Mumbai. Nov 05: Christian Chamber of Commerce of Industry (CCCI) had 12th award function on Sunday 5th November 2017 at Hotel Kohinoor. Christian Chamber of Commerce & Industry is an umbrella for a body of businessmen from all walks of trade and industry and the motto of the organization is to foster the spirit of entrepreneurship amongst members and to reach out to the community in particular and to the state and country at large. In that context every year the chamber is giving awards in various categories for successful entrepreneurs and the important step taken by the chamber is launching chambers mobile app to increase business among the members and community as a whole. The chairman in his speech explained about the app.

As our Hon. Prime Minister Mr.Narendra Modi announced digital India, the chamber also decided to go digital.

In that direction our board of directors have decided to take a two-step approach. The first involves drastically revamping the CCCI website with a fresh new look and with dynamic features. The second is far more ambitious; our very own Chamber’s Mobile App for the members/community that will enable Connectivity, Communication, Collaboration and Innovation which will result in more business among members as well as with others. Today only the app is going to be launched by chief guest.

The advantages by having an exclusive app of chamber for members are manifold , let me share with you few of them: Through app/directory any person can find out details of all members who are engaged in particular industry/trade/services.

Once our app is popularized the Christian community as well as others can contact through the app to any manufacturer/dealer/service provider. Members can share the information about their products on the wall of mobile app. They can even upload photos of their products on the wall. Similarly one member can deal with another member by using app. There is a provision of transaction report which consists of the detailed report based on the transaction status of members in the directory. I am hopeful that this initiative will expand business of our members. I am also hope that our chamber will become vibrant and this will motivate others to join our chamber leading to growth in membership.

With a click of a button one will know about the Chamber, its events, past as well as upcoming seminars/events/activities and there is a provision that members can give on line confirmation to attend such events Through the facility of this app , we can , in association with some agencies ,be able to bring competitive offers at discounted rates for the members and their families and for the community as a whole and these details will be available will be displayed on the app.

The app was developed by Mr.Ronald Noronha and his team of Arokia IT Pvt. Ltd. He explained the features by PPT presentation and he was assisted by Mr. Reuben Buthello.

The chief guest Mr.Gopal C.Shetty, Member of Parliament, and the Guest of Honour were Fr. Stephen Fernandez and Mr Xavier Britto, chairman of Kerry Indev. Logistics.

The awardees were as follows:

Sr No Category Sponsored by Awardees
1 Industry Electropnematics& Hydraulics (I) Pvt. Ltd. Mr. Anil Rego- Brilliant printers
2 Public Service Daniel & sons Justice. Aloysius Aguiar (Retd)
3 Social service Velvin Industries Pvt. Ltd. Mr. Eric Alfred Correa
4 Women Entreprenur Pattathu Brothers Mrs. Charmaine Dsouza
5 Young Entreprenure Aldel Education Trust Mr. Naveen Aranha –MD Sports Interactive
6 Education Reliable Exports Mr.VivekAranha–Rossery Education group, Pune.

Chief guest Honourable MP, Mr Gopal Shetty, addressed the audience stating that the country is not built by politicians or government alone but every section of society has contributed to the development of the country. He commended all businessmen for being equal contributors to upliftment of society by providing employment and tax revenue. He also stressed on the fact that a large country like India required difficult steps to be implemented and there was no shot cut to development. The government is therefore taking these hard but critical steps for long term benefit. Implementation issues will always be there in a vast country such as in GST and demonetization but we will see benefits in coming days and years. To give an example he stated that government spent nearly Rs21000 crores for maintenance of ATMs across the country,whereasin the current digital push we will save a substantial portion which will be diverted for development spending. He also appreciated the digital push that the chamber is moving towards and assured the audience that he will surely convey to the Prime Minister and the government officials that the Christian Chamber is also fully supportive of the government in their efforts for digitalization.

Fr. Stephen Fernandes, guest of honour said in a highly intellectual talk, stressed on the need for ethics in business. He commended the chamber for rendering invaluable service to society. He called the chamber as one of the factors influencing the collective conscience of society. He appreciated the awardees and admired their hard work, sincerity and dedication to achieve their aims and serve the society. He also applauded the generosity of the sponsors, donors and benefactors of the Chamber. He explained that giving to others is also giving to God and God surely gives back a thousand fold which is nothing but a miracle. He thanked the kind support of the members and wished for the members further success firmly rooted in ethics and morality.

Chairman of CCCI, Mr. Antony Sequeira, in his welcome speech expressed his gratefulness to everyone who strove for CCCI during the year. In his address, explained that his main purpose would be to realize the dreams. He said he would lay emphasis on the task of creating awareness to make this happen. "We will create more opportunities to our members, keep creating awareness about industry, and take bold steps towards evincing interest among the youngsters, thereby making an effort to win this institution global recognition. For the benefit of guests and new members I would like to brief you about the chamber. Christian Chamber of Commerce & Industry is an umbrella for a body of businessmen from all walks of trade and industry and the motto of the organization is to foster the spirit of entrepreneurship amongst members and to reach out to the community in particular and to the state and country at large. As on date we are having strength of 650 members, he said.

Mr Xavier Britto, in a highly inspiring and motivational address, emphasized on the need for team work in an entrepreneur’s journey. One needs to keep people and talent with them and that can be achieved by giving them freedom with accountability. Ratan Tata said that if you want to walk fast you must walk alone but if you want to walk far, one must walk together. He enumerated his numerous difficulties in childhood, being born in a large family with limited means, and having studied in Tamil medium, despite clearing the IAS prelims against the wishes of his family he bid goodbye to a secure government career and ventured into entrepreneurship by starting a custom agency which expanded over time which was possible only due to his vision for the logistics sector. He advised businessmen that the problem is never in the situation but in our handling of the situation. Our motto in life must be to “respond not react”. Success can be achieved only if we are different in a particular thing. The lion is the king of the jungle not because he is the fastest or the wisest or the tallest or strongest. It is because he is courageous and ever alert and uses the same effort whether for small or big things. His parting remark was that we must fight the competitor in our comfort zone.

CCCI founder Chairman Mr.Vincent Mathias, immediate past Chairman Mr. Henry Lobo, CCCI awards committee convener, Mr. John D'Silva, Vice Chairman’s Mr. Albert W D'Souza and Mr. John Mathew, were present on the dais. The awardees, reciprocating to the honour bestowed upon them, praised the functioning style of CCCI, which happens to be a premier Christian body.

At the beginning of the awards function. Floral tributes were given by Mrs. Jean Sequeira to chief guest and Mrs. Philomena Lobo to Fr. Stephen Fernandez and Mrs.Premila Mathias to Mr. Xavier Britto and Mrs. Pearl Sequeira compered the programme. Mr.Pius Vas, Mr. John D’Silva, Mr. Lawrence Coelho, Mr. Johnson Theratile, Mr. Walter Buthelho, John Mathew read the Citataion of the Awardees. Agnello Rajesh Athaide proposed the vote of thanks.