Month: October 2022

‘Make it in the Emirates’ draws interest from US firms

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 2 October 2022
No Comments on ‘Make it in the Emirates’ draws interest from US firms

On day one, Omar Al Suwaidi, Under-Secretary of MoIAT, delivered a keynote address on the UAE’s industrial opportunities and competitive advantages…reports Asian Lite News

A high-level delegation from the UAE presented the country’s national industrial strategy to over 200 international delegates that convened at the first US edition of the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit (GMIS America) from 28th-29th September in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Emirati experts called for enhanced cross-border collaboration to advance sustainable industrial development, enable the clean energy transition, and drive global economic growth.

As co-chair of the summit, the UAE’s Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) appealed to the international community to come together and collaborate on ways to make the industry more resilient against global market volatility and enhance productivity while boosting efforts to accelerate the global energy transition.

The UAE delegation highlighted the country’s competitive manufacturing business landscape while sharing their knowledge on ways to enhance sustainable manufacturing practices through advanced technology adoption.

On day one, Omar Al Suwaidi, Under-Secretary of MoIAT, delivered a keynote address on the UAE’s industrial opportunities and competitive advantages.

Al Suwaidi addressed the international audience, saying, “There has never been a better time to invest in the UAE’s robust industrial base. The rapid pace with which our ambitious industrial strategy is being executed, is generating significant demand for local goods and services, as well as opening new international market access. As part of this strategy, we launched the ‘Make it in the Emirates’ campaign to help supercharge industrial priority sectors and attract investments. We continue to build successful partnerships with international players who are eager to capitalise on the significant benefits and potential of establishing an industrial presence in the UAE.”

On the first day of the conference, MoIAT hosted an interactive panel discussion which presented the country’s national strategy for industry and advanced technology. The panel explored how the UAE’s ‘Make it in the Emirates’ initiative is inviting global industrialists, investors, innovators and developers to be part of the country’s industrial growth, while benefitting from incentives and support mechanisms aimed at increasing the national industrial sector’s contribution to the UAE’s GDP from AED133 billion to AED300 billion by 2031. During the MoIAT-hosted panel, the session featured key UAE industrial champions and enablers, who shared their plans for sustainable manufacturing, as well as key growth opportunities for investors.

Humaid Mohamed bin Salem, Secretary-General of the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FCCI) pointed out that the UAE provides several incentives for international organisations to set based in the country. The FCCI acts as a bridge between the government and the private sector. It also supports bringing companies to the UAE and ensuring they are made aware of the incentives they can benefit from by doing business.

Bin Salem also highlighted how the UAE’s response and recovery from COVID-19 is a testament to the nation’s credibility in enabling a sustainable business environment that will allow international businesses to thrive.

Mansoor Janahi, CEO, Sanad, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mubadala Investment Company and a champion of industrial services, emphasised the importance of the US market for Sanad, given that the country represents its largest client base. He went on to highlight how the UAE is generally known as an importer of industrial services, however, Sanad has been leading the export of industrial services for the last 35 years.

Joining them on the panel, Saud Abu Al Shawareb, Managing Director of Dubai Industrial City, showcased the many benefits offered to businesses operating from the zone. He highlighted that Dubai Industrial City is working with 708 business partners to develop an enabling ecosystem which delivers a holistic supply chain. Furthermore, Abu Al Shawareb highlighted the critical focus of decarbonising the industrial sector, with Dubai Industrial City generating more than 40 MW of power from renewable energy, and having brick and mortar operations including recycling facilities that ensure waste generated is recycled within the same zone.

Ahmed Awadi, Vice President of Program Management & Business Performance at Strata, showcased some of the collaboration opportunities that are available in the UAE. Awadi made the point that in the past year, Strata has focused on building capabilities and credibility which allowed it to realign its strategy to focus on disruptive advanced manufacturing across a number of verticals including advanced materials, automation, and raw materials such as composite. Furthermore, there are several other verticals that are in focus in biopharma, medical equipment, automation, food security and water security, in line with the UAE’s industrial strategy.

Ibtisam Al Saadi, Industrial Development Department Director of Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, highlighted Abu Dhabi’s recent announcement of investing AED10 billion in the industrial sector (equivalent to US$2.7 billion) in the coming five years. Sectors in focus include chemical, pharma, transportation, electronic and machinery. Furthermore, some of the budgets will be focused on offering incentive programmes, including FDI programmes. Mohamed Al Shorafa, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development announced yesterday that Abu Dhabi has reduced rent and land prices to just US$1.3 per square metre.

Discussions on Day 1 of GMIS America covered a broad spectrum of topics including the circular economy, shift to sustainability, and the energy transition. Taking place in Pittsburgh, home of the fourth industrial revolution, automation, and robotics, the MoIAT panel also explored the possible opportunities for US businesses in the automation sector.

