Christian Chamber of Commerce & Industry holds 26th AGM & Installation ceremony

By Rons Bantwal
Bellevision Media Network

Mumbai, Sept: 28: Our very own lovely, strong man from Mangalore became new Chairman of CCCI.  He is the true architect of Christian chamber of commerce and industry.  It is who has united all of us as a community to become stewards in his kingdom to serve the people and the nation.  Dr. Uday Salunke, President and Past Chairman and all the Board of Directors of CCCI and all our distinguished guests and dynamic entrepreneurs present here and Vincent Mathias, kudos to you. You are the real founder of CCCI.  CCCI has just celebrated its silver jubilee and we know progress that CCCI has made over the past 25 years. But only to expand, but to identify and reach out to as many budding entrepreneurs and young Christian businessmen to become contributors to the nation building Said Managing Director Ryan Group Institutions Madam Dr. Grace Pinto.

 

The chief guest at the Installation ceremony of Christian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCCI) on Saturday night in the auditorium of Hotel Kohinoor Continental in Andheri East. Albert W. D’Souza, was sworn in and the new Chairman of CCCI, who was elected for the year 2024-2027 congratulated by Madam Pinto.

 

Dr. Grace Pinto Said that CCCI has been fostering the spirit of entrepreneurship as one Christian community and promoting healthy growth of trade, commerce and industry. Today, we are here as like-minded people, but with different gifts that God has bestowed to each one of us. And we are here not to hide these gifts, but to use it for the betterment of our society and community. And that you could see in Albert, from his work, what he has started.  I take this opportunity to commend the work done by the CCCI under the different leadership, especially the outgoing chairman, Mr. John Matthew and Vincent Mathias. I extend my heartful congratulations to chairman, Mr. Albert D’Souza and the new team of directors for this work.

 

CCCI Founder Chairman Vincent Mathias, Vice Chairman Adv. Pius Vas, Agnelo Rajesh Athaide, Gregory D’Souza graced the Dias. Chief Guest Dr. Madam Grace Pinto administer the oath to New Chairman Albert Dsouza. The Outgoing Chairman John Mathew gave the Chairman’s sash to new Chairman elect as part of the new handover process, and thanked all those who honored him as the Chairman of the CCCI in the last three years.

 

Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research Group Director Dr. Udaya Salunkhe was the keynote speaker. Rony H. Mendonca, former Commissioner of Police, Brihanmumbai, C.S Sangeet Rao, former Principal Secretary, Government of Maharashtra. Former Vice-Chancellor of Mumbai University Dr Suhas Pednekar, former Maharashtra GST Commissioner G.V Bilolikar, former GST Joint Commissioner David Alvares, Citizen Credit Bank Executive Chairman Frederic Castelino, CA. Stanley M. Lasrado were present as special guests and congratulated the new Chairman Albert D’Souza.

Albert Dsouza Spoke that because this has happened during a Silver Jubilee anniversary.  I remember 25 years ago, seven of us founding members took the initial steps towards formation of this chamber.  We had the motivation, the determination, but were unsure about how successful the idea would be. My dear members, not only did the idea work, but today we are thriving, community all over with 718 members having varied business interests and successful in our own ways. It is truly down to the efforts taken by the past, all the chairmen, especially our founding chairman, Mr. Vincent Matthias. On today’s occasion, I would like to focus on three key points that the chamber should work upon for the next three years. Greater cooperation between the members.  Many times we have noticed that our members may have interests in similar and allied industries, or may be solution providers to many of our needs. I want to encourage greater interaction between our members. The main reason is to bind the businesses run by our own Christian community. Look for Solutions and services within the Chamber. Second, up scaling and growing our businesses. We are traditionally involved in small scale industries.

 

Dr. Uday Salonke  key note speaker said that one of the first challenge which is being mentioned is the interest and inclination of second generation, young generation to come to the businesses and it is quite possible. So, just to get a sense that what are they feeling from hands on, may be in future if we need to do it, we will do it from CCCI’s actually youngsters itself, but because the time on hand was too short. So, we did it with the kind of team which was there with us.  And one of the first area which probably they felt and I am just citing their sentiments that from school days, every family member, business family member expects children to  be thinking out of box, break the box or expand the box.  And when they come to family business, they felt that probably we should get that kind of latitude to do the out of box thinking, but it takes time.

 

On this occasion CCCI Director Ralph Pereira, Alan Castelino, Adv. Malbin Victor (Co.opted) were present. Denica Pereira and Tanya Buthello introduced the guests. Pramila Mathias and Elvina D’Souza presented flowers to the guests, Albert D’Souza honored with a memento to guest. Agnello Rajesh Athaide deliver vote of thanks.

 

The ceremony was preceded by the 26th Annual General Meeting of CCCI under the chairmanship of John Mathew, CCCI Vincent Mathews, Albert W. D’Souza, Adv. Pius Vas, former Chairman Henry Lobo, Directors Lawrence D’Souza, Lawrence Coelho were seated on the Dias. Stanley Fernandes announced the list of new office bearers. Executive Secretary Rohan Tellis introduced the new members and Compered the meeting.

 

MR. ALBERT W. D’SOUZA

Mr. Albert Wilfred D’Souza is the Chairman of Aldel Education Trust, which has established various Christian Religious Minority Technical and Professional Educational Institutions, at St. John Technical Campus, Palghar Maharashtra, offering education right from Schooling to Engineering, Pharmacy, Hotel Management, Arts, Commerce, Science and MBA courses (KG to PG).

 

Mr. Albert W. D’Souza, is a visionary, philanthropist and a renowned industrialist. He is the Chairman of Printania Offset Pvt. Ltd. - a leading print house in India and Managing Director of Printania Group of Industries. He is also the Chairman of Model Co-op Bank Ltd., the Vice Chairman of Christian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Member of the Catholic Council of India.

 

Mr. Albert D’Souza is on the Advisory Board of Higher & Technical Education for Archdiocesan Board of Education, Mumbai, Diocese of Mangalore and Diocese of Jabalpur. He is the Past President of Lions Club of Bhimanagar, Mumbai.

 

Mr. Albert D’Souza is an Executive Committee & Governing Board Member of several Minority Engineering Colleges, Management Institutes, and Humanities Colleges all over India. Institutions in Mumbai like St. Francis Institute of Technology, Don Bosco Institute of Technology, Xavier Institute of Engineering, St. Francis Institute of Management & Research, Xavier Institute of Management & Research and Don Bosco Degree College. St. Aloysius Institute of Technology in Jabalpur, St. Joseph Engineering College, St. Aloysius College and St. Agnes College in Mangalore.

 

He is also on the Advisory Board of various Hospitals & Nursing Colleges in Mumbai like Karuna Hospital, Holy Family Hospital and College of Nursing and Holy Spirit Hospital and College of Nursing.

 

Mr. Albert D’Souza has many awards to his credit. He has been felicitated with the Rachana Foundation ’Entrepreneur of the Year’ Award in 2003, Papal Award for Printing Entrepreneurship in 2004 and has also been the recipient of Catholic Entrepreneur of Karnataka State Award in 2007, Dimensions ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ Award in 2012 and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Achievers Award in 2019.