Mr. Habib Mohammed Chowdhury
Founder, Chairman & Managing Director of HSMM Group of Companies
Mr. Habib Mohammed Chowdhury embarked on a new course for HSMM Group of Companies when he moved his Agarwood trading business from Dubai to Lao P.D.R. in 1998. His decision was a historical landmark for the company. Since its providential transfer, the company has reaped the benefits of a successful journey to the top of the Agarwood business in Southeast Asia.
Mr. Habib --- in year 1989 dropout college and moved to Dubai for Agarwood Business. He opened his trading business in Dubai in 1989 --- set up the Lao Agar International Development Co. Ltd in Vientiane, Laos in 1998. It now stands as one of the largest Agarwood producers in Southeast Asia.
As the company started to take roots in Lao P.D.R, it gave Mr. Habib the opportunity to make his presence felt in the local business community. The HSMM Group of Companies became a global conglomerate having investments in Agarwood oil extraction facilities, Agarwood plantations, Mining, Information Technology, Perfume and Fragrances. It has mining concessions in Muang Mo, XiengKhouang Province.
Under its wing are five corporations: Lao Agar International Development Co. Ltd., HS International SoleCo. Ltd., HSMM Mining Co. LTD., HSMM Fragrance Co. Ltd. and HSMM Transv Technology Sole Co. LTD. As a prominent businessman, Habib Mohammed Chowdhury has been generous in sharing his talent and resources.
On 13th September 2010 at the India-Laos Business Forum in presence of H.E. PratibhaDevisinghPatil, Former President of Republic of India; Mr. Habib founded the Indian Chamber of Commerce (INCHAM) in Lao PDR under the patronage of H.E. Dr. JitendraNathMisra, the Ambassador of Republic of India to Lao PDR. He served three terms as President of INCHAM.
He looked beyond the borders of Lao P.D.R and India and initiated implementation of the “Look East Policy” now called Act East Policy for North East India. He set his sights at Southeast Asia, which is an emerging economic dragon.
Mr. Habib organized, sponsored and participated in several business forums, seminars, trade shows in India and Lao PDR to promote bilateral trade, business opportunities and cultural exchanges between Lao P.D.R and India’s northeastern states. Mr. Habib facilitated the visit of high-level government and business delegation from Laos to Northeast India and from North East India to Lao PDR.
On 10 May 2013, Mr. Habib and the HSMM Group of Companies received the “Cross of Labour” and “Cross of Friendship” medals from H.E. Dr. Nam Viyaketh, the former Minister of Industry and Commerce of Lao P.D.R. The medals were awarded in recognition of his contribution to the Socio-Economic Development of Lao PDR and for strengthening the ties between Lao-India businesses and entrepreneurs. Mr. Habib is the first Indian entrepreneur to receive these awards in 56 years of diplomatic relations between India and Lao P.D.R.
On 9 November 2013, Mr. Habib Mohammed Chowdhury was felicitated as an Iconic Figure who has contributed to uplift the Socio-economic scenario of the region and presented with a citation on the stage by Shri. NabamTuki, Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Government of India during the North East Festival at North East Festival held at IGNCA Ground, New Delhi, India.
On 22 November 2013, the Honorable former Union Minister of Doner, ShriPaban Singh Gatowar, presented the North East Business Excellence Award and a Citation to Mr. Habib during the 9th North East Business Summit in Dibrugarh, Assam, India. Ministers of North Eastern states, bureaucrats from various central ministers and other dignitaries witnessed the presentation.
The HSMM Group of Companies being the Official Sponsor of Lao Football Federation supported the Visit of Lao National Football Team to Guwahati, Assam, India for participating in the AFC Asian Cup qualifying match between India and Lao PDR on 07th June 2016. On the same occasion the HSMM Group of Companies also organized a Gala Dinner for the Lao National Football Team.
On the occasion of AFC Asian Cup qualifying match between Lao PDR and India a Bilateral Trade, Sports and Cultural Exchange Meeting and Press Conference was held in Guwahati, Assam, India on 07 June 2016 and 08 June 2016 respectively. It was the first time in 59 years of diplomatic relations between India and Lao PDR that the Ambassadors of both countries had a bilateral trade development meeting with Chief Minister of a state in North East India. The meeting was attended by ShriSarbanandaSonowal, Hon'ble First BJP Chief Minister of Assam, India, H.E. SouthamSakonhninhom, Hon'ble Ambassador of Lao PDR to India, H.E. Ravi Shankar Aisola, Hon'ble Ambassador of India to Lao PDR and ShriRajanGohain, Hon'ble Member of Parliament and Mr. Habib Mohammed Chowdhury, Founder Chairman and Managing Director of HSMM Group of Companies, Lao PDR.
