ASIAN-owned companies, which contribute more than £200 billion a year to the UK economy and employ 300,000 people in London alone, were highlighted at an event in Ealing.

The Asian Family Business Conference, hosted by the University of West London at its Ealing campus, welcomed speakers including  Sajid Javid, the Communities and Local Government Secretary, Claude Littner, UWL Visiting Professor and co-star of The Apprentice BBC TV show, and Rami Ranger, distribution tycoon.

Topics on the agenda included conflict management, leadership, governance, gender and inter-generational transition.

Delegates and guests also enjoyed a gala dinner at UWL’s award-winning restaurant, Pillars, prepared by world-renowned chef Cyrus Todiwala, who led a team of student cooks and waiters from the London Geller College of Hospitality and Tourism. 

Mr Javid said: “Asian businesses continue to be a powerful force in British society. In particular, thanks to the drive and the innovation from Asian family businesses, cities such as Leicester, Manchester and Leeds are thriving.

“So, as we leave the EU, they will play a pivotal role to help us build a more global, more outward-facing Britain.”