11 March 2011 - 12:04pm
By Ilyaskhan Pathan, for TwoCircles.net,
Veraval, Junagadh (Gujarat): Iqbal Keshodwala, a school drop-out but a successful entrepreneur, has got national award for fish export for the year 2009-10. The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), a constitutional body working under the Union Ministry of Commerce, awarded him for better quality and growing export in February 2011 at a program in Chennai.
Getting an award is not new for Iqbal Keshodwala, owner of Keshodwala Foods. He started getting award in 2004 when Government of India recognized the quality of his fish export, and he hasn’t looked back since then. He has got 7 awards between 2004 and 2011.
Growing needs and diminishing profit in his father’s hardware shop forced him to try something else and then he started fishery business in 1996 at the age of 40.
Sharing his experience of life and in business Iqbal Keshodwala told TCN, “Changing the business in midlife was very difficult decision, which I was forced to take but Alhamdulillah today I am proud of my decision.”
Path to success
He faced lots of difficulties in the business. “As in every business I had to compete with big sharks when I jumped into this sea but with hard work and Allah’s help I reached this stage,” Iqbal said. He alleged that his rivals in the business conspired against him and he was once charged for a murder in the year 2004. “But CBI, later given me clean chit from all the charges,” he added.
Resident of Veraval town in Junagadh district, Iqbal was very happy when he received his 7th award. He told TCN that he was really dreaming of getting 7th MPEDA award since 7 is good in Islam and important for him too.”
When asked who he would dedicate this award, he thanked Allah, his workers, friends and customers.
Growing business
The brand ‘KESHODWALA’ deals in all kinds of frozen sea products like Silver Pomfret, Cuttle fish whole / cleaned block frozen, IQF and tray pack etc and are operating two large units at Veraval (One is nationally approved and another approved by EU) besides one unit each in Mumbai, and Cochin and recently he started a unit in Bhubhaneshwar. The total production capacity is more than 300 M.T. per day with total storage capacity of around 6000 M.T.
About MPEDA
The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) was constituted in 1972 under the Marine Products Export Development Authority Act 1972 (No.13 of 1972). The role envisaged for the MPEDA under the statute is comprehensive - covering fisheries of all kinds, increasing exports, specifying standards, processing, marketing, extension and training in various aspects of the industry.
MPEDA functions under the Ministry of Commerce, Government of India and acts as a coordinating agency with different Central and State Government establishments engaged in fishery production and allied activities.
congrats to him :k: in these tough economic times, it’s truly quite an achievement
