precious time and heavy commitment. But one comes across dedicated supporting members and over time one develops strong friendships in contributing and doing something useful and different from just daily work. This is what we have found in the BBG Committee with all members responding positively whenever calls have been made. We record our appreciation to our Patron and to BDHC/UKTI friends as also to all the Committee members and others who have helped make this very hectic year, a successful one
Christie Cherian
BBG Chennai Trust
