Annual Report 2007-08

INTRODUCTION:
In the month of December 2004, a survey was conducted by the Finance Department among the Tibetan business community in exile, where more than 81% of the total respondents agreed that an association of Tibetan Businesses is needed for the betterment of the Tibetan Business community.

A conference was organized by the Finance Department, CTA on the 18th June, 2005 which was attended by Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche, then Finance Minister Lobsang Nyandak Zayul and Special Envoy Ven. Lodi Gyari to formally introduce the concept of Tibetan Chamber of Commerce to the Tibetan businessmen attending the conference. Majority of the businessmen representing diverse groups of businesses, including Carpet manufacturers, exporters, hoteliers and tours and travel agents in India, Nepal and Russia who had come to attend the two day conference gave their acceptance to the concept and thus Tibetan Chamber of Commerce was formed on June 19, 2005 with 39 members.

REGISTRATION
On Oct 7, 2005 the Tibetan Chamber of Commerce (TCC) was registered as Welfare Society Tibetan Chamber of Commerce under the Societies Act of 1860 at the Registrar of Societies, Delhi.

The chamber was formed mainly to undertake activities and steps to enhance and benefit the business interest of the chamber’s member and the Tibetan business and Tibetan community in general. Also, the chamber aims to support the new and emerging Tibetan entrepreneurs in future.

To promote contacts and cooperation between the Tibetan business community and business community in general.
To compile appropriate data of those who are in the fields of trade and commerce.
To make necessary representation in the agencies of Government of India or other organization and institution in order to promote economic activities of its members as per Govt. policy.
To promote the collective interest of its members.
To mediate in any trade related disputes among its members and take necessary action for the purpose in legal way.
To establish business centers to provide trading places for the promotion of trade and commerce among its members as per Govt. policy.
To organize trade fairs and exhibition for promoting trade and industry.
To make efforts for the promotion of industry, trade and technology by organizing conferences, symposia, etc.
To disseminate information, hold conferences, seminars, lectures and study circles in order to educate the general public about the benefits of trade, commerce and industry for the welfare of the Tibetan people.
To communicate with other chambers of commerce and mercantile and public bodies.
All the objects are purely for charitable purposes and not for the purposes of profits.

ACTIVITIES:
Tibetan Chamber of Commerce with its limited fund has tried its best to achieve and organize all the activities that has been promised during the first Annual meeting held in Dharamsala. Except for the business magazine project which could not be realized due to human and financial resources limitation, TCC has organized all the projects that have been presented in the report.

WORKSHOPS
TIBETAN BUSINESS DIRECTORY-2007
TIBET FAIR
TIBETAN BUSINESS DIRECTORY-2008
MEETINGS WITH PROMINENT PERSONALITIES & NETWORKING

A two days workshop on the theme of Business Association and Development was conducted with the help from Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) at the Himachal Bhavan. The workshop was conducted by Mr. Ralph Marlatt who is the founder of RJM Consultants, Montenegro.

The main focus of the workshop was on the development of association/ business, how they should be conducted and function, importance of financial sustainability and other important factors influencing the association/ Business.

The first ever complete Tibetan Business Directory-2007 (TBD-2007) was published and released on 6 July, 2007 coinciding with the auspicious occasion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birth anniversary. The Business Directory was released by the Honorable Kalon Tempa Tsering and was distributed free all over with the help of Tibet Offices in various countries, supporters, friends and relatives.
The partial budget for the business directory was managed from the revenue received through selling of advertisement pages in the Business Directory and part of the fund was used from the Tibetan Chamber of Commerce’s office running fund.

Tibetan Chamber of Commerce for long has been trying to either participate in International Trade fairs or organize an independent fair to promote the businesses of the members and Tibetan business community as a whole.
Participating in Independent fair somehow never materialize taking into context the cost that need to be incurred and also due to the lack of participation.
An Independent two days “Tibet fair-2008” was organize in New Delhi from 19-20th April, 2008. The fair was inaugurated by the Honorable Kalon Tempa Tsering and a total of 13 Tibetan companies, organizations and individuals participated.

The objective of the fair was to provide a platform for the Tibetan businesses to showcase the products and services to the mainstream audiences.
The partial fund to organize the fair was managed from stall rents and advertisement bookings. The rest of the fund was used from the Tibetan Chamber of commerce’s office running fund.

