News: Vijai Dcunha (G-kere)

Muscat, Sep 18: The Mangalorean Catholic Centre of the Parish (MCCP – Sts Peter and Paul Church), during the recently held 28th year inaugural day of its inception, organized a grand felicitation function to honour seven NRI entrepreneur and philanthropist from the Kanara region who have made their mark in the Oman in various business fields. Its objectives are to recognize, honour, award and promote the interests of Catholic entrepreneurs hailing from Mangaluru.

Jessie Pereira, president of MCCP, took a special initiative in this regard, as she had a vivid reason to host this programme. She rightly feels that the community is blessed through such entrepreneurs who are role models to others and who generously contribute and build the society and nurture nation by fuelling economic growth and prosperity. “They are exceptional entrepreneurs from our community who have moved us all with their vision, innovation, courage and leadership and have truly made our community proud of them,” she said. “They stimulate innovation without limitations and contribute in all philanthropical works,” she added.

The tall leaders of the Mangalurean community in Oman and MCCP – Core Committee representatives, namely Stanley Fernandes, Donold Pinto, Clarence Pinto, John Gonsalves, along with president Jessie Pereira, honoured the entrepreneurs during the occasion.

A brief profile of the seven chosen for the honour:

It always pays to be an optimist as Clifford Sanctis, who has proved beyond doubt. Having come to Oman in search of a better future started his own venture ‘Hydrotech’ in the year 2003. The company took a strong foothold within a short span and today the brand ‘Hydrotec’, which involves Cranes can be seen in almost all the infrastructure project sites in Oman.

Clifford Sanctis and Lydia Sanctis; MD, Hydrotec International LLC

In 2016, Hydrotec international entered into a JV with Italian Crane manufacturers and bought their technology and proudly started their first ever Make in India Cranes manufacturing unit in India. This Make in India project was very well received by the Indian government resulting in Hydrolift Cranes being sold to Indian Military and other top-notch entities involved in Swatch Bharat abhiyaan. Today, Hydrotec International LLC has spread its wings across the globe through their branches as AMCA Equipment’s Pvt Ltd, India, AMCA Hydraulics Heavy Equipment Trading LLC, Dubai, Hydrolift – India Logistics Technology Global LLC, Oman. Clifford honestly gives the credit of his success to his better half Lydia Sanctis and all his friends and well-wishers.

Clifford is associated with MCCP for a long time and has undertaken many social welfare activities in and around the church and also for the local community. He also provides opportunity to train people and has provided internship opportunities to several youth.

Ligoury D'Mello and Margret D'Mello; MD – Technofit LLC

Ligoury D’Mello and Margret D’Mello have been nominated for the felicitation. However, due to some pre-engagement they could not attend the programme. Ligoury D’Mello, a mechanical engineer by profession, chose Oman as his land of opportunity, working there in the oil and gas sector. He formed Technofit LLC, a specialized company to provide engineering solutions in the Oil and Gas sector with local Omani Partners. As a managing director of the company, he is the strength and brain behind the success of the group. From a humble beginning of a small business set-up, he steered the company to become an international group spreading its wings into the horizons of other gulf countries.

Ligoury remembers the hurdles he faced due to the cyclone Gonu that hit Oman in 2007, wherein his company’s production set-up was badly affected. He took it as a great challenge and put his relentless efforts, and within no time Technofit LLC could re-establish its manufacturing unit in a larger and full-fledged facility.

Ligoury says thatn his entrepreneurship has always been guided by the policy ‘People First, Profits Next’. Keeping this in mind, he has created hundreds of jobs and has given the opportunity for poor and the needy from all walks of life. As a philanthropist, he is one of the strongest supporters of the Mangalurean community's cultural, social, and spiritual activities and an ardent supporter of Konkani culture in Oman. He supports the poor children who have strong desire to go for higher studies, especially girls. Considering his visionary business approach and being pillar of strength to a number of less fortunate, Ligoury D’Mello is awarded with Rachana NRI Entrepreneur of the year award.

Denis Mascarenhas; MD, Prestige Projects and Engineering Supplies Co

Credited for being the pioneer entrepreneur and being a torchbearer to many others from the coastal region to have their own successful ventures in Oman. Denis moved to Oman 30 years ago has been a successful and acclaimed businessman for over 24 years now. Through his hard work, dedication and unwavering efforts to succeed, Denis climbed the ladder of success step by step to emerge as a successful businessman in Oman. These business ventures have gainful employees, majority of them hailing from the twin coastal districts of Udupi and Mangaluru.

