By Rons Bantwal

Mumbai, Feb 10: The Christian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) organized its annual CCCI Excellence Awards 2022-23 ceremony at the Hotel Kohinoor Continental, Andheri East on February 9. Michael D’Souza, industrialist and philanthropist was the chief guest, and the guest of honour Br Joseph Karimalayil, superior general of the Franciscan brothers. 

A jubilee marks a major milestone in the establishment of an organization. Celebrating the silver jubilee is even more special, because it marks the coming of an age of a chamber like the Christian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The CCCI has touched and influenced the lives of so many through their very association as members, co-operation, mutual friendship and understanding through these past 25 years. 

This year, the Christian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCCI) celebrates its silver jubilee, which coincides with the prestigious CCCI excellence awards 22-23. These awards are in the areas of industry, public service, social service, young entrepreneur, education, women entrepreneur, and for sports, arts and culture. 

While welcoming all the members, dignitaries and awardees, the CCCI Chairman John Mathew expressed his gratitude to the founder chairman Vincent Mathias and all the directors who have worked hard towards the success of the CCCI. They have contributed to the growth of the chamber with their dedication and investment in terms of time as well as with their financial support. He thanked the board directors and the members, for their support and encouragement that they extended to the chamber during this year. Seminars on varied subjects such management, taxation, business development, finance, investments, legal, entrepreneurship, health and stress management were conducted for the benefit of members and the public. The chairman stressed that the chamber is eagerly looking forward to the golden jubilee celebration with same spirit.

The founder chairman Vincent Mathias highlighted the fact that he just could not believe that the CCCI had completed 25 years. It had all gone by in a flash. He fondly remembered that it was the same hotel and on the very same dais, that the Christian chamber of commerce and industry was inaugurated at the hands of his eminence Cardinal Simon Pimenta in the presence of all the founding directors. He stressed with a sense of pride and happiness that all the founding directors were still present today, as the CCCI celebrates the silver jubilee of its institution.  Each member would have been wondering how and why the CCCI was formed. As a community we are renowned for having well organized religious institutions, educational institutions, a vast network of health services, but there was no association created exclusively for entrepreneurship. So, Mathias thought of creating our very own association, thereby creating a platform for Christian businessman, to foster the growth of its members, help them to dream big, and emerge as a representative body of Christian businessman. 

The CCCI initially started with 7 members and slowly and steadily, grew from strength to strength and now reached a position of 715 members. The chamber conducted industrial tours, both local and international in order to expose the members to different ways of business being conducted. MOUs were signed with other chambers of commerce of other countries like Israel, South Africa, and Sri Lanka. Because of this forum the members explored many countries of the world and travelled from Japan to Alaska and from Russia to Africa. The chamber initiated the excellence awards in 7 categories in order to recognize the leadership and excellence in various stream with generous contribution from all the members. The CCCI started a news magazine for the members, which was circulated; business opportunities were explored within the members, with a view to encourage business amongst each one. 

There were attempts to involve the youth to take up entrepreneurship as a carrier and the chamber was partly successful. The children of many business owners enrolled in the family managed MBA, which was a strong signal and indication that they are very serious in continuing the family business. There are many examples of the second-generation children who have joined their family business and have been inspired by each other. They also interact with each other on a daily basis. The chamber has encouraged business within the community thereby benefiting all the stake holders and have undertaken many activities in order to help members grow and expand their business.  

In the esteemed presence of the sponsors of the awards, Vincent Mathias, Albert W D'Souza, Clotilda R Sequeira and Anthony Sequeira, the following awards were presented to the awardees such as:

• The Aldel Education Trust Excellence award to a Young Entrepreneur 2022-23 was awarded to Ivan J D’Souza
• Sybil Miranda was the winner of The Arcadia Share and Stock Brokers Pvt Ltd Excellence award in the area of sports, arts and culture 2022-23
• Dr Jerry Vincent Dias was adjudged winner of the Electro pneumatics and Hydraulics (I) Pvt. Ltd. Excellence award in the area of Industry 2022-23
• CCCI’s Pattathu Brothers award for Woman Entrepreneur Award was awarded to Metilda Stanley
• Dr Evans Coutinho was awarded with the Reliable Exports India Pvt Ltd Excellence award in the field of education
• Sr Lissy Devassy, SSPS, was the winner of the Velvin Packaging Pvt Ltd excellence award in the area of social service 2022-23
• Dr David Thomas Alvares, was the winner of the Daniel and Sons Pvt Ltd excellence award in the area of public service 2022-23