Several high-level conversations between MoIAT and US-based companies took place on the sidelines of the event. Omar Al Suwaidi and Diane Farrell, US Deputy Under-Secretary for International Trade at the Department of Commerce, discussed common industries and ways to grow bilateral trade and further strengthen the strategic relationship between the two countries. Emerson explored how the firm can expand manufacturing in the UAE and join the country’s Champions Network.

Triumph signed an MoU with Sanad to create a Centre of Excellency in Abu Dhabi for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of V2500 engines. Supplement manufacturer Thorne discussed with MoIAT how it can start manufacturing in the UAE. Elliot Group expressed a desire to identify a location for its equipment in the UAE to serve petrochemical and refining plants. MoIAT extended its support to OnePointOne to connect the company with stakeholders in the UAE’s biopharma sector. Kennametal was introduced to the UAE industrial sector and key players in aerospace as well as oil and gas.

The MoIAT hosted a networking luncheon on Day 2 of GMIS America, to bring government and business leaders from the USA and the UAE together to share their knowledge on how to deepen cross-border partnerships and accelerate industrial transformations through digitalisation and advanced technology adoption.

Commenting on the UAE’s participation at GMIS America, Namir Hourani, Managing Director of the GMIS Organising Committee, said, “We are delighted to host such a strong and committed delegation from the UAE at GMIS America. The UAE has so much to offer international businesses through the ‘Make It in The Emirates’ campaign, and the nation’s unique value proposition. I’m glad that they were able to highlight these opportunities at GMIS America.

“Enhancing global dialogue is a crucial part of our mission – it helps drive cross-border, cross-sector collaboration between like-minded industrial professionals and experts who are eager to come together to shape a more sustainable manufacturing sector powered by advanced technologies.”

ALSO READ-USAID urges China to assist Lanka’s debt restructuring

Tags emirates, USA

-Top News Arab News UAE News

OPEC+ to hold first in-person ministerial meeting since 2020

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 2 October 2022
No Comments on OPEC+ to hold first in-person ministerial meeting since 2020

It’s the first in-person meeting at the ministerial level for OPEC+ since March 2020 when Covid-19 restrictions moved the meeting online….reports Asian Lite News

The OPEC+ oil cartel will meet in Vienna at the ministerial level on October 5 to discuss future output strategy, according to a statement issued by the organisation.

It’s the first in-person meeting at the ministerial level for OPEC+ since March 2020 when Covid-19 restrictions moved the meeting online.

Investors are awaiting the decision at next week’s OPEC+ meeting, as oil prices have recently tumbled over fears of an economic slowdown and demand contraction. Both the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and the Brent crude have dropped from peaks of over $120 a barrel in June to about $80 a barrel.

OPEC+, which comprises the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, slashed oil production massively in 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic hammered demand. The group began to unwind the output cuts in July 2021 as the market improved.

At its last ministerial meeting held virtually in early September, OPEC+ announced a small production cut of 100,000 barrels per day for October, its first output cut in over a year, to bolster the sliding crude prices.

ALSO READ: OPEC Fund extends $11mn higher education loan to Chad

Tags opec+

EU News

Germany to give Ukraine air defence system

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 2 October 2022
No Comments on Germany to give Ukraine air defence system

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz delivers his first government statement at the Reichstag building in Berlin. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi/IANS)

Ukraine has been seeing more attacks from Iranian-made kamikaze drones in recent weeks, costing lives and causing serious damage to infrastructure…reportsA Asian Lite news

Germany will deliver the first of four advanced IRIS-T air defence systems to Ukraine in the coming days to help ward off drone attacks, its defence minister Christine Lambrecht said during an unannounced visit to Odessa on Saturday.

As air raid sirens sounded in the port city above, Lambrecht held talks with her Ukrainian counterpart Oleksii Reznikov in an underground bunker. Lambrecht had extended a visit to nearby Moldova for the meeting.

“In a few days, we will deliver the very modern IRIS-T air defence system,” she told ARD television. “It is very important for drone defence in particular.”

Ukraine has been seeing more attacks from Iranian-made kamikaze drones in recent weeks, costing lives and causing serious damage to infrastructure.

It first emerged in May that Berlin was considering sending the IRIS-T surface-to-air defence system, which costs 150 million euros ($147 million) apiece.

The German armed forces themselves do not currently own the system, reckoned among the world’s most advanced.

Earlier, meeting her Moldovan counterpart Anatolie Nosatii in Chisinau, she urged Western countries not to be deterred from arming Ukraine by threats that Russia could use nuclear weapons.

