Asian Business Chamber celebrates Eid with focus on community impact

The Asian Business Chamber of Commerce celebrated Eid yesterday with a renewed focus on charity and community impact.

The festival celebration, held at National Conference Centre, was sponsored by NA Consulting.

Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, is a time of selflessness, generosity, and responsibility towards others.

Its values strongly align with modern approaches to CSR, encouraging businesses to look beyond profit and play an active role in strengthening communities and supporting social causes. 

Hosted by ABCC manager Katrina Raipuri, the event featured short speeches from ABCC president Monica Ghai, group managing director of National Conference Centre Helen Davies, and Naeem Arif from sponsor NA Consulting. 

A panel discussion was also held on CSR, Charity & Community Impact, chaired by ABCC executive committee member Zahir Ahmed.

Panellists included Dr Sidra Hasan, medical director of House of Health; Kasim Choudhry, multicultural apprenticeship and enterprise ambassador for Pathway Group; and Salman Anwar, director of ADL Tax.

Dr. Sidra Hasan is an experienced GP and menopause specialist with over 17 years of expertise across NHS and private practice.

She spoke about the physical and mental wellbeing that Eid reinforces, reminding the audience that the festival is a time to reflect on holistic wellbeing.

She also raised awareness on health issues among South Asian households, saying: "One of the biggest challenges we see as GPs is diabetes. Within many South Asian communities, there can be a tendency to attribute it solely to genetics.

“While family history can play a role, it's equally important to focus on the factors we can control, such as our lifestyle, diet and physical activity.

“We also need to break down the fear of seeking help and encourage people to engage with their GP before problems become more serious.

"Women in our communities often suffer in silence when it comes to menopause and mental health challenges. We need to change that narrative by creating open conversations and placing greater emphasis on prevention and early intervention.

"Many long-term health conditions develop over years or even decades. For example, high cholesterol can contribute to a heart attack 10, 20 or even 30 years down the line. That gives us a valuable opportunity to act today and make positive changes that protect our future health.

Salman Anwar is founder and director of ADL Tax, a specialist tax disputes firm established after a 13 year career in tax dispute resolution.

A former HMRC Tax Inspector, he spent five years inside HMRC's Large Business and Fraud Investigation Service before holding senior roles at BDO and Mazars.

Salman spoke about common financial mistakes people make. He said: "One of the biggest challenges we see is a lack of understanding around personal and business finances.

“Many people are unaware of how taxation works and don't fully appreciate that their earnings are not entirely theirs to keep, with a proportion owed to the government. This is a significant gap in financial education and awareness.

"For business owners in particular, understanding your finances is essential. It's important to know what drives the financial health of your business, how to manage cash flow effectively, and what your tax obligations are.

“The more confident you are in managing your finances, the better equipped you will be to make informed decisions and build a sustainable, successful business."

As multicultural apprenticeship ambassador at Pathway Group and non-executive director of the Multicultural Apprenticeship Alliance and ThinkFest, Kasim leads initiatives focused on diversity, inclusion, equity and social mobility across apprenticeships, entrepreneurship and business.

Having started his career in the financial and legal sector, he experienced workplace inequality first-hand and is passionate about creating opportunities for underrepresented communities.

Highlighting the connection between faith, enterprise and community impact, Kasim spoke about the concept of waqf and the importance of embedding social value into business.

He said: "Business has always been an important part of our faith and heritage. When we return to the core principles of Islam, we are reminded that success should not only be measured by profit, but by the positive impact we create for others.

"We need more role models within our communities who are willing to support and mentor young people.

"We should be proud of business and talk about it in a positive way. Too often, young people are not exposed to the opportunities that entrepreneurship can offer. It is our responsibility to encourage them, involve them and show them that business can be a force for good.”

The event also featured a special exhibition from The Kiswah Collection, showcasing rare artefacts connected to the sacred heritage of Makkah and Madinah, with pieces dating back to the Ottoman era.

Pictured from left to right: Monica Ghai, Kasim Choudhry, Salman Anwar, Dr. Sidra Hasan, and Katrina Raipuri