Denis owes his success to two community leaders, Donald Pinto and Clarence Pinto, who he says have timely guided him all throughout. He not only achieved success in business, but he has spiritually enriched himself and has been preaching in Retreats in India from the Year 1995. He had preached in retreats in more than 100 parishes in India and in different states. Currently, he is presenting a TV episode in Konkani titled Jeevitamruth in famous TV Channel Daijiworld and live telecast through and YouTube as well. He has been a strong pillar for uplifting the needs of the poor and the much-needed families in Oman and back in India, which he has been undertaking irrespective of castes, creed or religion.

Raphael Dsouza; MD, Muscat Golden Services

Raphael D’Souza founded ‘Muscat Golden Services Company LLC’ in the year 1993 and has grown up to be Oman’s leading designer, supplier and manufacturer of Reefer Trucks and Cold Rooms. Earlier, Raphael had worked with a company as an employee for 15 years and he later realized that he had the determination and zeal to do hard work. He also saw the ocean of opportunities for his ideas and hence decided to take a risk and started the company. Though he faced some hurdles like capital investments and labour visa issues, he overcame those and has now been recognized as one of the leading Mangalurean origin, businessmen in Oman.

His overwhelming success can be contributed to the strong support he had received from his family. He says that it is pure hard work and sweat that has helped him achieve what he is today. In the past 40 years there are many times where he had to work almost 14 hours a day, but these efforts have become successful and have yielded fruit. Raphael has been also a strongest pillar for uplifting the needs of the poor and the much-needed families in Oman and back in India, irrespective of castes, creed or religion.

Raphael Quadros, MD, Zahrat Al Rawdha, LLC

Raphael Quadros started his Company ‘Zahrat Al Rawdha’ 20 years ago and today it is one of the leading sign makers in Oman. Raphael was planning to bring into realization his dreams all through, as he saw a good opportunity for this kind of business, hence a desire to startup an enterprise of his own kindled in him and with his hard work and skills that made it come into reality.

He says that his initial days of business had a big challenge to turn the business into profits. But as there goes the saying ‘If it doesn’t challenge you, then it doesn’t change you’. Hence, he worked hard and changed himself from just a budding entrepreneur into a successful businessman. He owes his success to his family, especially his wife Agnes for her unwavering support. He also credits his achievements to his staff, who are very supportive and stood by him to fulfill the need of the hour.

Dilip David Correa; MD, Sky United Logistics

Dilip David Correa, who is fondly called as Dilip in the community, founded ‘Sky United Logistics’ in the year 2009 which is specialized in customs clearance and local transportation. The company has grown now as a Freight Forwarder and arranges cargo to and from any part of the world. Dilip says that he had a dream to open a transportation business in India immediately after his graduation. Hence, he was working on it and got the brochures from Tata Locomotive to buy a truck TATA-407. But circumstances forced him to come to the Gulf and landed in Dubai, where he worked for nine years. Later, he came to Oman in the year 2004 and started working at a company for six years till 2009 and started his own venture thereafter. He says that, he was inspired by a famous quote ‘Don’t think of getting a Job, think how many Jobs you can create for others’.

Wilber D'Souza, MD, Rawa’ee Samad Al Sha'an Trading

Wilber D’Souza started his career in the year 1982 as a Civil Engineer in Kuwait for Three and half years. Thereafter, he worked in Mumbai for some years. In the year 1989 he came to Muscat and started working in The Sultanate of Oman. After working for 26 years in the construction field in the Gulf, he felt the desire to start his own firm and hence he started his own building construction company in the year 2008 and named it as Rawa’ee Samad Al Sha'an Trading. Later in the year 2017 he started another company named Icon Modern International LLC.

He says, in the initial days it was a big challenge to start a business and later on to run successfully in the volatile market condition was a constant struggle. He gives all the credit of his success to Almighty God, and to his parents for their blessings and also to his wife Beena D'Souza for her continuous support.

President Jessie Pereira and her entire MCCP Executive committee also joined on stage during the felicitation. The MCCP Executive committee comprises of Monica Fernandes (Vice President - Sports & Finance), Vinod Terence D’Souza (Vice President – Cultural, Spiritual & CS), Silvia Dias (General Secretary), Victoria Trecilla Menezes (Honorary Treasurer), Sharon Alva (Internal Auditor), Reshma D’Costa (Sports Secretary), Praveen Donald Serra (Cultural Secretary), Vikas Marshal Fernandes (Spiritual Secretary) and Merita Pinto (Community Services Secretary).

MCCP feels delighted and honoured to felicitate these outstanding and star entrepreneurs from the community. They emphasize the need to rethink and redefine the social value added of entrepreneurial activities to society. MCCP salutes them and encourages the young generation to take them as role models in achieving greater success in one’s life.