Opportunities for businesses

4:56pm Monday 29th January 2007

Ethnic minority businesses across the UK can benefit from London's 2012 Olympic Games.

That is according to Adeeba Malik MBE who is Chair of the DTI's Ethnic Minority Business Forum.

The group is an advisory body focusing on national strategies for ethnic minority businesses.

Adeeba who is also deputy chief executive of Bradford based charity QED UK will speak on the subject at a conference at the Department of Trade and Industry More than 100 guests representing intermediary organisations working for ethnic minority businesses will attend the conference in London, to learn more about how they can take advantage of the procurement opportunities associated with the Games in 2012.

Adeeba said: "Throughout the UK more than a quarter of a million black and minority ethnic enterprises are contributing around £13billion a year to the British economy. The Ethnic Minority Business Forum exists to open up opportunities for this entrepreneurial spirit to thrive, particularly with national enterprises such as the Olympic Games."

Ms Malik will share the platform with the Minister for Sport, Richard Caborn MP and the DTI Minister for Industry and the Regions, Margaret Hodge MP.

The Ethnic Minority Business Forum was established in 2000 by the Department of Trade & Industry to strengthen the Government's dialogue with the ethnic minority business communities across the English regions. Working with the Small Business Service the Forum provides independent, strategic advice to Government in relation to policies and practices affecting ethnic minority businesses.

Adeeba continues: "As I approach the end of my second year as Chair of the EMBF, I am delighted with the progress we have made in raising the profile of ethnic minority entrepreneurs and ensuring that the impact on ethnic minority businesses is taken into account by Government departments and regional stakeholders. My work with the Forum continues to support my work at QED, giving a voice to BME groups and striving for equality in UK business."