NEARLY 200 ethnic minority businesses from across the North-west attended an evening of "Culture, Enterprise and Commonwealth" at Preston Guild Hall.

It was organised by Bolton Council's award-winning Ethnic Minorities Business Service, the organisation recently selected by the Commonwealth Games Opportunities and Legacy Partnership as the lead agency to help North-west ethnic minority businesses capture the economic benefits and commercial opportunities from this summer's Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

The evening saw the launch of the Commonwealth Ethnic Minorities Initiative programme for the North-west region.

Sectors represented ranged from information and communication technology to catering and creative Industries and services.

Businesses attending learned about the possible benefits from the Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games and beyond.

Cllr John Byrne from Bolton Council said: "I am proud of the role that Bolton will be playing in these games.

"Bolton is buzzing in 2002 with events for everyone in a summer of celebration marking the Commonwealth Games and the Queen's

Golden Jubilee.

"Ethnic minority businesses should also register with the Commonwealth Games Business Club to ensure that they do not miss out on business opportunities generated through the games and its legacy".

The head of the Ethnic Minorities Business Service in Bolton, Sikander Badat, said that between now and next March the EMBS, in

partnership with colleagues from the EM Northwest regional advisers' network and the Legacy Partnership, would be instigating various initiatives.

He said: "We should work with the mainstream business sector and

organisations to explore the natural links that we have with Commonwealth

countries to help generate prosperity for UK PLC."

EMBS is also hosting a multicultural Bolton Business dinner at the Reebok Stadium on Tuesday, May 28.

The event will look at the diversity within the local workforce and how it can help businesses compete within the global economy.

Anybody interested in attending this or other events should contact Jennifer Begum at the

Bolton Business Support Unit on 336152.