More than one year has past since the release of the TBD-2007 and many new businesses have opened up, many have either closed down or changed their names and addresses. Hence TCC decided to come out with the second edition of the business directory to provide updated business information to the interested people. The updated edition of Tibetan Business Directory-2008 (TBD-2008) will be released on the 18th of September, 2008 and will be distributed free to all and will be send all over with the help of Tibet offices, friends and relatives.
The partial budget for the directory was managed through the selling of advertisement pages in the directory and the partial was funded from the Tibetan Chamber of Commerce’s office operating fund.

April, 2007
Representative of Tibetan Chamber of Commerce met Ms. Trishna of Nepal Handmade Paper Association (HANDPASS). Her association faced the same set of difficulties faced by TCC. She shared her experiences and advices.

May, 2007:
Representatives of Tibetan Chamber of Commerce met with Mr. Matt Gruninger, Ex-Chairman of Tibet Relief Fund, regarding a possibility of participation in a Trade fair in United Kingdom.

May, 2007
TCC office had a mail communication with EDC (Education Development Center) Bangkok, for a possible workshop and Seminars aimed at the upcoming entrepreneurs in various Tibetan Settlements in India. Due to unapproval of the EDC’s project by their board members, the project has to be shelved. But EDC promised to conduct similar projects with TCC in future.

June, 2007:
Representatives of Tibetan Chamber of Commerce met with Ms. Rebon Banerjee of Friedrich Naumann Stiftung regarding TCC’s membership with the TANSTIA website www.thesmelink.com
50% discount on their membership fee was provided to TCC for one year.

August, 2007:
Representatives of Tibetan Chamber of Commerce met with Mr. Wilson Lee of National Endowment for Democracy (NED), a USA based Donor agency for a possible fund to organize Tibetan Fair-2008. The proposal was not approved by their board members.

December, 2007:
Representatives of Tibetan Chamber of Commerce met with Mrs. Jaya Jaitley for her advice on Tibet fair venue and possible help on future fairs organize by TCC. The Chinmaya Sewa Trust hall was recommended by her for organizing the fair.

December, 2007:
On unapproved of our Tibet fair proposal by the NED, representatives of Tibetan Chamber of Commerce again met Mr. Wilson Lee to request a possible grant to TCC for it activities for the year 2008-09. The proposal was presented during the NED’s board meeting in March, 2008. The proposal was not approved by the board members due to change in their funding priorities after the unfortunate Tibet crisis in the month of March, 2008.

April, 2008
A networking dinner was organized among the TCC members with a visiting Japanese Business delegation in New Delhi. The Dinner was sponsored by the TCC General Secretary, Ms. Jamyang D. Gyari.
Businessmen from both the sides met and interacted and assured to carry on the relationship and hopefully future business with each other.

August, 2008
Representatives of Tibetan Chamber of Commerce attended a dinner hosted for the Japanese Delegation comprising of Japanese Members of Parliament and Businessmen.

August, 2008
Representative of Tibetan Chamber of Commerce met with Mr. Wilson Lee of NED for a possible reconsideration of the TCC event project submitted in the month of December, 2007.

August, 2008
Representatives of Tibetan Chamber of Commerce met with Ms. Malaica Cisternino, for a possible participation in a fair organized by them in Italy in the month of December, 2008.

1) TCC DISCOUNT CARD
2) BUSINESS CENTER
3) TCC EDUCATION PROJECT
4) TCC LANGUAGE CLASS
5) BUSINESS WORKSHOPS & SEMINARS
6) TIBET FAIR-2009

1) TCC DISCOUNT CARD:
All over the globe, various companies offer different membership and discount cards to their customer and consumers when they shop with them. These cards offer various types of special discounts, offers and schemes to the card holders which are not generally available to the non cardholders. These cards are offered mainly to attract and motivate the customers to shop with the company more frequently. These cards give a feeling of importance and belonging in the mind of customers thus creating a sense of attachment among customers with the company which leads to the retention of customers and attracting new customers for the company. Such cards help companies acquire loyal customers, help gain more customers and sales whereas the customer saves money while shopping.
With the similar logic and assumption, Tibetan Chamber of Commerce has introduced the TCC Discount card program.
The TCC discount card has been developed to provide a range of benefits, allowing members and card holders to benefit while doing business and shopping with the fellow TCC members.
All TCC members will receive the Membership Discount card absolutely free of charge.

