Chairman and CEO - Comcraft Group of Companies 86-year old Dr. Manilal Chandaria is a noted philanthropist and a recipient of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II, the Elder of the Burning Spear (EBS) by former President H.E. Mwai Kibaki and Chief of the Order of Burning Spear (CBS) by H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta.

He was awarded Pravasi Bhartiya Sanman by the Government of India and many accolades of Life Time Achievement Awards. He has been bestowed with honorary doctorate degrees by University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Kenya Methodist University and Technical University of Kenya.

Dr. Chandaria holds a Bachelor of Science from University of Bombay, India and Bachelor’s and Master’s in Engineering, from the University of Oklahoma.

He has won several awards in East Africa and internationally in recognition of his entrepreneurial endeavours. His US$2.5 billion Comcraft Group has a presence in over 40 countries and employs over 30000 persons.

Dr. Chandaria serves on the Boards of Mabati Rolling Mills Ltd, Kaluworks Ltd, Aluminum Africa Ltd (Dar es Salaam), Uganda Baati Ltd (Kampala), Kenindia Assurance Co Ltd (Vice-Chairman), East Africa Reinsurance Co Ltd (Vice Chairman), Bank of India Advisory Committee in Nairobi (Chairman) and University of Nairobi Enterprises & Services Ltd.

He is founding Chairman of the East African Business Council and the Kenya Private Sector Alliance, past Chairman of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers, and past Director of Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Ltd. He is also the Founding Chairman of the Asian Foundation, Watoto Kwanza Trust and Kenya Ear Foundation. He has been the Chairman of the Kenya Government’s Street Family Rehabilitation Fund and numerous Government of Kenya Committees.

In addition, Dr. Chandaria is Chairman of the Chandaria Foundation, patron and chairman of the Global Peace Foundation in Africa and a member of the Global Leadership Council.