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Whatever the mind can conceive, it can achieve,” reminded Capt Percy Master during his last annual general meeting (AGM) as India region president of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC). "The pandemic has taught us to improvise and introduce new initiatives,” Master impressed on "those bold enough to be here,” as also members from the Pune and Bangalore chapters who had joined on Zoom with some others from overseas. This was the first in-person meeting after the pandemic, conducted at Bombay’s West End Hotel, on October 30, 2021.  "We are all tourists and God is our travel agent who has decided the routes and destination. Enjoy this trip called life,” he added.
During his years at the helm, Master referred to the cooperation from the team and the "healthy arguments that have led to some great initiatives to the satisfaction of all concerned.” He named erstwhile president Minoo Shroff as his mentor. Four other India region directors retire this year, having completed two terms of three years each: vice president Adi Siganporia, Tehmas Bharucha, Viraf Deboo and Xerxes Dastur. In their place, three nominations have been received from Zerrick Dastur of Bombay, Shernaz Dadachanji of Bangalore and Porus Dadabhoy of Poona.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

India is one of the seven regions of WZCC with three chapters and one area representation office. Opening chapters in "Ahmedabad and Hyderabad are on our radar but Covid has delayed our plans,” announced honorary secretary Behroze Daruwalla. With a total membership of around 500 in the India region, 50% of whom are life members, Daruwalla urged those present to induce the youth in their families, baugs, etc to become members.
She commented that the pandemic made it possible to have "global participation at all its meets” and WZCC global president Edul Daver attended every webinar of every chapter. "That man is incredible. His encouragement made us move forward ensuring that no one is isolated. Global vice president Yazdi Tantra has the energy of an Everready battery. He turned out to be ‘Covid no baap (bulwark of Covid),’” with his technical knowhow that enabled WZCC to continue with its activities online without a break. She gave credit to Master, Siganporia and Deboo for being a "mega support,” to chief executive officer Aspi Antia "who manages to do everything and anything” and could well adopt WZCC as his middle name! Antia’s administrative team included Aban Mistry, Jasmine Mistry as also 22-year-old Urvax Chawda who is "so dedicated and cheerful, his commitment to WZCC is unbelievable.”
The WZCC statement of accounts for the year showed a deficit of Rs 4.87 lakhs that treasurer Xerxes Dastur attributed to Covid. "Unfortunately we have not been able to raise resources at a time when our expenses are running ahead of our income.” Their investments though have risen to Rs 60 lakhs. When those present were invited to propose and second the secretary’s report and the statement of accounts, one of the members in the audience enquired in good humor whether "the proposer will have to make up the four lakh deficit?” Farhad Hozdar and Company were reelected auditors for the ensuing year.
Interest free loans up to Rs 25 lakhs extended as a joint collaboration between WZCC — India and the World Zoroastrian Organisation Trust Funds have financed emerging entrepreneurs. Having fared well, few have already returned the loan in full. Any person who wants to succeed must be punctual. Local applicants are not that professional and punctual and that delays processing of applications, pointed out Master. "There is no substitute for experience,” he stressed, referring to their efforts to interview several personalities through specially formulated questionnaires with the intent of helping the youth to learn from the experience of others. "An organization like the WZCC needs a lot of funds. We are here to serve but funds should come from community members. Without vitamin M (money) we cannot function,” he added. Currently the advertisements on the WZCC website are bringing in revenue to run the Mumbai chapter administrative office.
Thanks to Daver, WZCC has initiated a collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology in Gandhinagar (IIT-GN) offering incubation for young entrepreneurs with good ideas but lacking in infrastructure. "We are trying our best to promote the youth whereby they can enjoy the maximum advantage of such programs.”
After the last global enclave held in Lonavala in January 2020, the next such in-person meet will be held on January 7 and 8, 2022 in Poona. It will be organized at the Ramada Plaza at Hinjawadi, off the Bombay-Poona highway for the convenience of local and outstation members, specified former Pune chapter chair Deboo. "A few months ago we were in a quandary. A physical meeting seemed impossible,” he mentioned giving a tentative outline for the two-day program that would include the AGM and evening entertainment on the first day while the second day would see sessions by the Women Entrepreneurs (WE) wing, the Youth wing, guest speakers and the gala awards night in the evening. "Block those dates. We’ll keep sending you flyers,” he promised. He described (Master) as "an amazing mentor, leader, strict yet soft-spoken.”
"For the global enclave, I don’t know how many will come from abroad though I plan to attend,” announced Daver who had logged in for the AGM from the US. "We take the best from each of us and make the best for all of us,” he reiterated, acknowledging how Covid helped WZCC to "become more holistic. We don’t talk only about economic value but social and intellectual value too.” Daver referred to programs like FLY (Find the Leader in You) that offer masters in entrepreneurship and his attempts to find equivalents through IIT-GN. In a subsequent email Daver clarified that "the long-term objective is for WZCC to identify suitable innovators for the IIT-GN six-week, in-person, Enterprise Development Program.” But since that course is on hold due to Covid restrictions, interested candidates could pursue the existing virtual programs on "Business skills for entrepreneurs” or "Engineering entrepreneurship.” If they require assistance in funding they could avail of the Nidhi Prayas program or take advantage of an Equity Angel Funding opportunity from the Areez Khambatta Benevolent Trust.