Card holder need to just show the current dated Discount card at any participating business and get your discount. You save money and the participating members grow its business.

TCC members can participate in the program by listing their business(es) and offer discounts to the fellow TCC members, their employees and other card holders when ever they do business or shop with them. Member businesses can target all the Tibetan Chamber of Commerce member businesses, their employees and other card holders.

Through this program, members stand a better chance to do business with each other leading to staying of business within the Tibetan Business community and experience growth and prosperity of the community.

How it works:

TCC members on their discretion can enroll into the program and offers discounts on its products and/or services to fellow TCC members, its employees and card holders. The range of discount offered by the members is on the sole discretion of the participating members. Each participating member company will be provided a certificate indicating that they recognize TCC member discount card.

This program also acts as a FREE marketing vehicle for each of the participating businesses. It’s free advertising for your business.

TCC will do complete marketing of the program. Advertisement for each participating company appears in the chamber’s monthly updates, announced during the chamber’s gathering and events and will also be shown on the chamber’s website with links to each business that has website.

Program Benefits - as a participating business providing a discount/benefit:

Business highlight on the Chamber website under Program Participants
Company description on the website and lists with the benefit & discounts your company is providing.
Listing in printed materials regarding the program
Attraction of more customers and clients
Free marketing

Discounts and other benefits at a variety of participating Chamber members.
Special offers and discounts only for TCC discount card holders.
Benefits available to all card holders in good standing.
Plus you can save money by getting discounts and benefits from many other businesses.

Non TCC members can also apply for the discounts benefit card at a certain nominal fee. Non member’s businesses are not applicable to be listed as participating business.

We encourage our members to join this program, and watch your business grow with new customers and increased sales.

How to participate:

Log on to our website www.tibetancc.org. Go to the Member Discount Card section and fill the form. You will be contacted by the TCC executive to confirm your involvement and the marketing for your business begins. It's FREE and EASY. If you have any questions,
please contact the TCC’s office at +91-11-41345303 or send us an email at info@tibetancc.org.

Tibetan Chamber of Commerce (TCC) for long through experiences when organizing chamber’s events and while interacting with the various Tibetan entrepreneurs and businessmen have felt a strong need of a hub which will provide standard and nominally priced office to the young and just started Tibetan entrepreneurs and businessmen and a showroom/exhibition hall where the Tibetan businessmen/entrepreneurs can display and exhibit their offerings and also promote Tibetan culture and tradition. The center which can also host Tibetan festival gatherings and chamber’s events and activities.

There are many Tibetans who are interested in starting their own business in adherence with the country’s business law and rules. Also there are many Tibetans who are settled in the city (New Delhi) and are doing businesses i.e. Travel & Tours, Internet service providers, Designers and many such other various kinds of services and products. Considering the soaring real estate prices, the most common problem faced by many is the unavailability of a proper and standard office space at affordable prices.
Through this cumulative office project, TCC will provide low rental offices to the Tibetan entrepreneurs.
The auditorium space will be used for conducting various chambers’ activities like Tibet Fair, business workshops and seminars etc. And also gatherings of Tibetans during the Tibetan festivals like Losar and other festivals and ceremonies.

There is no center in India where the Tibetan businessmen and entrepreneurs can display their offerings and a place for interested clients and buyers where they can come and experience and buy Tibetan products and services.

In the absence of such center, many Tibetan businessmen, entrepreneurs and talents are facing difficulties in promoting and attracting prospective clients. Through this project, TCC will provide a platform for them to showcase and exhibit their offerings. Their offering will be exhibited to be seen by the visitors who can buy their offerings and also do further businesses. TCC will also showcase the Tibetan cultures and traditions and will also have a Tibetan library from where visitors can read and buy the latest and popular Tibetan related books.

Since many young and start up Tibetans will be housing in the office to operate their businesses, TCC will have a cyclic mentor program through which the established and experienced Tibetan businessmen and experts from other countries will visit the center to assist and guide the young and new businessmen on how to conduct and run their office (i.e. Dealing with the client, Govt., partners etc.).

TCC from time to time will also provide short business courses to the young Tibetans students and also provide scholarship for further study.