“We have to be very careful,” she said. “But we mustn’t let ourselves be paralysed.”

Germany is facing calls to step up its support for Ukraine, including by sending offensive weapons such as the modern tanks Kyiv says it needs to take the fight to Russian forces.

Berlin has so far resisted such calls, arguing that such moves would escalate the situation and pointing out that no other country has so far sent tanks more modern than old Soviet stock sent by former Warsaw Pact countries.

ALSO READ: Pakistan govt’s Twitter account taken down in India

Sport Sports

FIFA: Qatar starts local training camp

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 2 October 2022
No Comments on FIFA: Qatar starts local training camp

Football.

After months of training and playing friendly matches outside the country, FIFA World Cup 2022 host Team Qatar started its local camp in the country Saturday…reports Asian Lite News

Felix Sanchez’s men started training at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha’s Al Sadd Club as preparations for the grand event pick up steam 50 days ahead of the tournament.

Qatar News Agency reported that the training is open to the public on Sunday as part of improving interaction between fans and players ahead of the World Cup that kicks off on November 20.

The Qatari squad will leave on Wednesday for the Spanish city of Marbella where it will join a new camp which will be an extension of the camps that started in June in Spain and then Austria and ended late last month.

Qatar played three friendly matches in the Austrian capital Vienna in September during which coach Sanchez tried out new combination of players including younger members of the squad before choosing the final team that will compete in the World Cup and includes 26 players, to be submitted no later than November 13.

Qatar played Canada on September 23 at Villa Park in Vienna, losing 2-0 to the North American side. The match against Chile, also at Villa Park, ended in a 2-2 draw, giving some cause for hope to the Qatari side.

Towering Stars

Meanwhile, Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo has not been chosen to be on a poster to adorn a skyscraper in Doha ahead of the World Cup, local media reported.

One player from every team playing at the World Cup is being featured on a 75-foot billboard pasted over Doha’s towers in the West Bay area-the glitzy central business district of the Qatari capital, but Ronaldo’stowering stature in the game isn’t enough to earn him a place on the glass facades of the tall structures.

According to ESPN, Ronaldo will not be the selected figure, to be replaced by either his Manchester United colleague Bruno Fernandes or Liverpool’s Diogo Jota.

Portugal’s choice is surprising as Ronaldo became the all-time leading international goal scorer last year by breaking Ali Daei’s 109-goal record with a brace against Ireland. Ronaldo now has 117 international goals in 191 appearances.

After months of training and playing friendly matches outside the country, FIFA World Cup 2022 host Team Qatar started its local camp in the country Saturday.

Felix Sanchez’s men started training at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha’s Al Sadd Club as preparations for the grand event pick up steam 50 days ahead of the tournament.

Qatar News Agency reported that the training is open to the public on Sunday as part of improving interaction between fans and players ahead of the World Cup that kicks off on November 20.

The Qatari squad will leave on Wednesday for the Spanish city of Marbella where it will join a new camp which will be an extension of the camps that started in June in Spain and then Austria and ended late last month.

Qatar played three friendly matches in the Austrian capital Vienna in September during which coach Sanchez tried out new combination of players including younger members of the squad before choosing the final team that will compete in the World Cup and includes 26 players, to be submitted no later than November 13.

Qatar played Canada on September 23 at Villa Park in Vienna, losing 2-0 to the North American side. The match against Chile, also at Villa Park, ended in a 2-2 draw, giving some cause for hope to the Qatari side.

Towering Stars

Meanwhile, Portuguese soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo has not been chosen to be on a poster to adorn a skyscraper in Doha ahead of the World Cup, local media reported.

One player from every team playing at the World Cup is being featured on a 75-foot billboard pasted over Doha’s towers in the West Bay area-the glitzy central business district of the Qatari capital, but Ronaldo’stowering stature in the game isn’t enough to earn him a place on the glass facades of the tall structures.

According to ESPN, Ronaldo will not be the selected figure, to be replaced by either his Manchester United colleague Bruno Fernandes or Liverpool’s Diogo Jota.

Portugal’s choice is surprising as Ronaldo became the all-time leading international goal scorer last year by breaking Ali Daei’s 109-goal record with a brace against Ireland. Ronaldo now has 117 international goals in 191 appearances.

ALSO READ-Amlan and Jyothi emerge fastest man and woman at National Games

Tags Qatar

Sport Sports

Amlan and Jyothi emerge fastest man and woman at National Games

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 2 October 2022
No Comments on Amlan and Jyothi emerge fastest man and woman at National Games

Borgohain, the current National Record holder, had registered a timing of 10.28s in the semifinals and though he could not improve on that performance he was more than happy…reports Asian Lite News

Amlan Borgohain of Assam and Jyothi Yarraji of Odisha emerged as the fastest man and the fastest woman of the 36th National Games here on Saturday, winning their respective 100m races with ease.