 

Chapter highlights
During the year the Mumbai chapter held nine meetings, Pune and Bangalore organized five each, and the WE wing held seven events. Online meetings convened by different chapters gave members insights into subjects directly and indirectly concerning business matters.
Among the topics convened by the Mumbai chapter were Trade and Investment Opportunities, the Consumer Protection Act, Nani Palkhivala — the legend, Breaking the Glass Ceiling, Rudiments of Making a Will and Art Infrastructure, mentioned chapter chair Tehemton Dalal.
The Pune chapter had its first in-person meeting on October 16 after months of meeting on Zoom when they organized sessions on the Nuts and Bolts of Digital Marketing, Oral Hygiene and Dental Care, Cyber Security — Safe Surfing on the Internet, Digital Marketing — Linked In or Linked Out? Where not to invest. They were able to add a couple of new members during the year, bringing their count to 90 with 40 individual life members, 47 individual members and three corporate members, reported chapter chair Bharucha.
The Bangalore chapter with its 53 members "continues to push its bounds,” mentioned committee member Zarine Kharas. The pandemic prompted the team to "reinvent our strategies” by organizing The Marketplace, the online Parsi Food Bazar, the Artisans Fair, Entrepreneurship Development Program for Foodpreneurs who have little or no exposure to professional training to help them improve their culinary and marketing skills. The events "created a wonderful pool of talent while fostering charity, nurturing team spirit and confidence,” she noted. Such programs opened up opportunities for networking since they received almost 400 registrations for 36 events while being able to focus on the youth. Their video on Leadership and Teamwork created for the contest organized by the Dubai chapter won them a prize.
WE has formed a core committee with one lady from each chapter to strengthen its working. On the Webex platform they organized a session on "A Perfect Portfolio.” Yet another session on "Journey Beyond the Clouds” saw 175 participants log in for a session with female pilots. The other programs covered "Growing your business through marketing and business strategy,” "Environmental sustainability and the role of women” and "The magic of music.”
Giving an update on the activities of the Youth wing, director Rashna Sanjana referred to their newly introduced program "Jobs for all Zoros” where they were "overwhelmed by the response.” They were able to create a data base of 500 job seekers and tried to match them with prospective employers. Succeeding in finding employment for a few, they are persisting in their efforts. She appealed to senior WZCC members who have openings at their establishments to contact the WZCC office. To enable job seekers to gain a competitive edge, to understand what Human Resources managers are looking for, the Youth wing organized a seminar on the subject.
The educational arm of WZCC, the Zoroastrian Faculty Network has an active website providing information to students who want to go abroad for studies, stated Farrokh Rustomji. Details on educational loans, institutions, scholarships available are available on their website where useful webinars too are uploaded. Looking at different universities, they are currently exploring French institutions. In their efforts the core team is assisted by young Zoroastrians.
"The WZCC has completed 21 years of fruitful existence and within four years will celebrate its silver jubilee” pointed out Siganporia in his closing remarks, acknowledging the efforts of members who have contributed to its success by giving moral or monetary support.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ease of Doing Business
"Attracting and retaining more investment and talent helps an economy to grow,” observed Saurabh Shah, corporate advisor and company law authority who is on the compliance committee of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. According to the last published World Bank report on the Ease of Doing Business, India ranks 63rd among 190 countries, stated Shah who is the chief executive officer of Universal Business and Corporate Services Centre.
While India’s economy is projected to grow at 6.7 percent in 2022, setting up a business in India is a laborious process. The objective needs to be enunciated, laws at both the central and state level have to be respected. "The unfortunate part is that one is not sure which of the thousand licences and regulations are applicable to (the entrepreneur),” he noted. Prior to making a commitment a potential investor needs to be reassured of: the transparency of the registration process, whether there are any retrospective amendments to laws concerning contract and labor, whether security clauses are in place. Instead of multiple filing and regulations, integration of corridors would ease registrations just as self-attestation would ease paperwork.
To be an alternate supplier chain to the world, Atma Nirbhar (self-reliant) India needs to be "a hub of value creation and mass scale production.” Small and medium enterprises have the potential to scale up. There should be a provision for technology transfer in clusters so that royalty fees may be divided.
In the subsequent question-answer session it was highlighted that post the pandemic, when many expected overseas companies to come to India, the far east countries of Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia were considered better choices. To set up a hospital in India requires 74 licences. The need of the hour is to reduce bureaucracy by integrating state and federal laws with single window clearances.
A violin recital by Leah Divecha,  accompanied by Aida Bisengalieva and Gulzara Shakir set the tone for the members to relax and enjoy the subsequent networking and buffet dinner.