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Minara Chamber of Commerce creating future entrepreneurs

by Luqmaan Rawat
Minara Chamber of Commerce is aiming to recognise excellence in business as well as creating future entrepreneurs Photo Minara.org.za

Durban – After two years of being on hold the Minara Chamber of Commerce Business Awards is back. The award aims to recognise men and women who have done exceptionally well in business over the past year.

The organisation was first started in May 2000. It was created by the Muslim community to create unity between businesses. The awards are not just about recognising a person’s achievements. For Ebrahim Patel, Minara Chamber of Commerce Director and Founding Member, it is also about using those achievements to motivate others.

“The awards are a means of not just recognising those achievements but also using those achievements as a means of motivation to the rest of us. In this way we are trying to build a new generation of entrepreneurs, leaders, businesspeople and those who are giving back to the community.” 

 

The different awards handed out by the Minara Chamber of Commerce

The awards recognise both men and women in the field of business. Most of the time business is seen as a man’s field to play in. The award highlights that women are central in the business world and the community as well, said Patel.

“We have the businessperson of the year award, whether it is male or female, who is running their own business or running a corporate that has achieved a great deal in society and the business world. We have the businesswoman award that recognises a significant achievement by a woman who is in business. Whether it is a small business or a large business.”  

There is also an award for young entrepreneurs. This award recognises that person who is just starting off their business. There is also the community builder award which recognises someone who has given significantly to their community in any way, said Patel.

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The vision they have

Every great organisation has a vision they wish to see made a reality. The vision for Patel and his team was to use the skills and expertise that are available in the communities to create a new generation of achievers. It is also important to help the economy of South Africa grow.

“When we look at the economic situation, we have a great deal of unemployment and the youth feeling despair. There is a great deal the community can do to assist in a small way. We introduced programmes like the youth entrepreneur programme. It took young entrepreneurs through an intensive eight-week programme to build them as entrepreneurs.”

They do this intensive programme in conjunction with the KZN provincial government and have been doing it for a number of years. Other organisations have also started getting involved in it.

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The problem that exists in South Africa 

We are always being told the way to grow the economy by creating jobs. The idea is fantastic but there is never any follow through on it. There is always talk but never any action. Minara Chamber of Commerce is trying to achieve that idea by putting words into action.

“The idea is fantastic. That business and SMEs would lead to greater employment … It is almost as if we are handing keys to a Boeing 747 to a youngster and telling him to fly it when he doesn’t have his pilot’s licence yet. So, the idea is can we use the skills and experiences that exist within the community to give back and start training young people how to enter their business, build it and manage it. How to look at their stock and their marketing.”

 Currently nominations for the various awards are currently opened. It is free to nominate anyone or even yourself. After the voting closes, the nominations are taken to a panel of judges who then have a process of deciding the winners. A person can only be nominated in one category. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony to be held on the 28 October in Durban.

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