TWO of the most prominent members of the UK’s Asian community will help launch a North-East business forum.

Businessman Syed Ahmed, who found fame by being one of The Apprentice’s most controversial stars, and Ash Mukherjee, an Indian classical dancer who was picked by Michael Jackson to dance with him in the This Is It Tour, will come to the region to publicly launch Asian Business Connexions (ABC).

An organisation designed to celebrate cultural diversity, as well as community and business cohesion, ABC offers its members funding, tendering and training opportunities, business health checks and support, and networking events to support the North- East’s thriving Asian business community.

The high-profile pair will add their voices to those of ABC chief executive, equality and diversity expert Nitin Shukla and nationallyrenowned community cohesion specialist Allan Brown at the event, which takes place at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Arts in Gateshead, from 6.30pm today.

With the theme of Inspiring and Aspiring Asians, the launch will tackle the reasons why the creation of ABC has been necessary and demonstrate how it will add value to all those involved.

Mr Shukla said: “ABC is a not-for-profit organisation already opening up communications within the Asian and North-East business communities to mutual benefit.

“Interest in ABC is already high and we’re hopeful the launch will further increase this.”

For more information, visit abconnexions.org