GJEPC’s regional chairman to be VP for one year

Surat: Last minute efforts by the managing committee members of the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (SGCCI) to convince the two strong contenders from the diamond and textile industries to opt for selection process for appointing vice-president (VP) for the year 2019-20 succeeded on Friday.
Official sources said that the members from the managing committee and members from the textile and diamond industries had organised a meeting to reach at the solution for avoiding election for appointing VP.

It was unanimously decided that regional chairman of Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), Dinesh Navadia would be appointed VP for 2019-20 and that leader of powerloom sector, Ashish Gujarati will hold the VP’s post for 2020-21.

This has brought to end the long suspense over the VP’s election. Navadia is all set to take the charge of the SGCCI VP after the installation ceremony and the AGM meeting to be held after the Lok Sabha election.

Sources said that 18 members from the SGCCI, textile and diamond sector were present in the meeting. However, only four Saurashtrian members including Navadia, Kanji Bhalala, Hari Kathiria and Velji Sheta proved heavy on the others to take the VP’s seat for 2019-20.

Gujarati has received assurance from the members that he will be the next VP of SGCCI for 2020-21.

Talking with TOI, Gujarat said, “It was a marathon meeting and at the end it was decided that I will be appointed as VP for 2020-21. Though our industry people are quite upset on the arrangement, but we will wait for the next year to take the charge.”

Navadia told TOI, “While three main contenders withdrew their forms, still one candidate is yet to withdraw. The managing committee members are trying to convince him to support the decision. However, we have an understanding that Ashish Gujarati will be next VP.”