ASIAN BUSINESS AWARDS 2012
A ONE-TIME market stall trader who bought a bankrupt car parts shop and built a £225m business has won the much coveted title, Asian Business of the Year 2012.
Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia collected the award at a glittering black-tie dinner on Friday (March 30) at the Park Plaza Westminster in front of an audience of more than 800, which included many of the country's most successful entrepreneurs.
The Asian Business Awards, now in their 15th year are hosted by the country's largest Asian publishing house, the Asian Marketing & Marketing Group (AMG), and the company behind the market-leading Eastern Eye newspaper, presented seven other awards at the high octane occasion.
Chief guest London Mayor Boris Johnson made a speech and the awards for Asian businesswoman of the year, young entrepreneur, social entrepreneur of the year, best health and beauty and best food and drink, and best Indian state for business tourism, were handed out by a roll call of high profile Asian figures with BBC Football presenter Manish Bhasin and Conservative Wolverhampton MP, Paul Uppal among them.
Radio One DJ Nihal compered the star studied evening which was televised by Sony TV.
The much anticipated Asian Rich List 2012 was also released on the evening and a new design for Eastern Eye was also unveiled.
The Asian Rich List is the definitive guide to Britain's wealthiest Asians, was launched by the Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP, chairman of the powerful Home Affairs Select Committee.
The Asian Business Awards is the biggest celebration of Asian business success in Britain. The awards seek to recognise the drive, energy and passion that is the hallmark of Asian entrepreneurship.
Kalpesh Solanki Group Managing Editor of AMG said: 'Asian businesses make a huge contribution to Britain's economy and it is truly inspiring and humbling to recognise these amazing success stories.
'Our winners and those business owners on the Asian Rich List show the great resilience of Asian businesses in keeping the flame of entrepreneurship burning in all communities.'
The awards are hosted in partnership with HSBC Bank, Chivas, Brown Shilpley, Savills and Grant Thornton.