Borgohain has a simple philosophy when it comes to running. Don’t think too much about conditions or anything. Just run fast.

The 23-year-old on Saturday did just that to stop the clock at 10.38 seconds at the IIT Gandhinagar athletics track to clinch the men’s 100m gold and win the mantle of the fastest man of Gujarat 2022.

A few minutes later, Andhra Pradesh’s Jyothi Yarraji stunned a star-studded field, including Dutee Chand and Hima Das, to win the Women’s 100m gold in a thrilling race.

The lanky hurdler, who clocked 11.51 seconds, to emerge as the Fastest Woman at the Games said that she was very relaxed ahead of the race and delighted with her victory.

Borgohain, the current National Record holder, had registered a timing of 10.28s in the semifinals and though he could not improve on that performance he was more than happy.

“You know, it’s like a stage show, sometimes you perform, sometimes you don’t,” he smiled.

Speaking with amazing clarity and a sense of honour, Borgohain said he doesn’t think of anything when he is running. “In those few seconds, there is no time to think. You simply focus on executing your game plan,” he explained, revealing that the only thing he concentrated on was his posture.

Borgohain said the hot conditions didn’t enter his mind even once. “I don’t think about it much. It is the same for everyone, isn’t it? In the All-India Railway competition, I ran at 2 PM in similar weather conditions and clocked 10.25 seconds. So, I am experienced in this kind of weather,” he smiled.

Incidentally, he had broken the National Record in Rae Bareli at that time and feels that his performance may inspire many youngsters to take up athletics in the North East.

“We have many footballers, weightlifters and boxers and now we are not so bad in athletics either,” he said.

Borgohain also took this opportunity to highlight the sacrifices his family had made to help him make a career in athletics and said he was happy he could deliver.

“You see this,” he said, pointing to his arm on which he had tattooed ‘maa’. “I was in Orissa and was thinking of my mother and simply went and got this inscribed on myself,” he revealed, confirming that he didn’t tell his mom before getting it done.

Asked how much faster he could go in the coming years, he refused to spell out his target and insisted that the sky was the limit for him.

“I don’t put limits on myself. I just work hard and wherever God takes me, I go. If it comes, it comes. Otherwise, it doesn’t matter,” he said philosophically.

Meanwhile, Jyothi said she did not come here thinking of winning or losing.

“I didn’t come here thinking of winning or losing. I just wanted to give a good timing and that helped me come up with my fastest race,” Jyothi said.

She was quick to thank and appreciate the role played by star sprinters Dutee Chand (Odisha) and Hima Das (Assam).

“They have always encouraged me and I thank them for their support. I am just happy that I won and don’t think on the lines that I beat them,” she explained, when asked if it was a special feeling to go past the stars.

Archana Suseendran (Tamil Nadu) and Diandra Valladares (Maharashtra) won the silver and bronze in the blue riband event of the day.

ALSO READ-1st T20: India beat South Africa by 8 wickets

Tags National Games

-Top News India News

Pakistan govt’s Twitter account taken down in India

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 2 October 2022
No Comments on Pakistan govt’s Twitter account taken down in India

The accounts include those of the Pakistani Embassy in UN, Turkey, Iran and Egypt…reports Asian Lite News

The Pakistan government’s Twitter account has been withheld in India due to a “legal demand”, the media reported on Saturday.

The account displayed a message that said: “@GovtofPakistan’s account has been withheld in India in response to a legal demand.”

In June, Pakistan media had reported that New Delhi blocked the flow of information to the country by banning the official Twitter accounts of several Embassies, journalists and some prominent personalities, under India’s Information Technology Act, 2000, Geo News reported.

Pakistan govt’s Twitter account withheld in India.(photo:twitter)

Twitter issued a statement on India banning accounts of Pakistani journalists.

“As explained in our Country Withheld Policy, it may be necessary to withhold access to certain content in response to a valid legal demand. The withholdings are limited to the specific jurisdiction/country where the content is determined to be illegal. The legal requests that we receive are detailed in the biannual Twitter Transparency Report, and requests to withhold content are published on Lumen,” the micro-blogging website said.

“Deeply concerning that India has blocked the flow of information to Indian Twitter by withholding access to the following official accounts,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said in tweet, while listing down the banned accounts.

The accounts include those of the Pakistani Embassy in UN, Turkey, Iran and Egypt.

“Diminishing space for plurality of voices & access to info in India is extremely alarming,” the tweet from MOFA’s official account read.

