Enthusiastic entrepreneurs of Marathi origin from the United Kingdom came together to form a network of professionals and entrepreneurs network. OMPEG (Overseas Maharashtrian Professionals and Entrepreneurs Group) was officially launched on 10th April at Sudbury Golf Club by famous industrialist Pratak Shirke , Owner of ASP Ship Management Group, and Dhananjay Mungale, Financial Advisor and Executive Director of international companies.
Mayor of Brent Cllr. Lesley Jones, MP from Southall Virendra Sharma, Greater London Assembly Member Dr. Onkar Sahota, Chairman of NABA & Brand Ambassador of Birmingham Airport Uday Dholakia were special guests at the event. OMPEG’s website www.ompeg.org.uk was inaugurated and an interactive panel discussion on “Maharashtrian Entrepreneurship” was also held.
Along with special guests the local entrepreneurs IVF specialist Dr Mahadeo Bhide and award winning chef and restauranteur Manoj Vasaikar were also an active part. The panel discussion was enlivened by interesting anecdotes presented by various speakers. Pratap Shirke reminisced about his mentor Shri Shantanurao Kirloskar, Uday Dholakia highlighted grand financial and strategic acumen of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Manoj Vasaikar admitted his predicaments while opening his very first restaurant, Dr Mahadeo Bhide elucidated interesting relevant examples on Maharashtrian entrepreneurship. Audience thoroughly enjoyed the lively exchange of ideas and examples.
Attendees from various regions of the UK greatly applauded the concept and provided invaluable suggestions and feedback. Milton Keynes based IT company Mercurius IT sponsored the mementos given to chartered members of OMPEG.
OMPEG’s goal is to bring Maharashtrian professionals and entrepreneurs together and provide a platform to help, support and nurture the entrepreneurial spirit amongst them. A roadmap of how the organisation can promote this spirit amongst the next generation Maharashtrians was also presented on this occasion.
OMPEG’s core members Dilip Amdekar, Himanshu Dasare, Ravindra Gadgil, Manjiri Gokhale Joshi, Aniruddha Kaprekar, Sushil Rapatwar and Jay Tahasildar managed the successful launch event of this organisation, while ex-cricketer and financial advisor Madhu Gupte extended help.
