Asian Entrepreneurs Club (AEC) launched to empower entrepreneurship, small businesses 

New Delhi, India – Entrepreneurs of Japanese, South Korean, and Indian origins have come together to lay the foundation stone of the Asian Entrepreneurs Club (AEC), a platform dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship and supporting the growth of small businesses in India. This cross-national initiative aims to unite business leaders and entrepreneurs from across Asia, initially including members from Japan, South Korea, and India, with plans to gradually expand to Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.

The club has outlined its core objectives, which include promoting entrepreneurship and supporting small businesses in India through collaborative initiatives. It seeks to provide entrepreneurs with a platform to share ideas, resources, and opportunities from across Asia.

Additionally, the club aims to organize workshops, training sessions, and events to develop entrepreneurial skills while fostering partnerships, mentorship, and hand-holding opportunities among its members to encourage mutual growth.

The Korean Youth Commerce Association in India (KYCI) led by its chairman Jin Bum Kim, and its select members and Sanjeev K. Ahuja, Founder & Editor-in-Chief/CEO, Asian Community News (ACN) Network, jointly steered the idea of forming a platform of entrepreneurs across East Asian nationalities operating in India in a meeting in the year 2024, when the foundation stone of this progressive and cross-national platform was laid.

It was on January 10, 2025 at Kofuku Restaurant in New Delhi, where as a select group of like-minded entrepreneurs invited by KYCI and ACN Network, gathered to finalize the platform’s name.

The attendees jointly introduced by Sanjeev K. Ahuja and Jin Bum Kim, Harry Hakuei Kosato FRSA, Japanese Cuisine Goodwill Ambassador and Director of Kikkoman & Sushi and More in India; Maaya Takaoka, CEO of NIHONSHUNISHIYO CO., LTD.; Prakash Yadav, AJU Ryokan Group of Hotels, Ankur Sahni, Director of KOFUKU; Min young Lee, Founder of Korean bakery cafe ‘The For’est’, and Café, Debang; Seung Jung Kang, Founder of I-Kets (India-Korea EduTech Solutions) and India Head of Teba Investment.

Harry Hakuei Kosato was the first to propose the title as Asian Entrepreneurs Club (AEC), which all in the meeting endorsed and a common consensus was reached on it.

This meeting was followed by another gathering on February 3, 2025, at Gung The Palace Korean Restaurant in Gurugram, with a larger presence of entrepreneurs from Japan, South Korea, and India. Both meetings brought together a dynamic group of business leaders eager to collaborate and share their expertise.

Among the notable entrepreneurs who have become members of AEC are:

• Harry Hakuei Kosato FRSA, Japanese Cuisine Goodwill Ambassador and Director of Kikkoman & Sushi and More in India
• Jin Bum Kim, Chairman of the Korean Youth Commerce Association in India (KYCI) and CMD of Gung The Palace Chain of Korean Restaurants
• Sanjeev K. Ahuja, Founder & Editor-in-Chief/CEO, ACN Network
• Yuta Fukue, Director of Fukunami Machinery
• Jasmin Park, Founder of Delhi Golf Zone
• Maaya Takaoka, CEO of NIHONSHUNISHIYO CO., LTD.
• Prakash Yadav, AJU Ryokan Group of Hotels
• Min Young Lee, Founder of Korean bakery café ‘The For’est’ and ‘Café Dabang’
• Seung Jung Kang, Founder of I-KETS (India-Korea EduTech Solutions) and India Head of Teba Investment
• Jooyoung Jeong, Founder of Hong Kong Restaurant
• Yoo Kyung Lee (Kelly), General Secretary of KYCI and CEO of Carry Trading Pvt. Ltd.
• Dr. Aditya Kumar Vijay, MD, Shigemasu India and Managing Partner, Kizuna Management Consultant
• Junko Okawa, Director of ARIAKEDO Wellbeing LLP
• Ryuji Tomiyama, Director, MANAMI Japanese Restaurants
• Ankur Sahni, Director of KOFUKU
• Bijendra Singh, Founder and MD of KURUMA Travels
• Min Kyun Han, Founder of Han’s Kitchen

During these meetings, members shared their entrepreneurial journeys, discussed the challenges faced by small businesses, and explored opportunities for collaboration across various sectors, including technology, tourism, and cultural exchange. They also laid out plans to host workshops for skill development and mentorship programs aimed at guiding emerging entrepreneurs.

The Asian Entrepreneurs Club envisions creating a robust ecosystem that connects Indian businesses with their counterparts in East and Southeast Asia. Through regular events, including business expos, training sessions, and mentorship initiatives, the club seeks to drive economic growth and foster cross-cultural exchange.

Speaking at the Gurugram meeting, the founding members highlighted the significance of cross-cultural collaboration, stating that by uniting entrepreneurs from across Asia, the club aims to create a network that supports small businesses in India while fostering innovation and growth on a regional scale.

The initiative has already garnered significant interest from business leaders and diplomats, with plans to expand its membership to more Asian countries. Its unique approach of blending entrepreneurship with cultural exchange has set the stage for meaningful collaborations in the years to come.

As the Asian Entrepreneurs Club continues to grow, it promises to become a vital platform for aspiring entrepreneurs, equipping them with the tools, connections, and mentorship needed to thrive in India’s dynamic business environment and beyond. For more information about upcoming events and membership, interested entrepreneurs can reach out to the club’s representatives.