MOFA called out Twitter, saying that social media platforms should abide by the applicable international norms, Geo News reported.

It said that the government of Pakistan is urging the tech company to restore access to the restricted accounts immediately and ensure adherence to democratic freedoms of speech and expression.

ALSO READ: Pakistan seeks rollover of SAFE deposits from China

Tags PAKISTAN

-Top News Asia News

Pakistan seeks rollover of SAFE deposits from China

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 2 October 2022
No Comments on Pakistan seeks rollover of SAFE deposits from China

The development came after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Pakistan to seek debt relief from its close partner China in view of the countrywide cataclysmic floods…reports Asian Lite News

In a bid to materialise financing requirements under the IMF programme, Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has sought the support of the Chinese Ambassador Nong Rong for securing the rollover of State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) deposits of $2 billion due in March 2023, state media reported.

As per the IMF’s condition, Pakistan will have to secure a rollover of $2 billion in SAFE deposits for the current fiscal year, Geo News reported.

The development came after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Pakistan to seek debt relief from its close partner China in view of the countrywide cataclysmic floods.

Blinken made the remarks after talks in Washington with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on September 16.

According to an official statement issued by the Pakistan Finance Ministry, Chinese Ambassador called on Pakistan’s Finance Minister at the Finance Division, The News reported.

Ishaq Dar apprised the Ambassador of the damages caused by the unprecedented floods in Pakistan affecting the infrastructure, agriculture, lives and properties and cost to the economy at large.

He also appreciated the support extended by the Chinese leadership in the refinancing of the syndicate facility of RMB 15 billion ($2.24 billion) to Pakistan and further sought the support of the Ambassador in facilitating the rollover of SAFE China deposits of $2 billion in March 2023, The News reported.

In line with the dominant trend over the last several weeks, the country’s foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) once again declined by 4.07 per cent.

On September 23, the foreign currency reserves held by the SBP were recorded at $8,005.9 million, down $341 million compared with $8,346.4 on September 16, data released by SBP showed on Thursday.

Arrest warrant against Imran over threatening judge

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 2 October 2022
No Comments on Arrest warrant against Imran over threatening judge

The former Prime Minister is facing contempt charges for his controversial remarks against Zeba Chaudhry…reports Asian Lite News

A magistrate of Islamabad’s Margalla police station has issued an arrest warrant against PTI chief Imran Khan, media reports said on Saturday.

The area magistrate issued the arrest warrant in the case registered on August 20 against Khan for his remarks on Additional District and Sessions Judge Zeba Chaudhry, Geo News reported.

The FIR includes four sections of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), including 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 189 (threat of injury to public servant), and 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant).

The former Prime Minister is facing contempt charges for his controversial remarks against Zeba Chaudhry, Geo News reported. The court has issued the warrant for Khan’s non-appearance in court.

Following the issuance of the warrant, PTI leader Asad Umar warned the government not to arrest Khan, saying that it will “regret” the decision.

Meanwhile, former Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said the issuance of a warrant in such a “weak” case was pointless.

“A circus has been created in the media by issuing warrants over pointless legal clauses and a foolish case which was not needed,” he wrote on Twitter, Geo News reported.

Refuting all claims that Khan has left his residence for an unidentified location, Senator Shibli Faraz shared a picture of the PTI chief feeding his dogs at his residence.

London Honours Asian Achievers

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 1 October 2022
No Comments on London Honours Asian Achievers

Special Award For Business Leadership- Puneet-Gupta

Prominent British Asian achievers were honoured and winners announced at a glittering ceremony at Grosvenor in London. South Asians in the UK today occupy leadership positions across a range of fields, including politics, business and civil society. The Awards recognise the outstanding work of such individuals from across the South Asian community

Asian Achievers Awards, Britain’s most prominent and longstanding celebration of British Asian achievement across multiple fields, paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II at the annual ceremony at Grosvenor House at Central London. Dame Arlene Foster DBE PC, Former First Minister of Northern Ireland, led the tribute with a one-minute silence to inaugurate the ceremony.

The evening was hosted by actor, Nitin Ganatra OBE, and entrepreneur, philanthropist and documentary filmmaker, Deana Uppal, and welcomed a guest list of celebrities, public figures, VIP’s and dignitaries including Love Islandcontestant, Priya Gopaldas; TOWIE stars, Dani Imbert and Junaid Ahmed; comedian, Tez Ilyas (Man Like Mobeen); actors, Raj Ghatak, Nisha Aaliya and Yanick Ghanty; music artists, Bambi Bains, Rumer and H Dhami; Premier League presenter, Manish Bhasin; former Miss England, Hammasa Kohistani; Rajesh Agrawal, Deputy Mayor for Business London; Dr Kartar Lalvani OBE, Founder and Chairman, Vitabiotics; Subaskaran Allirajah, Founder and Chairman, Lyca; Head Teacher, Katherine Birbalsingh; businesswoman, Sheetal Mafatlal; and lead researcher for the COVID vaccine, Maheshi Ramasamy, Oxford Vaccine Group.

