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Qasim Ibrahim (also known as ''Buruma Qasim'') is an Maldivian business magnate, philanthropist and politician. In 1986, Ibrahim founded Villa Shipping and Trading Company Pvt. Ltd, the Maldives largest private conglomerate company. Ibrahim is the chairman, and largest shareholder of Villa Group, and is one of the wealthiest businessman in the country. He does his philanthropic activity through Villa Foundation, an philanthropic organisation, which helps Maldivians with Health and Educational difficulties by offering medical assistance and scholarships. He ran as the presidential candidate of the Jumhooree Party in the 2013 elections, losing in the first round. ==Business career== Ibrahim began his career in 1969 as a clerk at the government hospital in Malé. In 1973 he left the hospital to work as manager at M/S Alia Furniture Mart. Subsequently, he worked for Crescent, a trading organisation of the Government, for a short period. In 1974 he joined an outlet of the Maldivian government's Bodu Store, now known as the State Trading Organisation. Two years later, he set up his own trading business in commodities such as rice, tobacco, diesel and kerosene, which proved to be profitable and the business experienced rapid growth. He later expanded his business with a small loan of US$2,000 from State Bank of India (SBI), which is still his primary banker. After four years, Ibrahim was able to purchase his first shipping vessel, an old fishing vessel converted to carry cargo and oil, to facilitate oil imports. By April 14, 1986, Ibrahim's business was registered under the name of Villa Shipping and Trading Company Limited (Villa). Since then, the company has diversified its business with substantial national share in diverse industries such as tourism, transport, construction, manufacturing, Gas, Cement trade, Media and Communication, in addition to general trading, with Sole Distributorships of international products. Shell and Agfa are among the brand names represented by Villa in the Maldives.〔 The shareholders of the holding company, Villa Shipping & Trading Company Private Limited (VSTC) are Qasim Ibrahim and one of his wives, Rabia Hussain, holding 95% and 5% respectively. For strategic reasons, Villa Shipping (Singapore) Pte Limited was incorporated in Singapore on December 19, 1991, a 100% subsidiary. The paid up capital by Villa Shipping (Singapore) now stands at S$500,000. On 23 July 1997, with the primary objective of promoting Villa resorts. Villa Holidays Touristik GmbH opened in Frankfurt, Germany and was incorporated with a paid-up capital of DM500,000. The company acts as a wholesaler for holiday packages to the Maldives, an agent for sales of hotel rooms, sale of air tickets, and a vehicle for acquiring and trading of tourism related properties and real estate such as hotels and resorts worldwide. It has since become a major subsidiary to promote the Group's own resorts, Fun Island, Paradise Island, Sun Island, Holiday Island and Royal Island. Villa Hotels, Tokyo and Villa Hotels, Hong Kong were established in 2001 and 2002 respectively. Ibrahim has also funded many infrastructure projects in several islands across the archipelago, most notably in developing harbours, construction of schools and mosques. He is currently working on setting up of a full-fledge General Hospital in Maamigili Island, which will have the first cancer treatments facility in the country. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Qasim Ibrahim」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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