Archive

Seventy-seven registrations have been received for the annual global meet of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC) to be held from December 14-16, 2017 in Bangalore, and "we would like to see the number go up to 150,” commented chapter chair Air Chief Marshal Fali Major (Retd). He was speaking at the 14th annual general meeting (AGM) of the India region of WZCC at the Royal Bombay Yacht Club on September 16, 2017. Major gave a flavor of the proposed guest speakers at the meet: Dr Ferzaan Engineer, an organ-specific cancer specialist; political scientist Dr RashnaWriter; British writer and human rights campaigner Zerbanoo Gifford and founder and chairperson and managing director of biotechnology company Avesthagen Villoo Morawala-Patell. The program summary posted on the website of the Chamber includes leadership skill games and team workshops with adequate time for networking. An optional sight-seeing tour to Mysore has been arranged on December 17. 
Conveying the activities of the newest chapter in the India region the Bangalore based chief stated the South India affiliate "was kick-started by (committee member) Zarine Kharas.” Major elaborated that themes for meetings have ranged from "chiropractors, self defense and yoga” to QMaths (a fun way of learning mathematics) and understanding Goods and Services Tax (GST). "The energy of our young team makes me very nervous,” let on Major. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Behroze Daruwalla, chairperson of Women Entrepreneurs (WE) sub-committee on the International Board was the compere for the evening. In his address to the 100+ attendees, India president Capt Percy Master provided his definition of entrepreneurship: "Doing what others won’t, so that you can spend like most people can’t.” He informed the audience that the monthly meetings over coffee, labeled "Coffee with WZCC,” an initiative started in Bombay by vice chairman Xerxes Dastur in 2016, had been taken up by Poona too. The venture encourages established businessmen and budding entrepreneurs to get together monthly to brainstorm and network "in a friendly and professional atmosphere.” Discussions on mechanisms to fund aspiring entrepreneurs were underway, he revealed, adding that it is the duty of the senior members of the Chamber to guide the new generation. Master ended his address with a quote from industrialist Ratan Tata: "I admire people who are very successful; but if that success has been achieved through too much ruthlessness, I may admire the person, but I can’t respect him.”  
Dentist Dr Arnavaz Havewala, who was awarded the Outstanding Zarathushti Professional of the Year 2016, and who could not attend the global meeting in Hong Kong to collect her award (see "Low aim is a crime,” Parsiana, January 7, 2017) was felicitated by guest of honor Tara Scheurwater, consul and senior trade commissioner in Bombay for Canada. 
"We are in a very sound financial position,” quipped honorary treasurer Tehmasp Bharucha while presenting the consolidated accounts for the India region. For 2016-17, income stood at Rs 18.10 lakhs, including 12.30 lakhs from donations and Rs 1.23 lakhs from subscriptions. Fifteen percent of the net surplus of Rs 3.77 lakhs was transferred to the corpus, which at the year-end stood at Rs 47.86 lakhs. Investments made during the year totaled Rs 40 lakhs.
From "magic shows to financial matters,” was the range of themes covered at meetings of the Bombay Chapter, reported Bombay Chapter chairman and global corporate secretary Adi Siganporia.  He emphasized four: a site visit to the plant of Mustang Socks where the members interacted with the founder Naazneen Katrak; conducting a business game for the participants of the Holiday Programme for Youth (HPY) of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet, where the participants were assigned a task to "manufacture” a drink and market it; a workshop by global vice president Yazdi Tantra on "Productivity at the work place” and a seminar on GST which saw 90 attendees. "We require guidance and mentorship” was the message from the youth that the team who conducted the HPY sessions carried back. "Do not pamper your children,” was Siganporia’s message to the audience. He noted that many students from other communities do three courses at a time: chartered accountancy, cost accountancy and company secretarial. "I challenge you to find any Parsi student doing this,” he said. But he added that entrepreneurship was doing well in the community. 
The first speed networking event organized by the youth wing of the Bombay Chapter saw 40 attendees, according to youth director of the Bombay Chapter Jehaan Kotwal. At each such meeting, targets on how much business should be generated therefrom are laid down. Kotwal is confident of crossing a crore-rupee target at subsequent meetings. "We want to be the Parsi ‘Shark Tank,’” he quipped, in a reference to the American television reality show where aspiring entrepreneur-contestants make business presentations to a panel of investors, who then choose whether or not to invest in their ventures. Kotwal supplied Parsiana with the names of team members who are working with him on weekly informal meetings for budding Parsi entrepreneurs in the age group of 18-35 and mentorship programs to connect aspiring entrepreneurs to established businessmen. These are finance professional Delna Sethna, event manager Hoshang Jahangirji, winemaker Nainaz Shroff, on-line clothing retailer Rashna Sanjana and corporate executive Sohrab Godrej. On behalf of WE, secretary Percis Dubash listed out their activities for the year: a session on yoga; a workshop on "The joys and pangs of running your own business” (see "Opportunities beyond…,” Business, Parsiana, November 21, 2016); a session on building and growing business through the digital medium.

Jelling well

"Over 75,000 Indian students are currently studying in various universities in Canada," said guest of honor Tara Scheurwater (pictured) consul and senior trade commissioner for Canada in Bombay. Applications to Canadian universities are up by 300% "in view of uncertainties in the US and on account of Brexit in the UK." The consul kicked off her talk with a quote from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s June 8 tweet to his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau ("our hot-bod premier"): "India and Canada is an ace partnership, advantageous to both nations, beneficial for the world. Game, set and match always." Modi had written this in the context of the Indo-Canadian pair of Rohan Bopanna and Gabriela Dabrowski winning the mixed doubles event of the French Open 2017. 

During her growing up years on the Canadian prairies, her first name "connected (her) to India," despite its Gaelic origin, said Scheurwater. The consul, who described herself as "not terribly diplomatic," went on to describe the areas that the two countries were collaborating in, and possible future opportunities. Over nine high level ministerial delegations had visited India in the recent past. Pointing out that Canada could become a major oil supplier to India, she said that 80% of India’s oil imports currently come from countries considered politically "risky." Half of all pulses imported by India come from Canada, she said, quipping that often cruise liners and even US navy vessels had to wait in Bombay port while Canadian food vessels were offloaded! Over 1,000 Canadian companies are active in India, she noted, with 40 in Poona alone. The North American country had over 600 incubation centers to nurture talent and skills in various fields. Of these, 300 companies handle research and development in financial technologies alone. She noted that "most of the R&D for Paytm," India’s e-commerce company was done in Toronto. Canada was helping Bhubaneshwar in eastern India become a smart city. As the sixth largest exporter of defense technology, Scheurwater said that Canada "could play a significant role for India" in that sector. Indo-Canadian film production was a growing business, said the consul.

Pointing out that "connections need to be made at the grassroots level to make billions of dollars worth of deals," she commended the role of organizations like WZCC in networking and exhorted youth director of the Bombay Chapter Jehaan Kotwal to forge alliances with the young in the Zoroastrian community in Canada. In a reference to diversity of the population in her country, the consul reiterated that there are several persons of Indian origin in their parliament and in the senate. "More than 50% of Toronto’s population is born outside of Canada," she noted. "Like India, diversity is our strength," she said.

Earlier, while introducing Scheurwater, Bombay Chapter chairman and global corporate secretary Adi Siganporia mentioned that she had represented Canada in Japan, and was a senior advisor for innovations to their government. The Bombay assignment came to her in 2016. "Parsis and Canada jell well," he quipped, reminding the audience about good Canadian food, scenic vistas and above all, integrity in business dealings, a trait that found a place in WZCC’s credo of "Industry-Integrity."