Asian Achievers Awards 2022

South Asians in the UK today occupy leadership positions across a range of fields, including politics, business and civil society. The Awards recognise the outstanding work of such individuals from across the South Asian community. Now in their 20th year, Asian Achievers Awards are recognised as the most prestigious and longstanding celebration of the leading figures of the UK’s South Asian community and their achievements, initiated by public nominations. Established in 2000, the Awards returned this year following the pandemic, presented by global advisory firm, EPG,and supported by media partners, Asian Voice and Gujarat Samchar, Zee TV, Sunrise Radio and Luxury magazine.

Across ten categories including Art & Culture; Business Person of the Year; Entrepreneur of the Year; and Community Service, Asian Achievers Awards received more than 500 nominations, from which the judges shortlisted four per category, evenly divided between male and female candidates.

This year’s judging panel was reflective of the diversity and experience of the nominations received. It included Former Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Bas Javid; Former President of the Royal College of General Practitioners, Dr Mayur Lakhani CBE; COO of Monzo Bank, Sujata Bhatia; music producer, Bally Sagoo; Welsh Assembly Member, Natasha Asghar; and Artistic Director of Darbar Festival, Sandeep Virdee OBE.

One minute silence for Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II

Asian Achievers Awards 2022 Winners:

Art and Culture:

Namit Malhotra – Chairman and CEO of industry-leading, visual effects and animation company, DNEG, and Founder and Non-Executive Director of DNEG’s parent company, Prime Focus Limited. As a film producer, Namit’s credits include Bollywood epics Brahmastra and the upcoming Ramayana; and the animated feature film Garfield, which will be distributed by Sony Pictures.

Art-Culture-Ami-Malhotra-collecting-on-behalf-of-Namit-Malhotra-with-H-Dhami-Deana-Uppal-and-Raj-Ghatak

Business Person of the Year:

Shamil and Kavi Thakrar – Founders of Dishoom, one of the UK’s most successful, Indian restaurant companies. The company was ranked fourth in the 100 Best UK Companies To Work For list in 2021 and first in Hospitality and Leisure. In addition to growing Dishoom from one, London branch to a nationwide chain and a globally-recognised brand, they have published the cookery book, From Bombay with Love.

Business-Person-of-the-Year-Shamil-and-Kavi-Thakrar-award-collected-by-Arun-Kumar-and-Nina-Panayiodou-presented-by-Rajesh-Agrawal-Deputy-Mayor-for-Business-London

Community Service:

Dr Zareen Roohi Ahmed – Founder and CEO of Gift Wellness and Chair of The Halimah Trust, a charity established to fulfil the dreams of her daughter who was tragically murdered in 2007. Zareen is also a coach with Dent Global, where she has the privilege of helping other entrepreneurs realise their business dreams.

Community-Service-Dr-Zareen-Roohi-Ahmed

Entrepreneur of the Year:

Sherry Vaswani – Founder and CEO of Xalient, a global provider of IT services to large enterprises, specialising in cloud networking and cybersecurity. Xalient is Sherry’s second business venture, with its rapid growth recognised in the 2022 Sunday Times One Hundred and FT Europe 1000. Sherry has been a finalist in EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year and the FT’s 30 Women to Watch and is a strong advocate for improving gender balance in the tech industry.

Lifetime Achievement Award:

Dr Kartar Lalvani OBE – Founder and Chairman of Vitabiotics, the first and now most successfully specialised vitamin supplement firm in the UK, with presence in over 100 countries. He is also the Founder of Meyer Organics, one of the largest nutraceutical companies in India, with a presence in over 30 countries.

Lifetime-Achievement-Award-Dr-Kartar-Lalwani-OBE

Media:

Naga Munchetty – Known nationwide as one of the presenters on BBC Breakfast and hosting a prominent radio show on BBC 5 Live. In addition, Naga presents Claimed and Shamed for BBC1. She is passionate about golf and plays off a handicap of 8. In 2013, she was crowned the winner of Celebrity Mastermind on the subject of The Ryder Cup.

Media- – BBC’s Naga-Munchetty-video-message

Professional of the Year:

Professor Sir Shankar Balasubramanian (University of Cambridge) – Shankar created Next Generation DNA Sequencing, a technology that enables fast, accurate, low-cost and large-scale genome sequencing. The technique has transformed biology and medicine by allowing researchers to read human genomes a million times faster and at a fraction of the cost of early approaches. He was knighted in 2017 for Services to Science and Medicine and is a Fellow of the Royal Society.

