India has a vibrant culture with risk taking approach, and Australia with its stable economic environment provides a perfect backdrop to explore new business idea,” Raman Bhalla, President and CEO, Sydney Investors, Professionals and Business Networking Group Incorporated

Interviewed by Nidhi Kumari

Raman Bhalla is President and Chief Executive Officer of Sydney Investors, Professionals and Business Networking Group Incorporated (SIPBN Inc). He is a partner of RSB Hexagon which provides end-to-end services in business advisory, accounting, tax, financing, real estate investments and wealth management. He is the founding principal of RSB Capital and Proactive CFOs and Business Advisors which is a specialist provider of resident director services, capital raising, mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures advisory services.

He worked with several Australian and Global investment banks in senior executive management roles.

Raman is an entrepreneur and believes in risk taking. He ran for the state seat of Blacktown as Liberal candidate in March 2015 elections.

Post elections, he set his accounting and consulting business with his brother and busines partner Sanjiv Bhalla. Raman runs a fast growing and evolving financial services business.

He is hugely passionate about building businesses and facilitating international trade, business, and investment. His extensive international business, professional and political networks include Australia, the US, India, Israel, Hong Kong and China.

He saw the need of a single platform in Sydney where the entrepreneur could network and explore business and investment opportunity within Australia and different overseas markets.

This began the journey of starting a group of likeminded people by incorporating Sydney Investors, Professionals and Business Networking Group Incorporated (SIPBN Inc). SIPBN Inc is a not-for-profit organisation. It is premium and a single platform to assist Australian businesses or entrepreneurs to expand into overseas markets through business introductions, exports, mergers & acquisitions, investments, or foreign tie up.

SIPBN has exclusive access to attractive business transactions which are only available to its members.

It is a platform for the overseas businesses or entrepreneurs to invest into Australian markets or do business in Australia. Western Sydney is the key area of focus. It was launched on Wednesday, 24 February 2021.

Indus Age spoke to Raman Bhalla in an Indus Age exclusive interview. Excerpts:

The investment and business sector come with a lot of risks and challenges, what according to you are the most important factors that one needs to have to enter this sector?

In business or investment, the ability to take risk is important. However, how to manage the risk within certain boundaries is critical. Informed risk taking is the cornerstone not only to protect your capital but grow your portfolio of assets or business.

Speaking about the ‘Sydney Investors, Professionals and Business Networking Group Incorporated’ (SIPBN Inc)’, how did the idea of establishing the SIPBN Inccome into being?

I have been working domestically as well as in the international markets. I found there are international business groups or domestic chambers whose focus is very narrow. There was no vehicle or a single platform for the Australian businesses to explore opportunities in the international markets not only in trading but in the investment field. I believe there is a market gap which SIPBN can nicely fill.

What are the objectives and vision of SIPBN Inc.?

Sydney Investors, Professionals and Business Networking Group Incorporated (SIPBN Inc) is a not-for-profit organisation. It is premium and a single platform to assist Australian businesses or entrepreneurs to expand into overseas markets through business introductions, exports, mergers & acquisitions, investments, or foreign tie up.

SIPBN has exclusive access to attractive business transactions which are only available to its members.

SIPBN is a platform for the overseas businesses or entrepreneurs to invest into Australian markets or do business in Australia. Western Sydney is our key area of focus. We service both private and not for profit sector.

SIPBN Inc strength is its team, experience, networks, connections, and diversity.

Our core areas of differentiation are:

• Business connections in different business markets
• Exclusive access to attractive business opportunities
• Business matchmaking
• Advocacy

How has the response toward the newly launched SIPBN Inc. group from among the business professionals been so far?

We are fortunate enough that the reception to the SIPBN Inc is phenomenal. We have received expression of interest to join SIPBN Inc from people of very high calibre. The interested people come from diverse background in business or investment field. Interesting, the response from not for profit sector is huge. We are looking forward to the opportunity of serving the SIPBN Inc.

How do you look at the level of acceptability in leadership positions for a person of Indian background in an Australian organization?

I am a proud Australian with Indian heritage. So far, I have not experienced any bottleneck in any manner, if you have the right approach and the attitude to deliver. Our team comes from diverse background in terms of experience, cultural heritage or busines background which is an advantage for us as it provides us with enormous opportunity to gain knowledge and the execution skills.

Australia-India – two of the biggest democracies in the world, what all can we learn from each other?

Australia and India have a lot of common aspects in terms of culture, politics and sports. India has a vibrant culture with young and risk taking approach, and Australia with its stable economic environment provides a perfect backdrop to explore new business idea and opportunities to collaborate in non-traditional areas of business e.g., space science, green energy, financial services.

Being a part of such a hectic professional background, how do you manage both work and life balance? And what is it that you like to do when you are not working?

It is always good to be busy and manage your work schedule appropriately. At the same, getting things done is important. It might mean that you have to work longer hours. I love boxing, gym, golf and active in Australian politics.

What is your message to Indian-Australian diaspora?

Follow your dream and take risk. Strong desire to achieve and commitment to your goals is vital.

Australia particularly, Western Sydney is a land of opportunity. The key focus of SIPBN Inc at this stage is to explore business opportunities and execute transactions.