DHARAMSHALA: Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay today opened the 9th annual general body meeting of the Tibetan Chamber of Commerce, the first association of Tibetan businessmen in exile. Over 80 members of the association from various parts of the world including India and Nepal are participating in the three-day meeting being held at the LTWA auditorium.

The inaugural session was attended by  Mr Penpa Tsering, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, Mr Tsering Dhondup, Kalon of finance department and Mr Ajay Singh Mankotia, President of Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association, Dharamshala.

In his inaugural address,  Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay talked about unity, innovation and self-reliance, the three guiding principles of the 14th Kashag. He extolled the efforts of the Tibetan Chamber of Commerce to create a robust, self-reliant Tibetan community based on economic growth and prosperity.

Lamenting the prevalence of dependency syndrome in some parts of the society, he expressed that dependency on others for everything is the major cause of problems faced by people in under-developed countries. He urged the Tibetan people to work hard and honestly on our own strength to create a self-reliant society, adding that, even though, we are dependent on world support for our political struggle, an ideology based on self-reliance is crucial for our movement.

Speaking on the importance of education, Sikyong said: “During the special conference of 2008, His Holiness urged the Tibetan people to focus on education of the Tibetan people. Therefore, education is one of the most important priority of the 14th Kashag.”

Sikyong Dr Sangay added that even in the field of business you need proper education to succeed. Education is crucial to develop your capabilities and maximise the profit margin of your business. He called upon the Tibetan people to invest in education of the Tibetan children and cited examples of countries including Israel, Japan and Singapore where investment in education has brought them prosperity and global respect.

Explaining the current demographic situation in exile, Sikyong said: “we must bear in mind that the year 2020 will mark 70 years since the invasion of Tibet by China. By then, the generation of Tibetans with memories of a free Tibet will have greatly dwindled. The next generation of Tibetan leadership inside and outside Tibet has to cope with a crucial and challenging reality. Tibetans inside Tibet will have no personal memories of traditional Tibet, while Tibetans outside of Tibet will know only a life lived in exile.”

Sikyong highlighted the immense contribution of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the elder generation of Tibetan people for the sustenance of the Tibetan community in exile and for bringing the Tibet issue on the world stage.

Mr Penpa Tsering, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile spoke about the privatisation of the enterprises owned by the Central Tibetan Administration during the 12th Kashag which led to the formation of the Tibetan Chamber of Commerce, to boost private ownership and economic growth in the Tibetan community.

He said the aims and objectives with which the chamber was established should be upheld, particularly the promotion of Tibetan industry and the promotion of cooperation within the Tibetan business community.

Speaker Penpa Tsering also talked about the social responsibility of the Tibetan businesses. “With profit motive, the Tibetan business community also has a social responsibility. Successful Tibetan businessmen should uplift the poorer sections of the Tibetan community from poverty and create awareness about Tibet through speaking about Tibet’s political situation to colleagues and contemporaries,” he said.

Mr Penpa Tsering also talked about upholding the rules and regulation of the host country while conducting business so as to retain reputation and respect for the Tibetan business community.

The three-day annual general meeting of the Tibetan Chamber of Commerce will conclude on 4 April. The Tibetan Chamber of Commerce was voluntarily established during the first Tibetan business conference, organised by the Department of Finance, Central Tibetan Administration in June 2005.

The chamber was formed with the aim of undertaking promotional activities to enhance the business interests of its members and support entrepreneurship in the Tibetan community. It currently has over 233 members from diverse groups of business including carpet manufacturers and hoteliers to tours and travel agents.