Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai (Rons Bantwal)
Mumbai, Sep 29: The Christian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) held its 26th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and installation ceremony on September 28 at Hotel Kohinoor Continental, Andheri East. Albert W D'Souza was sworn in as the new chairman of CCCI for the year 2024-2027, succeeding outgoing chairman John Matthew.
Managing director of Ryan Group Institutions, Dr Grace Pinto, was the chief guest for the event. In her address, she commended CCCI for fostering the spirit of entrepreneurship within the Christian community and promoting the healthy growth of trade, commerce, and industry. She praised the outgoing chairman, John Matthew, and founding chairman, Vincent Mathias, for their contributions to the chamber.
Dr Pinto also congratulated Albert D'Souza, highlighting his dedication and leadership. "Today, we celebrate not only CCCI's silver jubilee but also the progress it has made in the past 25 years. Albert D'Souza has been instrumental in this journey, and under his leadership, the chamber will continue to grow and reach new heights," she said.
During the ceremony, John Matthew handed over the chairman's sash to Albert D'Souza as part of the formal handover. D'Souza, in his speech, reflected on CCCI's 25-year journey, acknowledging the efforts of the past chairmen and the founding members. "We started with seven founding members, and today we have 718 members thriving in various business sectors. Our focus for the next three years will be on greater cooperation among members, upscaling businesses, and supporting the growth of small-scale industries," D'Souza said.
The keynote speaker for the event was Dr Uday Salunke, group director of Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research. He emphasized the need to encourage the younger generation to take an active interest in family businesses and explore innovative approaches to business challenges.
The event was graced by several dignitaries, including former Brihanmumbai Commissioner of Police Rony H Mendonca, former Principal Secretary of the Maharashtra government C S Sangeet Rao, former Vice-Chancellor of Mumbai University Dr Suhas Pednekar, former GST Commissioner G V Bilolikar, and Citizen Credit Bank executive chairman Frederic Castelino, among others.
CCCI vice chairman Adv. Pius Vas, Agnelo Rajesh Athaide, Gregory D'Souza, and other board members were present on the dais. The installation ceremony was followed by the AGM, where the new office bearers were announced by Stanley Fernandes.
Ralph Pereira, Alan Castelino, and Adv. Malbin Victor (co-opted) were also present at the event. Denica Pereira and Tanya Buthello introduced the guests, while Pramila Mathias and Elvina D'Souza presented flowers. Agnello Rajesh Athaide delivered the vote of thanks.
About Albert W D'Souza
Albert Wilfred D'Souza is the chairman of Aldel Education Trust, which operates various Christian religious minority technical and professional educational institutions at St John Technical Campus in Palghar, Maharashtra. He is also the chairman of Printania Offset Pvt Ltd, a leading print house in India, and the managing director of Printania Group of Industries.
D'Souza serves as the chairman of Model Co-op Bank Ltd and is the vice chairman of the Christian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He is a member of the Catholic Council of India and holds several positions on the advisory boards of educational institutions and hospitals across Mumbai, Mangaluru, and Jabalpur.
He has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Rachana Foundation 'Entrepreneur of the Year' Award (2003), the Papal Award for Printing Entrepreneurship (2004), the Catholic Entrepreneur of Karnataka State Award (2007), the Dimensions 'Entrepreneur of the Year' Award (2012), and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Achievers Award (2019).