Since 1999, GlobalBengal Initiatives Inc. (GBI), a privately held Delaware C-Corporation based in Massachusetts, USA has been the pioneer for globalization of the sub-continent culture, heritage and networks through online media. From the beginning, we have maintained a clear dui-Bangla focus in our efforts, firmly believing in the power of the commonalities that run across the entire Bengali diaspora. Our electronic services portal on bengalcommerce.com has been a leading shopping center for gifts, Bangla books and fashion for Bengalis worldwide.

What started as a simple experiment in 1999 with just two founders with some interesting ideas gradually expanded to a cross-border enterprise, with associates in Boston, NY, Edison, Kolkata, Dhaka, Delhi, Chittagong and Bangalore. All this has been possible through the dedication of our employees with their relentless emphasis on superior service quality, and above all, through the huge support and goodwill of thousands of patrons.

Still true to its core philosophy, GBI today is pushing the envelope on new frontiers of globalization. Years back, we started the first online e-commerce enabled Bengali bookstore in collaboration with Purbapashchim; now we're working with America's centers of excellence and learning to drive awareness of our rich literature and culture to mainstream foreign markets. At NABC 2001 in Boston, GBI sponsored a unique show on 100 years of Bengali fashion; now we are working to unveil and popularize the same appealing ethnic clothing to the rest of the world through syndicate partners.

Our management team believes in two principles - innovation and integration. From the start, service innovation has been at the heart of our actions, as we have repeatedly launched new offerings as long as they added value to our customers. We also believe that GBI is a platform for talented entrepreneurs to come together and reach out to the world, as many of our successful vendors have accomplished.

We believe that GBI has an even more important role to play now in the 21st century. As emerging economies from Southeast Asia become powerhouses of knowledge and affluence, a new wave of service demands will sweep the online industries. We are working hard to ensure that Bengal is ready when the opportunity finally arrives at the door. With the launch of our social networking site, we are finally connecting every Bengali with the world - and the path to that goal starts with reconnecting with mates from high school and college - the golden years of ones life. We encourage all Bengalis to come together and find friends. As a famous song composed after the tsunami proclaimed:

Hok na se poth bondhur,
Cholte pothe prayojon bondhur

Lets abide by this principle throughout our lives while soliciting and giving the gift of friendship.