Inspired Oratory Provides Food for Thought

There was plenty of "food" for the mind as well as the body at the Federation of Bangladeshi Caterers’ Annual Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony on July 18th when a host of leading politicians, hundreds of restaurateurs and business owners within the catering industry, dignitaries, business leaders and VIPs gathered at the elegant Lancaster London Hotel to digest inspirational speeches and superb Asian food, interspersed with fabulous Bollywood entertainment.
 

A delegation from the Federation of Bangladeshi Caterers and business organisations met with the President of Bangladesh Zillur Rahman at the London Hilton Hotel for a high-profile discussion about trade and investment.

The meeting held on 27th June, which was attended by representatives of prominent British Bangladeshi businesses and investors in Bangladesh,  was described as “positive and constructive” by President Yawar Khan who led the deputation from the FoBC along with the Federation  Advisor Saad Gazi.

 

The chancellor may have said that the rise in VAT was “unavoidable” but we believe that the increase demonstrates this coalition government’s lack of support for small businesses and restaurants.

The rise in VAT is going to devastate our curry industry. Already reeling from the effects of the recession, small businesses are battling to keep their heads above water - many may now be pushed under. 

Ethnic restaurants face a skills crisis as the Conservative coalition government launches a consultation that aims to reduce migration to the UK.

In keeping with its election pledge, the government wants to limit immigration to returns to the level it was in the mid 1990s.

Details of how the reduction will be made will be announced after a 12 week consultation with businesses. In the meantime the government has introduced an interim immigration cap to avoid a rush in applications prior to implementation.

 

Restaurateurs have warned that the rise in the rate of VAT from 17.5% to 20% announced by the chancellor in the Emergency Budget, could lead to many small businesses going under as they struggle to deal with cash flow problems and increased costs.

The widely predicted changes to VAT come into effect on January 4th 2011 and will raise an extra £13bn a year for the Exchequer.