Indian Pharmaceutical Forum

United Arab Emirates

 

 

PATRON

                           B R Shetty

Bavaguthu Raghuram Shetty sits at the  helm of an ever-expanding commercial empire that sprawls across the Arab Emirates and reaches back into the home country at several strategic locations in southern and western India.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Business tycoons of his stature and hi-visibilitycan easily be classified according to their attitudes to wealth accumulation and its deployment. There are those amassment of lucre with a single mindedness of purpose. To them money is an end in itself. More often than not, they live simple, frugal existences and have no other goal but to control vast fortunes.                                                                                                                                                                                             Then there are those who, having acquired large fortunes by dint of protracted effort and unique insights, look for ways in which to deploy their wealth for the benefit of underprivileged humanity at large. These are the humanitarian philanthropists whose generosity is measured by the millions they disburse for the common good.
                                                                                                                                           Tycoon Shetty falls into this latter category. From an early age, he showed  an inclination towards social service and civic activity. As he embarked upon a commercial career, his choice of buinesses  showed a distinct preference for humanitarian enterprises.

                                                 Commercial attainments

Shetty's commercial enterprises cover a vast and varied scope of endeavour which ranges from  to financial services, and  includes the production of tin cans as well as trade in gold. Applying his mind to the establishment of health services, he started what  eventually became an extensive chain of hospitals, clinics and pharmacies in the Emirates - at Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

Shetty's interest in healthcare and pharmaceuticals led him to set up medical units in the UAE which became a vital part of the private sector medical scene The largest of his hospitals boasts state-of-the-art equipment for advanced  diagnostic procedures. It has facilities and staff to deal with some 2000 patients a day.

In the retail pharmaceutical field, he runs a chain of pharmacies which includes the largest in the UAE - the New Pharmacy LLC   filling out some 1000 prescriptions a day. With a keen eye for areasof enterprise that can complement one another, Shetty has set up pharmaceutical manufacturing bases in Mumbai and Abu Dhabi.

 Setty's enterprises definitely do not lack in diversity. Quite apart from the medical services aspect of his business, he has vast holdings in banking and financial services, with exchanges in the UAE and Bangalore. Then there is the trade in wholesale and retail  in a variety of products including electronics. He even trades in jewellery and gold with wholesale and retail outlets in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

On the manufacturing front, Shetty produces pharmaceuticals, tincans,diapers and bottled LPG in Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad. In Bangalore, he holds the agency for Mercedes Benz automobiles distribution throughout the state of Karnataka. In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Shetty plays a hand in property,owning  the Star Hotels and other real estate. He has set up a public relations company in Abu Dhabi to deal with advertising and publicity.

His enterprising spirit and his taste for variety are plainly evident in the fact that his commercial interests include a restaurant that caters to expats and locals alike. Pleasing the different palates of its patrons,Foodlands has acquired a remarkable reputation. Infact, during the Gulf War of 1990, the restaurant was highly commended by the US armed forces. It was awarded a Certificate of Merit.

                                                         Social concern

 B.R. Shetty is the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the AbuDhabi Indian School. The school is the biggest in the UAE with over 3500 students A natural extension of his desire to promote education, is his love of sport - specifically cricket. He is active on the Emirates Cricket Board, the Abu Dhabi Cricket Council and the Abu Dhabi Cricket Club.

 Shetty is a Founder Member and Vice Chairman of the Business & social Activities Committee of the Indian Business & Professional Group which promotes the  interests of the Indian community. A  businessman of his calibre and standing in the business community  of the Emirates, is inevitably called upon to play a prominent role in numerous associations and committees. Shetty is member     of the American Business Group as also of the British & Swiss Business Group in the UAE..

 He is patron to several cultural associations that promote western  and Indian cultural a rts such as western classical music and Indian classical dance.  Shetty's social and civic concern surfaced early in life. At the tender age of 23, he stood for elections in the Municipal Council in his home state in Udipi, India and was elected Chairman of the Council. He was born in Kaup, India.

                                                   Domestic front

Married with 4 children, B.R. Shetty has a family he can be proud of because of their talents and achievements which complement the nature of his commercial undertakings. His wife, for example, is Dr.Mrs Chandrakumari R. Shetty who is an excellent administrator. Infact, she runs his hospitals, clinics and pharmacies. His eldest daughter, Neema studied dentistry with distinction and is married to Dr Sharad, a cardiologist.  Then there are 2 daughters, Reema, graduate of  Management from     US and now the Director of NMC Group and Seema who is just graduated Management at BostonUniversity.Shetty's  youngest son, Binay, is in University in the USA studying Management  Information Systems.

 B.R. Shetty keeps abreast of the times. He was recently a   participant in a course-  Is your company Internet ready? designed for top executives in Harvard Business School, USA.               In the course of his career, B.R. Shetty has received several  prestigious awards in the UAE and in India acknowledging his high achievements in pharmaceuticals, his edication to humane causes, his social service to humanity, his selflessness in community development and his philanthropy.

   Mr. B.R.Shetty is the recipient of several awards;

1998 Received Award for Life Time Achievement for dedicated advancement of the cause of Pharmacists and Pharmacies in the Arab World on the Occasion of the historic joint event of the 17th Asian Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences and 50th Indian Pharmaceutical Congress.

