Relevant sources like Britannica Encyclopedia and national English dailies such as The Times of India & Daily News and Analysis (DNA) reported Indian Shia population in 2005-2006 to be anywhere between 25% to 31% of entire Muslim population of the country; this accounts them in numbers between 4 to 5 crores.
Also, according to the official statement of our 14th Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on 16th September 2005 the Indian Shia population is the world’s second largest, only after Iran.
Despite being the second largest population among minorities (both in the world and in India) the challenge before the community elite of the Shia or the Imamia community was clear: even after 66 years of Indian independence and in spite of being more than 30 million, the community still remained one of the most economically challenged in the country. How do we bring this huge chunk of population, of whom over 65% are under 30 years, into the economic mainstream of the national and global economy?
There is no denying the fact that the Shia or the Imamia community has been lagging behind in business and commerce on all fronts. The per capita income of the community tails even the Muslim per capita income, which already lags the Indian per capita income, according to the Sachar Committee report. There is very little representation in the public and corporate sector as well and even lower in top-level corporate jobs. No worthwhile attempt has been made by the community from within or externally to develop entrepreneurs, industries and train skilled manpower that could take on various jobs in different sectors thereby not only making the community prosperous but also contributing towards national growth.
Thus, it is clear that there was a dire need to have a nationwide organization that seeks to work within the community to improve its lot and to bring it into national mainstream. The Imamia Chamber of Commerce and Industry(ICCI) has been formed with this objective in mind.
The Imamia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) will actively facilitate and promote an environment in which business and enterprise of the Imamia community can flourish.
A Not For Profit action organization, designed to meet community business and enterprise needs, several progressive individuals and business heads have joined hands under ICCI to work together to advance the commercial, financial, industrial and civic interests of the Shia community.
ICCI aims at becoming the voice of our businesses. With the objective of enabling economic success, it is envisaged that the community volunteers and successful business community will strive to grow their economic conditions to a level where businesses would willingly and enthusiastically invest capital and resources in other community ventures, with a desire to further and strengthen the community goals and objectives.
The ICCI, in the near future, will organize relevant fairs, seminars, conferences and meetings, training programs and fundraisers from time to time.
The ICCI will actively work towards delivering the following six objectives:
Serving as the respected national voice of business in and for the community.
Playing a strong advocacy role for the community with local, state and national governments on issues that matter.
Fostering and driving business confidence, with focus on women and youth enterprise.
Becoming an active participant in other Indian Business Chambers and other institutions to expand community business and enterprise across the nation.
Enabling a knowledge base in the areas of governance, regulation, business finance, government support, employability, etc. which the business community can leverage.
Being the facilitator and catalyst, a common vehicle mobilizing enlightened community members from all segments of the business, corporate and government backgrounds, to work together for the common good of the total community and integrate them into the economic mainstream of the country. This includes efforts to make the youth employable through skill development and training, promoting entrepreneurship among them and facilitating business needs of SME’s, MSME’s and Startups.
- Bringing women in mainstream
Making an attempt towards integration of women into enterprise and assisting them in developing their own businesses.
- Quarterly accounts visible to members, online
All account transactions will be available to the members online. This means that ICCI will promote transparency in its affairs at all levels.
- Quarterly Board Governance
There will be a quarterly audit of all activities and financial transactions so that ICCI never loses track of its aims and objectives.
- Quarterly EC and MC meetings
EC and MC meetings will be held every quarter to ensure continuance of proactive efforts and to regulate the activities and efforts.
ICCI Secretariat is headed and managed by the Executive Director Maj. (Retd.) SJM Jafri.
ICCI regularly organises educational seminars and business conferences on various important topics across cities.
In order to felicitate and recognize contribution of the community entrepreneurs, ICCI shall constitute an annual National Award of Excellence.
An Annual Business Exposition for Imamia Community to be organized to display best of their products and services in major metros of India.
ICCI currently runs 2 Incubation Centers in Mumbai, similar incubators are to be opened soon in all ICCI Chapters, the Centre offers Workstations, Cabins And Business Advisory services for aspiring community startups at a nominal maintenance cost.
ICCI Information cum Business Centre offers Business Consultancy, Compliances, Audits, Certifications, Mergers and Acquisitions, Loans and Angel Funding Assistance and Lead Generation services for ICCI members.
Imamia Business Review published from Mumbai
