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 Babak Emamian: BIBA's 2001 Theme: ''Celebrations''
By Babak Emamian |
''The essence of any civilisation is captured in its celebrations" How and what we celebrate should say a lot about us as British, French, Americans or Iranians.
We Iranians have this great tendency to search in the past in order to celebrate. We tend to celebrate the dead or the ancient time more than the present (while hardly giving any recognition to the present). This is not to say that there is anything wrong with recognising the past, actually we can learn a lot from the past but it is the action and people of the present that will determine the path to the future.
Nowadays, the present is hardly celebrated unless it is politically motivated. There are very few occasions that as a community we celebrate the success of Iranian scientists, industrialists, experts, professionals, or business people. So, the question is why?
Some may say, it is because Iranians don1t have great scientists, industrialists, experts, or professionals. Over the last eight years BIBA has proven that, this is not to be the case. Some other may say that in general Iranians are jealous and don1t like to promote successful talents. BIBA again is the proof that this is not the case either. Had it not been for Iranians helping us, BIBA would not have been able to operate so efficiently. Everyday we get so many phone calls, emails, faxes telling us about new Iranian success stories in the UK and worldwide. So the only explanation remains is that we simply have not thought seriously about celebrating the present success of our scientists, industrialist, experts and professionals. In the UK celebrations of scientists, industrialists, experts and professionals has been a major part of the culture. It starts each year with HM Queen1s Honour list followed by many awards from scientific and academic institutions to industry and stock market. The celebrations come in different formats from high school graduation to the highest honours in the land, from start-up businesses to major corporations.
At BIBA that1s what we have been doing for the last eight years. We have tried to offer hope and motivation to the community by celebrating the success of British-Iranian scientists, industrialists, experts, and professionals, and at the same time offering them as role models for the future by learning from them.
Of course BIBA can only play a small role in this change of attitude. This cause requires across the board effort from our media, schools, different institutions and finally the family and individuals. So let us as a community make our celebrations more relevant and purposeful. Let1s celebrate the present and future even more than the past.
Babak Emamian, BIBA Chairman
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 A MILESTONE COMPLETED BY BIBA
By Babak Emamian |
We have just completed a milestone. Having completed 100 business meeting, the question always brought to my attention as the chairman of BIBA is what characteristics it takes for a person to become sustainable and successful. There are two focal points that I would like to Share with you; I have had the opportunity to closely work with many interesting successful characters that have started from the bottom of the ladder with massive handicaps and against all odds, they have become accomplished.
Most of them have achieved their greatness through different visions and styles. However, what brings them all together is their knowledge of constantly having to re-launch oneself. By that I mean that they manage to maintain the same level of excitement that they had on the first day that they launched their business. Never do they sit back, treat each day as a new one, attend their jobs with the presumption that they are not yet established, therefore they have to introduce themselves and their products to the new world. Every day, every moment, every minute they carry the same feelings and launching themselves, their companies, their products becomes second nature.
BIBA’s 99th meeting was dedicated to The Fashion and Design industry. We had a number of International Fashion houses, the likes of Christian Dior who gladly participated. What makes these International houses unique is that they have managed to constantly re-launch themselves. They continue to introduce themselves to the new generations through magazines, exhibitions, store outlets, films, media, etc…
That have to have a massive re-launch at least two seasons per year and in due process, they occasionally make a mistake, whether it can be blamed on the weather, the consumer or it is merely the affordability of the market. They have displayed the capability and the stamina to make a rapid and strong comeback each and every time. Of all the industries that we have entertained in BIBA, I personally believe that Fashion and Design is the most difficult and that those operating the business have the best business models. They have also proved that they have the ability to handle profit margins and changing technology and always manage to make a comeback.
The technology sector has been in doldrums since March 2000. Although scientists and technologists are generally very clever people but in general they are not very good at launching let alone re-launching themselves. Much to the credit of Clinton-Gore administration and the sympathetic Stock Market, The New Technology sector was haled to the forefront of the society since the early 90s. However, currently, it is up to those in the technology sector to adopt the same business model as the fashion industry so that they can re-launch themselves all the time and escape the doldrums.
My suggestion to my friends in the Technology sector would be for them to make some friends with the Fashion industry.
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 Why Technology Is So Important & Good For Business & Investment.
BIBA Editorial Team |
The structure of modern economy is based on scientists creating new ideas or inventions and then industrialists, experts and professionals turning them into mass production. Application of science is part of almost every aspect of any industry. For example, mobile phones, clean fuel, digital TV, new management systems, new risk managements for banking and insurance, new retailing methods, new teaching methods, film-making, media, publishing, Oil&Gas, medicine, textile, design&fashion e-commerce...etc. Unfortunately, many people usually associate technology with the electronics industries. When Time Magazine named Albert Einstein as the 3Man of Century2, followed by twenty industrialists, it indicated that scientists, industrialists, experts and professionals in effect are the leaders of the modern society, not the politicians. As long as we have a systematic and scientific approach towards our business or profession, that offers new idea and added-value, the business community and the public will embrace us, regardless of our background.
For the sake of future prosperity and progress, we must encourage and support our scientists, professionals, experts and industrialists, so that they become the role models for the community. Also, as a community, we have to become more science-friendly, be involved and invest more in technology. Already, we are seeing clear signs that the community is moving towards this goal and every day it distances itself more from property speculators. For too long, many of our talents have concentrated in property development and speculation. It is about time that resources were diverted to more productive, profitable and exciting industries.
For the last eight years that is what we have been doing at BIBA; promoting
our scientists, industrialists, experts and professionals.
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 Linking to US Businesses - Linking to US Businesses
BIBA Editorial Team |
When Mehdi Norowzian1s film, Killing Joe, was nominated for an Oscar in March 2000, we used the occasion to promote BIBA in California and the response was very positive.
Since then we have become particularly interested in developing BIBA1s ties with the Californian business community. One million American-Iranians live in California, most of whom are engaged in a number of professions such as finance, IT, high technology, media, fashion, engineering, biochemistry, etc.
Our conclusion is that an enormous opportunity exists for British-Iranians to link with American-Iranians, where both have very successful business communities in their respective countries. California is a very functional and diverse society. According to President Clinton1s State of Union speech in February 2000, 3Within ten years, there will be no majority race in our largest state, California and little more than fifty years, there will be no majority race in America.
In a more inner-connective world this diversity can be our greatest strength. Just look at around this Chamber (US Congress) we have members in this Congress from virtually every racial, ethnic and religious background. And I think you would agree that America is stronger because of it2. The US economy is worth $9 trillion of which California is a major player ($800 bn).
The purpose of this meeting was to explore the potentials of the Californian markets and how the UK based businesses can break into them. BIBA has approached and sought the advice of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and British Council in Los Angeles for this venture and they have been very helpful.
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