On 15 January (1985) Mr Agha Hasan Abedi wrote to all members of the BCC family in order to convey the intensity of his feelings on Giving and to express his sincere hopes for the future evolution of our bank!
BCC began operations in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, in 1978, just before the famous Rice Riots, when there was widespread protest at the increasing cost of rice. The following year saw a rapid change of government, which destabilised the economy and caused a flight of capital. This did not last long, however, and the return to normality was helped by the relationship of the Liberian economy to the US dollar. The beginnings for BCC in Monrovia were modest, but by 1980 the branch had moved to premises in a prominent location at the heart of the capital, which greatly increased the volume of business in the branch.
1984 has proved to be another challenging year for Hong Kong. But as we approach the end of the year, our community has a better understanding of its anxieties about its long-term future. The announcement and signing of the Sino-British Declaration makes a great difference to us, both as a bank and as members of the Hong Kong community. For the first time, we can see the way ahead clearly. Speculation about what will happen to us has come to an end.
The official opening of BCC in Paraguay on 11th January (1985) was an important event for the whole of BCC. With an established presence in Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Venezuela, and now Paraguay, the BCC network in South America is expanding rapidly. The opening in Paraguay heralds a new phase in the bank's ability to serve the people of that continent.
Read the full issue here: BCC International - No. 28