Cabinet Secretary Pat McFadden MP pays tribute to Wolverhampton businesses in keynote speech
Cabinet Secretary Pat McFadden MP paid a heartfelt tribute to the businesses of Wolverhampton during a national keynote speech about Asian businesses.
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The Wolverhampton MP was speaking at the Asian Business Awards in London and praised the proud history of Asian businesses.
He said: "I’m delighted to be here on behalf of the government, Apparently, one of the first ever Asian businesses was set up in the UK all the way back in the 1810s, when an Indian entrepreneur introduced Brits to the concept of shampoo.
"Some of those business founders came to the UK with next to nothing,. Built their way up, created wonderful success stories. Through sheer graft, and the power of their own ingenuity, they managed to build incredible organisations touching every part of our national life from food and drink, to pharma and healthcare, to hospitality and retail."
Mr McFadden ensured he name checked his favourite Asian businesses in his Wolverhampton South East constituency which he has represented since 2005 claiming they helped him mastermind Labour's landslide victory in July.
"Wolverhampton is a city with huge links to India and with the Punjab in particular. Take a walk down Dudley Road in Wolverhampton and you will see the Indian character of the city, from the Gurdwaras and Mandirs, to the Saree shops and my own favourite, the Lakshmi sweet centre where the samosa chaat is the best possible fuel for campaigning."
The Lakshmi Sweet Centre was founded by Major Singh Jawanda who built the business from a corner shop to a major function suite before passing away in 2020.
Mr McFadden added: "And right across the West Midlands Asian owned businesses are thriving in sectors of every kind. I love to hear the stories of how these businesses started, how they were built, what the challenges are of operating, what the dreams are of the future. Over the decades, your companies have good jobs and enriched communities in every corner of the UK."
He added: "So when you thrive, the United Kingdom thrives. That’s why it’s so important to give you the best environment possible for your businesses. A culture of entrepreneurship. A regulatory environment that supports investment."
Mr McFadden told the audience of businessmen and women the Government were trying to foster a better political environment for investment after "some difficult decisions in the recent budget."
