Mobin Rafiq

Mobin Rafiq is an experienced professional with over 45 years in engineering, industry, and philanthropy. He is the Co-Founder and Chairman of the Commonwealth Entrepreneurs Club (CEC), which connects businesses across the 54 countries of the Commonwealth. The CEC’s goal is to alleviate poverty and create jobs by promoting trade, collaboration, and impact investment. Notable members include Lord Peter Hain, Viscount Waverley, and Baroness Nosheena Mobarik. The club focuses on areas like agriculture, infrastructure, energy, and manufacturing.
 

Mobin is also the Founder and Chairman of the Global and Commonwealth SMEs Club (GCSME), a platform that connects business leaders and policymakers in over 80 countries. The club supports Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) by addressing challenges such as limited access to capital, slow digital adoption, and talent development. The club’s mission is to empower SMEs in sectors like agriculture, renewable energy, and healthcare through trade, innovation, and collaboration.

In his philanthropic efforts, Mobin is committed to sustainable economic growth and poverty alleviation. He has built partnerships with global leaders to support SMEs, especially in Commonwealth nations, and works to create opportunities for marginalised communities. His focus is on skill development, job creation, and low-cost housing projects. He is also involved in developing industrial parks, smart cities, and vocational training centres to drive long-term economic growth.
 

As a social entrepreneur, Mobin has authored books on entrepreneurship and skill development, including "Creating Entrepreneurship Through Skill Development." He is also working on a forthcoming book titled "Creating Entrepreneurs Through Skills Development: You Can Make a Difference/My Journey," continuing his efforts to support economic development and SME growth.

Mobin Rafiq was born into a family with a rich history of engineering and industrial achievement. His grandfather and father, after fleeing India in 1947 following the partition, established the first automobile industry in Pakistan in Karachi. The family went on to build the first engine reconditioning facility, using modern machinery imported from the United States and Italy. This legacy set the stage for Mobin’s future in engineering and industry.
 

1977: Mobin joined the family business after completing his education. Starting on the shop floor, he learned the intricacies of the industry from his father, who served as his mentor. After three years, Mobin moved towards building his own technology-driven businesses. His focus was on low-cost design, special-purpose machines, jigs, fixtures, and manufacturing transfer lines. Mobin’s expertise in these areas laid the foundation for several of his future ventures.
 

1980: Mobin established the first Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) manufacturing facility in Pakistan, covering 300,000 square feet. The facility produced camshafts, engine valves, and gaskets, and became a key player in the country’s manufacturing sector. In the same year, he pioneered the development of 35% of the components for Fiat tractor assembly lines in Pakistan. This was a significant achievement, as it marked a turning point in Pakistan’s industrial self-reliance.
 

1981-1984: Mobin co-founded Agriauto Industries Limited, which specialised in manufacturing gaskets, engine valves, camshafts, and shock absorbers. His work here also included developing the first micro, small, and medium industrial park in Pakistan, which provided employment and vocational training to over 500 individuals.
 

1984-2015: Mobin expanded the MR Group of Companies and led efforts to develop and manufacture 85% of the Rapier shuttleless looms used in Pakistan’s textile industry. Under his leadership, the company became a key player in the local economy, employing over 350 people and creating vital components for the automotive and textile industries. His accomplishments were in line with the Pakistani government's industrial growth initiatives, including the successful implementation of the Government’s Deletion Program for Fiat tractor components.
 

2015-2019: After stepping back from direct management of the MR Group, Mobin focused on his philanthropic and entrepreneurial activities. He began to concentrate on fostering the growth of SMEs worldwide and has played a pivotal role in the creation and development of the Commonwealth Entrepreneurs Club (CEC), an international network for impact investment and social enterprise. The CEC’s primary goal is to foster collaboration across Commonwealth nations to address global poverty and stimulate job creation.
 

2019-Present: As Chairman of the Commonwealth SME Club and Global SME Club, Mobin continues to focus on alleviating poverty through global partnerships and expanding opportunities for SMEs. His leadership in these organisations emphasises access to capital, innovation, and SME growth within sectors like agriculture, energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, and property. Mobin's initiatives have helped build collaborations between governments and private sectors, ensuring that SMEs worldwide can thrive.
 

Mobin has also dedicated a significant portion of his career to writing and publishing reports on self-sustaining micro-cities, industrial parks, and low-cost housing projects that promote entrepreneurship and job creation. These reports have been instrumental in guiding global development strategies.

In addition to his professional achievements, Mobin Rafiq has authored books, including Creating Entrepreneurship Through Skill Development, which aims to empower individuals and organisations to combat poverty through skill-based economic growth. He is also working on his forthcoming book, Creating Entrepreneurs Through Skills Development: You Can Make a Difference/My Journey.
 

Beyond his professional work, Mobin is an avid golfer and a highly respected speaker in the social enterprise sector. He is also deeply involved in philanthropic activities and continues to drive social change, particularly in the Commonwealth countries.
 

Today, Mobin resides in London with his family and continues to develop his property ventures alongside his sons. His current focus remains on expanding the global reach of the Commonwealth Entrepreneurs Club and driving sustainable economic growth through SME development, all while maintaining a commitment to addressing the social, economic, and environmental challenges of the 21st century. His enduring legacy reflects his vision of an interconnected world where businesses, governments, and communities collaborate to build a better future for all.

Mobin Rafiq’s vision is to create a world where small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a leading role in reducing poverty and creating jobs. He aims to build strong partnerships between governments, businesses, and communities across the Commonwealth. By empowering individuals through skills development and supporting sustainable projects like micro-cities and industrial parks, Mobin seeks to foster economic growth and social equality. His focus is on driving long-term, inclusive progress that benefits current and future generations, creating opportunities for all, especially in underserved communities.

Mobin Rafiq is a visionary Social Entrepreneur, Technocrat, Industrialist, and Philanthropist with a profound commitment to driving positive change in the world. With over 45 years of manufacturing experience, Mobin's journey began within his family's 100-year-old business, where he learned the ropes and later went on to establish the MR Group of Companies in Pakistan, specialising in manufacturing, engineering, and textiles. His extensive travels, spanning more than 70 countries, brought him into collaboration with dignitaries, ambassadors, central bank governors, ministers, and industrialists, cementing his position as a global leader. Mobin's work for skill development and entrepreneurship is evident through his commitment to authoring reports on self-sustaining micro cities, industrial parks, and low-cost housing solutions. His dedication to SMEs and his belief in the power of teamwork as a catalyst for accomplishment underscore his journey. As a property developer in London and Chairman of the Commonwealth Entrepreneurs Club, he continues to contribute significantly to the world's socio-economic progress while exemplifying the values of philanthropy and leadership.