1998 Received the first ever Indo-Arab Award from the Trivandrum based Indo-Arab Cultural Society for the top Non-Resident Indian for his unstinted support to humane cause.

1998 Received "Man Patra" from Delhi Karnataka Sangha for social service to humanity.

1997 The inaugural Rainbow Laurel Award instituted jointly by 3 organisations from the Govt. of Kerala was conferred upon by the Maharaja of Travancore for excellence in business and selfless involvement in community development & philanthropic activities. The selection was done on the basis of an independent survey of over 500 Non Resident Indians across the Middle East.

1997 The highest social recognition by the Government of Karnataka - Karnataka Rajyotsava Award was awarded for creative and constructive contribution to the development of the State within and outside India.

1996 Award by the Government of Emirate of Ajman, UAE for service to humanity.

1995 Award for International Quality for NMC Hospital from Trade Leaders Club, Spain for outstanding international quality.

1995 Karnataka Malla International Award

1994 Conferred the Arch of India Gold Award by the NRI Institute, London for the outstanding NRI businessperson.

1993 Declared Man of the Year (1992) by the NRI Institute London at the 11th International India-NRI Conference held at London. The award, presented by India's High Commissioner to the UK, Dr. L.M.Singhvi, was for outstanding personal achievements and contribution towards the promotion of national integration and international understanding.

1992 Received the Vikas Ratna Award from International Friendship Society of India for exceptional excellence in the field of chosen endeavour.

Honoured & Felicitated by the Bunts Sangha, Bombay (1992) to express their gratitude for the noble and disinterested labours in the cause of social service, industry and medical service to the community.

1992 Received the International Excellence Award (1991) at London, from the NRI Institute, Delhi.

1989 Was nominated as Significant Achiever by Gulf News. The nomination was for high performance, pursuing excellence and gaining success against all odds.

1979 Was awarded Honorary Citizenship to the City of New Orleans, U.S.A.

1966 - 1974 Was elected as Municipal Councillor for Udupi at the tender age of 23. Served the Municipal Council as Vice President for two terms.

Positions Held in Social/Business Organisations/Associations:

1. Chairman of Board of Governors of Abu Dhabi Indian School, the largest community school in the emirate with strength of over 3500 students.

2. Executive Committee & Selection Committee Member of the Emirates Cricket Board. This Board is the controlling body for cricket in UAE. The UAE team plays many international tournaments and also qualified to participate in the World Cup.

3. Vice President, Abu Dhabi Cricket Council and Executive Committee Member of the Abu Dhabi Cricket Club. The Cricket council looks after the day to day running of the sport in Abu Dhabi and the Cricket Club has been constituted by the Government to successfully implement the plan of building the first international cricket stadium in Abu Dhabi.

4. Chairman of Municipal Council - At the age of 23, elected as Chairman of the Municipal Council in my home state in India. For this I successfully contested and won the elections on an opposition party ticket.

5. Founder Member & Vice Chairman of Business & Social Activities committee of the Indian Business & Professional Group. This group is a registered body in Abu Dhabi, UAE and promotes the business and professional interest of the Indian Community in the region.

6. Member of the Overseas Indian Economic Forum and Business and Professional Club. These are forums for the businessmen and professionals of Dubai and acts as a mouthpiece for the economic and business interests of the Indian expatriate community in India as well as the UAE.

7. Founder Member of the

- Netherlands Business Group

- Canadian business Council and

- Swiss Business Council

8. He has been nominated as the Vice-President to the Swiss Business Council, the apex body to promote business between Switzerland and UAE.

Positions Held in Social/Business Organisations/Associations:

9. Member of the American Business Group and British Business Group.

10. Patron of the following Associations:

a. Abu Dhabi Concert Committee, Abu Dhabi

(This organisation is dedicated for organising Western Classical Orchestra and concerts)

b. Soorya Film & Cultural Society, Kerala, India

(The only patron apart from the Chief Minister of the State)

c. The Indian Pharmaceutical Association, Abu Dhabi, UAE

d. Karnataka Sangha, UAE

e. Bunts Association, UAE

f. Toastmasters International, UAE

Philanthropic Contributions:

Mr. B.R.Shetty has generously contributed and extended whole hearted support for the following humanitarian causes:

1993-94 Setting up of Cancer Foundation in Pakistan by famous cricketer Mr. Imran Khan.

1996-97 Sending relief for earth quake victims in Maharashtra State, India

1997-98 Sending relief for flood victims in Bangladesh.

1998-99 Sending relief for the world's worst earth quake victims in Turkey.

Professional:

Invited by prestigious Harvard Business School, USA to pursue a three module Owner/President Management Program (OPM 1998-99) exclusively designed for the Owners & Chief Executives of Multinational Corporations.

Participated in short course for the Top Executives in Harvard Business School, USA on "Is your company Internet ready?" {July 2000} .

Felicitated at the 54th Indian Pharmaceutical Congress at Pune ( Dec.2002) for his contribution to the profession out side India

Sri B.R.Shetty, being not an individual but an institution by himself has not only enriched society in general, but is a great asset to our community. ***

 

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