TCC will also invite business speakers and trainers at least once in one month to train the Tibetans and to impart them with the latest economic and business changes and happening in the world. TCC will have leadership and other necessary trainings and will provide internship and on the job training through the Tibetan offices in housed through the cumulative office program.

TCC aims to make a state of art business center which will be the epicenter of all the information about Tibetan businesses, products, services and culture. A center from where once can experience Tibet not only through its culture and tradition but also from the wide variation of products, services and talents.

Promote Tibetan products, services and talents.
Showcase Tibetan Culture and Tradition.
Business networks.
Encourage the entrepreneurial culture among youth.

Through this program, many young Tibetan children from poor families will be provided
scholarship for their schoolings and also to Tibetan students interested in studying
business courses. The selected students for the business courses will be encouraged to
work in a Tibetan company or an organization for at least one year after the completion
of the course.
Also through this program, many students will be encouraged to start their own firms
which can open up many employment opportunities for other youths.
With the success of this project, the current Tibetan businessmen will have a pool of
trained and skilled professionals to choose from who can contribute in their
organizational development and growth. Also with help of these professionals various
organization/companies can be started with proper idea and planning.
The interested members and non members on their discretion will contribute/donate the
amount on a yearly basis, which in turn will be used as scholar ship for the deserving
student interested in studying the courses.

Enquiries are received by the Tibetan Chamber of Commerce from many
individuals and members for foreign languages class. Many Tibetans now understand
the importance of foreign language and want to study but fail to do so as it is extremely
expensive to learn from private institutes.
Knowledge of any foreign language gives an extra advantage while dealing with the people of the specific country on personal, political and business matter.
TCC plans to first starts Chinese and Japanese language classes and accordingly
recruit the experts to teach the participants. The teacher will be paid on monthly basis. A
class room will be taken on rent and will be equipped with all the necessary
requirements Workbooks and other required stationeries will also be provided to the
participants. Once the teacher and other resources are agreed, notice and circulation will
be send through Tibetan medias.

Each class will be of 15-20 participants and will be divided into different batches i.e. morning batch and evening batch. Morning batch will be for students where as evening batch will be for Tibetan businessmen and executives doing 9-5 jobs. The course will be divided into two semesters and after every semester test will be conducted.
The proposal has been send to interested donors and as and when we receive any donors or sponsor, we will start with the project.
Interested sponsor and donors interested in sponsoring the project can contact the TCC office for more details.

With the current Tibetan business scenario where majority of the Tibetan businessmen
and entrepreneurs are unaware of the latest happenings in the global business (Indian
Economy). Many are conducting their businesses in an unorganized way and are not in
adherence with the country’s law. Also many of the businessmen and entrepreneurs are
unaware of the important business tools and techniques which can help them sustain
and grow in future.
With the continuation of the present scenario, many of the Tibetan businessmen and
entrepreneurs will not be able to survive in the future.
The aspiring young businessmen and entrepreneurs who have studied business and are
aware of the importance of following country’s law while conducting business and
keeping up the business trends and techniques are faced with an environment where
they fail to approach for any reference or guidance.
To cater to this particular issue, TCC is planning to organize skill and issue based
business workshop and seminars for our members as well as for non members. Within
every two months, atleast one business workshop or seminar will be held, and the topic
for the next workshop or seminar will be decided by the participants. Also after very
workshop or seminar, a specific time will be allotted to those participants who are
looking for partner or financer for his/her particular projects since many businessmen
and entrepreneurs will be present during the event.
The project has been sent to one prospective donor, as and when the project gets
approved, we will start with the event. Interested sponsors and donors can sponsor the
whole program a year or can also sponsor one or two workshop or seminars.
For more detail on the project, please contact the TCC office.

Tibetan Chamber of Commerce has always made an effort to either participate in an International fair or organize an exclusive fair dedicated to the Tibetan entrepreneurs to provide them the much needed exposure and also to promote the Tibetan products, services and talent to the mainstream customers.
TCC organized a two day Tibet fair-2008 in New Delhi from April 19th-20th. Thirteen Tibetan organization, businesses and individual participated in the fair. TCC plans to organize similar fair every year and with the coming years will organize it in different cities of India and outside India as well.

Interested participants and sponsors can contact TCC office to participate and sponsors the Tibet fair -2009.