Gen Next Indians: Success stories of 25 young Indians in UAE

Dr Ram Buxani, Mirza Al Sayegh, Meraj Rizvi, Abdul Rahman Saif Al Ghurair and T.P Seetharam at the launch of Gen Next Indians in Dubai . — KT photo by Mohammad Mustafa Khan

Their fathers are Indian business tycoons who have been credited with contributing to the growth of different sectors in the UAE. Now, a bunch of 25 youngsters, who are following in their fathers’ footsteps, have been acknowledged as next generation Indian business leaders in the UAE.

The business leaders featured in the book Gen Next Indians are: Adel Rizwan Sajan, Aditya Rajaram, Akbar Moideen Thumbay, Anand Kapoor, Ashish Panjabi, Abdul Wahab, Aanya Aggarwal, Binay R. Shetty, Hameed Salahuddin, Javeria Rasheed, John Paul Alukkas, Kiran Chhabria, Kamal Vachani, Maryam Salahuddin, Mahesh Shahdadpuri, Mitika Goculdas, Natasha Gangaramani, Nitin Anand, Nisha Jagtiani, Raghav Arora, Raju Shroff, Rohan Mehta, Suneel Aggarwal, Vikram Bhatia and Zanubia Shams.

Their successful stories have been published in a coffee-table book titled Gen Next Indians, the fifth in a series of books on Indian and Asian pacesetters, trendsetters and achievers in the UAE.

Published by Xponent Media, the 206-page glossy book was released on Tuesday evening at a gala ceremony attended by crème de la crème of corporate world and government functionaries.

Abdul Rahman Saif Al Ghurair, chairman of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mirza Al Sayegh, director of the Office of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Minister of Finance and Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Indian Ambassador to the UAE, T. P Seetharam, and prominent UAE-based Indian businessmen, Dr. Ram Buxani and Bharatbhai Shah, were present at the release.

Al Sayegh, who served as the UAE Consul General in Mumbai in the 1970s, said these young individuals, armed with good education and supported by their visionary and encouraging families, have to come up to the high expectations in terms of their performance and achievements. These individuals got inspired and motivated with their elders and they in turn will inspire in the coming generations, he said, adding every organisation counts on Next Generation leaders to move up the success ladder.

Recalling the strong Indo-UAE relations and the unfaltering involvement of the Indian community, specially business leaders, in the nation building the Indian Ambassador said India is one of the top investors in the UAE. The two-way trade between the two countries reached a record high of US$75 billion during 2012-2013.

Al Ghurair said the strategic role played by Indian businessmen can be seen across various economic sectors of Dubai as they engage into very productive activities and make use of the emirate’s status of an “East meets West” destination, adding that the Indian businessmen have many success stories to share with the world.‎

Managing Director of Xponent Media and Publisher of Gen Next Indians, Meraj Rizvi said the relatively young and brightest minds on the business landscape, featured in the book, have all the qualities of being the Gen Next business leaders.

Gen Next Indians took about a year to materialize and features 25 young business leaders from a broad spectrum of industries and business entities in the private sector, she said, adding that the book will be available in selected book stores across the UAE soon.

Those featured in the book were later felicitated at the ceremony and presented with trophies.

One of the achievers profiled, Adel Rizwan Sajan, said: “This kind of recognition gives us a sense of more responsibility and we have to make sure that it goes upward… I always believe in giving back to the society and we are glad to have opened a welfare centre to give formal training to workers which has given them a chance to grow in life.”

Natasha Gangaramani, one of the few female achievers, said: “This book has brought together and better-connected the second generation of Indians here…All our parents have done a lot for the Indians and other communities here and for India. We have grown up watching that and it is our responsibility to continue the humanitarian works along with our entrepreneurial initiatives.”

sajila@khaleejtimes.com