Special Award for Business Leadership:

Puneet Gupta – Co-Owner and joint CEO of PG Paper, an award-winning company based in Scotland, UK and one of Scotland’s largest and most successful exporters, with a presence in 55 countries. A solution-driven paper company, PG Paper works with mills and their prime, side-run and stock capacity, supplying end-users in local markets from order to delivery. The company’s achievements have previously been recognised with awards from various chambers of commerce, Ernst & Young, The Herald Family Awards, Scottish Export Awards, Scottish BQ Awards, Scottish Asian Business Awards, BDO British Indian Awards and the Scottish SME Business Awards.

Special Award For Business Leadership- Puneet-Gupta

Special Award for Innovation and Entrepreneurship:

Bankim Chandra – Bankim left his job as a programmer for TCS in 1996 in India and came to the UK to work for RBS as a programmer for their CRM Systems. He soon moved to Bradford to do programming for Abbey National’s Car and Home Insurance Products and the next year came to Brighton with one suitcase to take on the challenge of fixing the Y2K bug at American Express. Today, he is the Founder and CEO of Dotsquares, with offices in France, Australia, the US and the UK as well as three development centres in India. They have over 800 staff members in a business that provides creative digital design and development services.

Special-Award-for-Innovation-and-Entrepreneurship-Bankim-Chandra-with-Manish-Bhasin-Pratik-Dattani-Deana-Uppal

Sports Personality of the Year:

Karenjeet Kaur Bains – The first female Sikh powerlifter to represent Team GB. She became the 2019 Commonwealth Champion, winning three gold medals and two silver medals in Newfoundland, Canada. She also became the first British Sikh female to represent Britain in the World and European Championships, placing in the top 10.

Sports-Personality-of-the-Year-Karenjeet-Kaur-Bains

Uniformed and Civil Service:

Captain Harpreet Chandi – Army officer and physiotherapist also known as ‘Polar Preet’, she has created history by becoming the first woman of colour to complete a solo, unsupported trek to the South Pole. She has also completed a 156-mile ultramarathon across the Sahara Desert in 2019.

Uniformed-and-Civil-Service-Captain-Harpreet-Chandi

Woman of the Year:

Rt Hon Suella Braverman KC MP – UK Home Secretary and former Attorney General. Suella was first elected to Parliament in 2015 for Fareham, Hampshire and re-elected in 2017 and 2019. She served on the Education Select Committee for two years and was made Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Exiting the European Union in 2018 prior to rising in ranks to the position of UK Attorney General and current Home Secretary.

While Suella was unable to attend on the night and her parents, Uma and Christie Fernandes, collected the award on her behalf, in a video message of acknowledgement she said, “A huge thank you to the Asian Achievers Awards for awarding me the prize of Woman of the Year. I first of all want to pay tribute to the phenomenal and inspirational women who joined me in this category for the shortlist. They are all role models to thousands of girls in our own country and also around the world.

My mum and dad came to this country from Kenya and Mauritius in the 1960s. They’ve been proud members of our Asian community and I was born in Wembley, the heart of the Asian community, and to be elected to serve in the UK Parliament and now to serve our phenomenal and amazing and welcoming country as Home Secretary is the honour of my life. I hope to do you proud.”

Woman-of-the-Year-Rt-Hon-Suella-Braverman-video-message

Outstanding Achievement in Healthcare:

Prema Subaskaran – Entrepreneur and philanthropist, who founded LycaHealth in 2015, overseeing the operational and strategic development of the business. This includes leading on the opening of its Canary Wharf clinic in 2015 and Westminster Healthcare in Chennai in 2016, which was endorsed by Prime Minister Theresa May. LycaHealth acquired KIMS Hospital in Kent last year, which is one of the largest and most successful private hospitals in South East England. She plans to acquire additional hospitals in other UK cities. Prema also spearheads Lyca Group’s CSR initiatives.

Outstanding-Achievement-in-Healthcare-Prema-Subaskaran

Dame Arlene Foster DBE PC

Speaking on the night, Dame Arlene Isabel Foster DBE PC, Former First Minister of Northern Ireland said, “I was really honoured and privileged to be asked to lead a minute’s silence to reflect on the service and duty of Her Majesty The Queen, who of course visited India on three occasions; 1961 was her first visit, where she spoke to a huge crowd when she arrived in New Delhi. But it was just a time of reflection and remembrance at the start of what is a wonderful evening of celebration and I’m really pleased to say it was looked at in a very positive way, so really pleased to be here and to be a part of this wonderful award ceremony.”

