Ceramic Industry Executive is New President of Gujarat Chamber

27 June 2008

The new President and other office bearers of the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) for the year 2008-2009 were formally installed in their new positions at an impressive function at GCCI on 27 June in the presence of a very large gathering of representatives of trade and commerce from all over Gujarat. Gujarat Chief Minister, Shri Narendrabhai Modi presented a bouquet of flowers to the new President Shri Rupesh Shah, the Senior Vice President Shri Samir Patel and Vice President Shri Biren Parikh and formally installed them as new office bearers.

Speaking at the installation ceremony of the new President and other office bearers of the Chamber, the Chief Minister Modi appealed to the people to start a mass movement for the speedy development of Gujarat. He said that Mahatma Gandhi had started a mass movement for freedom of India and now it was for them to launch a mass movement for the speedy development of Gujarat. He said that the State was progressing very fast in the field of economic development

Congratulating the new President of the Chamber, Shri Rupesh Shah and other office bearers, the Chief Minister hoped that the new team would give a further boost to the five decades old high traditions of the Chamber and make them more acceptable. He suggested the Chamber organise its monthly meeting of the Executive Committee in different districts to familiarise its members with the development in different parts of the State. Shri Modi also urged the Chamber to actively participate in the celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Gujarat in 2010 and for this he wanted the Chamber to publish a charter and pursuade the people to make a firm resolution for development by visiting different villages in the State.

On this occasion Shri Modi released a book entitled ‘A Thought’ written and compiled by the Chamber President Shri Rupesh Shah.

Earlier, Rupesh Shah expressed his desire to build a bridge of constant dialogue with the government and thereby make efforts to resolve problems. He referred to the most dynamic, progressive and bold leadership of the Chief Minister Modi and said that the State had progressed more in the seven years under his leadership as compared to the earlier 58 years since independence.

Rupesh Shah is Managing Director of Sonya Ceramics. He is a Ceramic Engineer from the USA and has handled the entire group operation since 1975. Under his guidance the company manufactures porcelain insulators, steatite and cordierite ceramics as well as some heavy clay items such as clay pipe.

Shri Shah is very well known both in the locality and the Gujarati ceramic community. He has held senior honorary posts with the Ahmedabad Pottery Manufacturers Association, the Indian Ceramic Society (Gujarat Chapter) and the Advisory Committee of Central Glass & Ceramic Research Institute (CGCRI). He was a GCCI Committee Member before becoming President this year.