Kolkata: Over 65 entrepreneurs and family business leaders gathered at the Siamton Inn for the “From Heritage to Innovation: Intergenerational Family Business Sustainability Workshop,” organised by the Maeeshat Foundation and The Sirri Saqti Foundation. The event focused on combining Islamic business ethics with modern tools like participatory finance and artificial intelligence (AI) to ensure sustainable, faith-based enterprise growth.
Family-run businesses contribute nearly 70 percent to India’s GDP and employ 75 percent of its workforce. Yet, most struggle with modernization, access to capital, and succession planning. The workshop addressed this ₹30 lakh crore MSME credit gap and explored models for ethical funding and long-term stability.
In his opening remarks, Maeeshat Group Founder Danish Reyaz urged participants to “bridge heritage with innovation” without compromising family and faith values. Shaikh Zaki Ahmad Madni, Director of Alhoda International School, reminded attendees that ethical business is a form of worship in Islam.
Dr. Shariq Nisar, Principal of Rizvi Institute of Management Studies, delivered the keynote address on “Sustaining Family Enterprise Across Generations.” He highlighted the economic role of India’s 6.7 crore MSMEs and promoted participatory finance as a profit-and-loss sharing model aligned with Islamic principles. Citing the Wee Cee Fund Pilot, he showed how this model improved credit access while maintaining ethical integrity.
In the innovation session, CA Rahim Noor of FabXL, Kolkata, showcased AI-based solutions that help automate processes while preserving cultural values. He shared that FabXL’s AI-driven supply chain reduced costs by 25 percent while staying halal-compliant. Ashraf Mohamedy, CMD of Idafa Investment, Mumbai, emphasised the importance of Shariah-compliant, sustainable investment strategies.
An interactive “Design Your 100-Year Enterprise” session inspired participants to plan legacy-focused businesses grounded in the Qur’anic principle of barakah. The day ended with a panel moderated by Danish Reyaz, who said, “Innovation strengthens heritage when guided by faith.”
Participants left with practical strategies to modernize family enterprises ethically. The Maeeshat and Sirri Saqti Foundations announced follow-up mentorship programs and digital toolkits to support long-term implementation.