Pratik Dattani, Managing Director, EPG; Director, Asian Achievers Awards

Pratik Dattani, Managing Director, EPG said, “Tonight we celebrated truly the best in the South Asian community in Britain today and I see the next 20 years bringing even more success for our diaspora. The AAA will continue to be the platform to identify, recognise and support the innovators, visionaries and community giants that will build Britain and make the world a better place.”

L George, Director, EPG Events; former CEO, Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar said, “The Asian Achievers Awards night is always special because it serves as a platform for the community to come together. And, of course, it’s a great place to network with a room full of the most successful people from the British Asian community. But, more importantly, it’s amazing to know and to celebrate how successful the community has been today in every field.”

The awards ceremony was interspersed with live performances on the night including Brit Award-nominee, Rumer; cellist and pianist, Alison Gabrielle; and star of TV’s Man Like Mobeen, stand-up comedian Tez Ilyas; with Lord Jeffrey Archer conducting the charity auction in support of the chosen Charity Partner, Pardada Pardadi.

Special Award For Business Leadership- Puneet-Gupta

One minute silence for Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II

Tags AAA 2022, Asian Achievers Awards 2022

-Top News India News Politics

Tharoor wants to bring ‘change’ in the Grand Old Party

Post author By Newsdesk
Post date 1 October 2022
No Comments on Tharoor wants to bring ‘change’ in the Grand Old Party

“If you’re satisfied with the party’s working, vote for Kharge sahab. If you want a change, I’m there,” says Shashi Tharoor

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday drew an analogy between the Gandhi family and the DNA of the party and said that no party chief can distance himself from the Gandhi family, asserting that he is contesting the party’s presidential elections to bring a ” change” in the grand old party.

He called the family an asset to the party and said that no matter who becomes the Congress president after the party’s internal polls on October 17, he cannot be “such a fool” to tell “goodbye” to the Gandhi family.

Speaking to ANI before embarking on his visit to various parts of the country to campaign for the party polls, Tharoor said, “Gandhi family and Congress’ DNA is the same…No (party) president is such a fool to tell “Goodbye” to Gandhi family. They are a huge asset to us”.

Reiterating that he represents a “change” in the party twice within 24 hours of filing his nomination at the AICC office in the national capital on Friday, the Congress leader said that if the party leaders and workers are “satisfied” with the “working of the party”, they should vote for Mallikarjun Kharge, who is his opponent in the race to the top post in the party.

Tharoor stressed that the contest between him and Kharge is “not a battle” and it should be left upon the Congress workers to choose between the duo.

“This isn’t a battle…Let party workers choose, that’s our message. I’m saying that if you’re satisfied with the party’s working, vote for Kharge sahab. If you want a change, I’m there. But there’s no ideological problem. There will not be any change in the message of the Congress party,” he said.

Noting that all the decisions are being taken by the Central leadership in the party, Tharoor emphasised on giving rights to the lower levels of the organisation to take decisions.

“All the decisions are being taken in New Delhi these days/ It would be good for the party if the rights to take decisions are given to the grassroots at the levels of the blocks, Zilla and states,” he said.

Notably, in the manifesto released by Tharoor soon after filing his nomination, he mentioned the need for “decentralization” in the party.

Talking about his decision to run for the party’s top post, he said that he intended to contest when the election was announced, which was backed by the party workers.

“The internal democracy that we are showing is not present in any other party. When the election was announced, I had the intention (to contest). I wrote an article, stating that the election is good for party&mentioned its reasons,” he said.

“After that several people, ordinary workers told me to contest the poll. I started thinking and talking to people…I just want the party to strengthen and that I become a voice of the changes within the party and show its different face to people,” Tharoor added.

Tharoor and Kharge are up against each other in the race for the post of Congress president.

Digvijaya Singh pulled out from the race yesterday and extended his support to Kharge, who he said is a senior and respected leader of the party, and against whom he “cannot think of contesting”.

Singh is the second Congress leader to pull out of the race after Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot announced he would not contest the elections following the political turmoil in his state.

With the Gandhis not running for the top post, the grand old party is all set to get a non-Gandhi president after over 25 years.

The results of the party polls will be declared on October 19. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Rajasthan casts dark shadow as Kharge looks set to be Congress chief

Tags Congress Presidential Elections, India, Mallikarjun Kharge, Shashi Tharoor

ALSO READ: OPEC Fund extends $11mn higher education loan to Chad

ALSO READ: Pakistan govt’s Twitter account taken down in India

ALSO READ: Pakistan seeks rollover of SAFE deposits from China

ALSO READ: Imran’s another futile bid to subdue PoJK