Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– An All Party Parliamentarian Group (APPG) was formed in UK Parliament on 24 March for promoting the catering industry in the UK.
The industry now contributes about £4.00 billion to the UK economy and employs about 100,000 workers. There have been multiple problems that the industry has been facing over the last one decade ranging from prolonged recession, high VAT, staff shortage, frequent raiding by law enforcing agencies.
It is worth mentioning that most of the restaurants in UK are owned by the Bangladeshi diaspora who primarily employ workers of Bangladeshi origin.
Industry leaders have raised their voice, particularly through the Caterers Association. The launching of the APPG now provides policy focus to these issues in the Parliament. Parliamentarians from House of Commons and House of Lords belong to all political parties was formally publicised at Westminster on 2 April.
Baroness Paula Uddin was elected as the Chair of this APPG with Lord Sheikh and Ms. Rushnara Ali MP were selected as vice Chairs, a foreign ministry statement said in Dhaka on Saturday.
The MPs, Lords and Baroness expressed their commitment to work for placing the current concerns of the industry to the policy makers and work until their goals are achieved.
Bangladesh High Commissioner in London Mijarul Quayes attended the launching ceremony on the invitation from the APPG and expressed solidarity with this noble initiative and assured the industry representatives and also the APPG members of working with them to resolve the issues for this flagship industry of the British Bangladeshi community.
Bangladesh Caterers Association (BCA) in UK organized a reception ceremony in their newly refurbished office in London on 27 March.
Bangladesh High Commissioner Mijarul Quayes who is the Patron of BCA attended the event. Among others, Mr. Bijoy Maliha, Chairman of Kingfisher, several parliamentarians including Baroness Paula Uddin and Ms. Rushnara Ali, MP; officials of the High Commission, media correspondents and BCA members attended the reception.
The BCA is the apex organization of the catering industry in UK, representing about 4,000 restaurants in UK owned by the Bangladeshi diaspora.
The industry now contributes about £4.00 billion in the UK economy and employs about 100,000 workers.
The High Commissioner and Mr. Mahiha formally inaugurated the newly refurbished premise and hoped that BCA will work in better way in protecting the interests of the industry and helping the industry to overcome its present crisis.
BBN/SSR/AD-05Apr14-9:42 am (BST)