On July 2016, Mr. Habib was appointed as the First Chairman of of the prestigious ASEAN India Business Council (AIBC), Lao P.D.R Chapter, a rare honor given to an Indian businessman in Lao P.D.R. He was part of the AIBC team lead by Dato Ramesh Kodammal, Co-Chair of AIBC and President of AIBC Malaysia Chapter and Mr. HarshavardhanNeotia, Co-Chair of AIBC and President of FICCI, India to present the Recommendations for ASEAN-India Consultation to the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) and H.E. NirmalaSitharaman, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Republic of India on 06th August 2016.
The AIBC, in partnership with the Malaysian Ministry of International Trade & Industry (MITI), and Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) with Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) as the Indian partner, organized a highly successful ASEAN-India Business Leaders Conclave in Kuala Lumpur on 21 July 2016. The event, focused on the themes of SMEs, logistics, health services and e-commerce, drew participation of over 400 business leaders from various AMS and India. The Ministerial session was addressed by Malaysian MITI Minister H. E. Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Minister for Labour, Employment, Training & Factories, Youth Services & Sports, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship of the Government of Andhra Pradesh, India H. E. Mr. KinjarapuAtchannaidu and the Vice Minister of Planning & Investment, Lao PDR H. E. Mr. BounthavySisouphanthong together with Mr. Habib Mohammed Chowdhury the Chairman of AIBC Lao PDR Chapter.
Mr. Habib and his group the HSMM Group of Companies was the official sponsor of the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (AIBS) and related summits from 6-8 September 2016 at Vientiane, Lao PDR.
Mr. Habib Mohammed Chowdhury, ShriShiladityaDev, MLA of Hojai, Assam was felicitated together with ShriRupamGoswami at Business Interactive Meet on Startup India an event organized by Assam Chamber of Commerce on 28 September 2016 at NEDFI, Guwahati, Assam, India.
Mr. Habib Mohammed Chowdhury felicitated by AGP MLA Mr. BrindabanGoswami at "Parivartan : 2016" - 3E Global Entrepreneurs Conclave at Guwahati Assam, India from 13-17 October 2016.
Mr. Habib Mohammed Chowdhury attended the 7th General Assembly of Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI) at National Convention Centre on 09 December 2016with H.E. Thongloun SISOULITH, Prime Minister of Lao PDR.
Mr. Habib was felicitated by Shri G.K. Pillai, Former Home Secretary, Government of India at the “1st K.D. Goswami Memorial Lecture on India's North East: Issues of Comprehensive Security with Reference to Act East Policy" organized by the Centre for South and South East Asian Studies, Gauhati University and Srimanta Foundation for Culture and Society on 21 January 2017 at PhanidharDatta Seminar Hall, Gauhati University, Guwahati, Assam, India.
Mr. Habib was felicitated and received a memento from Shri Ravi Capoor, Principal Secretary to the Government of Assam, Industries & Commerce, Mines & Minerals at the "North East (India) - CLMV Business Summit" conference. On day 2 of the same event Mr. Habib was felicitated by ShriHonchunNgandam, Hon'ble Education Minister, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, India. The "North East (India) - CLMV Business Summit" conference organized on 24-25 March 2017 at Radisson Blu, Guwahati, Assam, India. The summit mainly focused on tie-ups in Education, Health-Wellness-Herbal Medical Services, Connectivity, Ayurveda, Logistics, Tourism and Aviation as well as improving skills development & capacity building programs within the region.
Mr. Habibreceived the "INAUGURAL ASEAN-INDIA EMERGING ENTREPRENEUR ACHIEVEMENT AND EXCELLENCE AWARD" from H.E. Y.B Dato' Seri OngKaChuan, Minister II of International Trade and Industry of Malaysia in presence of H.E. Shri T.S. Tirumurti - High Commissioner of India to Malaysia, and Dato' Ramesh Kodammal - Co-Chair of ASEAN-INDIA BUSINESS COUNCIL and Chairman of ASEAN-INDIA BUSINESS COUNCIL Malaysia Chapter at the ASEAN-INDIA ACHIEVEMENT AND EXCELLENCE AWARDS & GALA DINNER on 24th May 2017 at Ballroom, St. Regis Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Mr. Habib was a member of the U.N. delegation to the 4th United Nations conference on Least Developed Countries in Istanbul, Turkey in May 2011. He is an ardent philanthropist. He set up the JF Foundation in India and the HSMM Foundation in Lao P.D.R.