The chief guest Michael D’Souzain his address to the audience congratulated the CCCI for completing 25 years and each one of its members were a part of this success story. It is was his privilege and expressed his thanks to the CCCI Chairman, founder chairman and board of directors in according him with this great honour to be the chief guest on this occasion. This was a very good opportunity and the best forum for an entrepreneur, a businessman, and for other business people to be recognized. As the chief guest, he took this opportunity in congratulating each one of the awardees in their respective fields and he desired that they would achieve greater heights in terms of their achievements. 

He also took this opportunity to stress upon the fact that he wanted to serve the community and make our Catholic or Christian community stand proud with all the other business communities of the world. Every person, particularly in our community, is generous. And with that generosity of our resources, we should always thank and express our appreciation to God. We are ultimately only the custodian of his wealth that he has endowed us with. The wealth generated is enough for our needs. Poverty and the poor people will continue to exist, so we must Motivate and help them. This is what Michael D’Souza’s suggestion was for us. 

As a member of several organizations, he felt the crowd gathered today is a symbol of that unity. A large number being present today was the best and the strongest indicator of this unity. In case of our community, it always generally meant employment or going to the Gulf but not nursing an aptitude for business. When the mindset changes, the financial situation also changes. And the younger generation will also begin to think that if our parents could have done business so can we. Most of the people he interacted with were first generation entrepreneurs’, and for the younger generations, this is a huge and readymade opportunity, which is already available to them. He encouraged the younger generation to work towards moving ahead, embracing entrepreneurship and ultimately making the Christian community proud. He ended his address by wishing everyone present all the best for the future. 

Brother Joseph Karimalayil in his address felt humbled and at the same time was honored to stand before the heroes, heroines, stalwarts and the giants of the CCCI celebrating its silver jubilee along with its excellence awards 2022-23 awarded to those who have excelled in their respective fields. Going through the history of CCCCI, he could see the farsightedness, of the founding directors and the vision that unity in diversity is a mantra for growth. This is the best service to the community. This celebration was a testament of the commitment, hard work, perseverance and a showcase of what the CCCI has achieved in terms of its contribution to the community during these 25 years. During these troubled times, the need to stand together, the need to work together, the need to support each other and the need to protect each other, assumes greater importance. 

The last 25 years is proof that the CCCI has lived up to that expectation. He wished that the CCCI become more efficient and effective in reaching out most especially to our youth and thereby inspire them to work in their own country, rather than migrate to foreign countries. This would help to save the Christian community. He wished and prayed that the CCCI continue to excel and march forward to conquer and lead the industry, and turn silver into gold, diamond, platinum, and a century.

On the occasion of the Silver Jubilee celebration, the silver jubilee coffee book co-authored by Dr Vivek Mendonsa and Prof Cyrus Gonda was unveiled by the chief guest. The silver jubilee souvenir designed by Adv Malbin Victor was unveiled by the guest of honour. 

The chief guest and guest of honour felicitated the jubilarians for their untiring efforts in these past 25 years and recognized the efforts of the CCCI founder chairman Vincent Mathias, present chairman John Mathew the vice chairman Albert W D'Souza, immediate past chairman John D'Silva, past chairman Henry Lobo, founder directors Gilbert Pinto, Lawrence Coelho in setting up the CCCI. 

The vice chairman Adv Pius Vas, Agnelo Rajesh Athaide, past chairman Antony Sequeira graced the occasion on the dais. 

Dr Vivek Mendonsa, Prof Cyrus Gonda and Adv Malbin Victor were also felicitated by the chief guest for their work on the coffee book and souvenir. 

The programme started with a Mallari Bharatnatyam Dance by the young and talented Eva Buthello. Vernon Mathias, Jason Vas, Glen D'Souza, Elaine R Buthello, Rohan Tellis, Joanita Noronha and Denise Pereira each read the citations of the respective awardees. Elvina D'Souza and Dr Kavita Pai Vas honoured the chief guest and the guest of honour with floral bouquets. Reuben Walter Buthello and Aldridge A D'Souza compered the programme with their inimitable charm and humour. Agnelo Rajesh Athaide proposed a vote of thanks in his own unique and humourous style.