BCA Awards 2010 launched during Milestone Year for Curry Industry

50th Anniversary of UK's governing body for curry industry and 200 years since UK's first curry house to be celebrated at 2010 Awards Ceremony.

Thursday 1st July, Bengal Clipper, London SE1: UK's only pressure group for the nation's burgeoning curry industry, Bangladesh Caterers' Association (BCA), will today open nominations for BCA Awards 2010 to uncover the most outstanding Asian restaurants at this year's awards ceremony, taking place in October. Double celebrations will be marked at this year's event as BCA celebrates 50 glorious years since its inception and the 200th year since the first ever curry restaurant opened its doors to the UK public . At today's exclusive luncheon the BCA will also unveil an exciting roadmap of year-long celebrations and activities to mark the momentous year. Esteemed guests speaking today include HE Mr. Allama Siddiki, Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh, and Lord Bilimoria.

Both milestone occasions will be celebrated in style and grandeur at the BCA Awards 2010, an annual event celebrating the achievements of the British Bangladeshi curry industry. The event raises awareness of the popularity of Bangladeshi cuisine and demonstrates the contribution of the British Bangladeshi community to the UK's cultural landscape and economy. Each year, the esteemed awards are attended by a host of celebrities, VIP's, MP's and dignitaries and this year's ceremony will be even bigger, better and tastier than before.

The 50th anniversary will provide the perfect opportunity for the industry organisation to celebrate its heritage, highlighting over five decades of unfettered commitment, extensive government lobbying and phenomenal achievement in creating and protecting what has gone on to become the nation's favourite dish. At the same time, the anniversary celebration at this year's award ceremony will serve to highlight the challenges the curry industry and its dependent communities currently face, as they collectively look forward to the next 50 years of business in UK and servicing the majority of UK diners.

The work of BCA is more significant than ever before at the current time, in light of Home Secretary Theresa May's announcement this week that immigration from non-EU countries will be capped. This will severely impact UK's curry industry which relies on chefs and skilled workers from Bangladesh and India. Facing the toughest adversity, the BCA and its members work tirelessly together to preserve the curry industry's inner strength and resources and continue to provide the UK's millions of visitors and neighbouring residents with an excellent experience both inside the restaurants and the surrounding communities.

"We feel that this milestone 50th anniversary provides us with an excellent opportunity to celebrate the past," comments Bajloor Rashid, President of BCA, "namely to highlight over five decades of hard work, personal sacrifice, and significant success in creating and protecting this national treasure of ours, now part of British heritage as well.

We are excited to welcome entries for the best of Asian cuisine and restaurants and look forward to unveiling new unfound jewels of our catering industry."

The BCA represents 12,000 British-Bangladeshi restaurants across the UK and was established in 1960 to represent the Catering Industry run by the ethnic Bangladeshis. At present, the industry employs more than 100,000 people, mostly Bangladeshi in origin, with an estimated yearly turnover of £3.5 billion.

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