GETEX, the leading education fair in the region, is held from 26th to 28th April 2023 and attracts over 25,000 local and expatriate students annually.
The Study in India Pavilion has been officially launched by the Consulate General of India in Dubai at the Global Education & Training Exhibition (GETEX) held at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
The Consul General of India to Dubai, Dr Aman Puri, inaugurated the India Pavilion.
The India Pavilion, organized by the Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC) with the support of the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, under the Market Access Initiative (MAI) Scheme, features over 30 universities and Edtech stakeholders from Indian higher education, showcasing their academic programs and research capabilities.
Major exhibitors in the pavilion include Tata Institute of Social Sciences, SRM University, Birla Institute of Technology, and many others.
According to CGI Dr Puri, the Study in India Pavilion is a reflection of India’s commitment to becoming a global education hub and attracting international students to pursue higher education opportunities in the country, which includes technologies like data science and cybersecurity.
GETEX, the leading education fair in the region, is held from 26th to 28th April 2023 and attracts over 25,000 local and expatriate students annually.
The Consulate General of India in Dubai supports initiatives that strengthen bilateral ties between India and the UAE and enhance educational opportunities available to students in both countries, and congratulates the organizers of the Study in India Pavilion at GETEX 2023 on their success in promoting India as a destination for international students.
The demise of the legendary Indian singer has shocked the royal family, the Dubai administration, and lakhs of her fans in UAE. The UAE royal family has sent their condolence message to her family…reports Asian Lite Newsdesk
There will be no cultural activities organised for the next two days in the Indian Pavilion in Dubai Expo in the UAE, and the tricolour will fly at half-mast as a mark of respect to Indian music icon Lata Mangeshkar, who passed away early on Sunday.
‘As a mark of respect for legendary singer #LataMangeshkar, all cultural activities at the Indian pavilion#Expo2020Dubai, for the next two days, have been cancelled,” said UAE official Hassan Sajwani.
The week-long Kerala week festival just started two days back, after it was inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan officially in the presence of UAE’s Minister of Culture, Youth, and Social Development, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan.
The demise of the legendary Indian singer has shocked the royal family, the Dubai administration, and lakhs of her fans in UAE. The UAE royal family has sent their condolence message to her family.
At the Indian Pavilion at the Dubai Expo, the Indian team members and the visitors observed a two minutes silence to pay homage to her.
‘The flag flies half-mast at the #IndiaPavilion at @expo2020dubai as a mark of respect to Lata Mangeshkar ji. The India team and visitors observe a two-minute silence to pay homage to the legendary singer & the Nightingale of India on her demise.#IndiaPavilion deeply mourns the demise of Lata Mangeshkar ji. We join the nation in offering homage to India’s nightingale. Rest in peace,’ tweeted the Indian pavilion team.
The India Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai is one of the biggest platforms to showcase India to the world and project the country as the next hub for growth and innovation. Nestled at the Al Forsan Park adjacent to the ‘Opportunity’ district of the Expo 2020 Dubai, India Pavilion is created on the theme of “Openness. Opportunity. Growth.”
India’s Melody Queen, who also composed music for Marathi films and was a producer as well, and had the distinction of being conferred with the highest civilian honours of India and France, passed away on Sunday morning at the Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai, where she had been admitted because of Covid-related complications on January 11.
UN chief offers condolences
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condoled the demise of melody queen Lata Mangeshkar, calling the ‘Nightingale of India’ as the voice of the subcontinent, according to his spokesperson Farhan Haq.
Haq said on Sunday: “That’s sad news! The SG (Secretary-General) offers condolences to her family and the people and the government of India at this time. She was the voice of an entire subcontinent.”
India’s Permanent Representative T.S. Tirumurti called her death an “irreplaceable loss”.
“An irreplaceable loss to the nation. An irreplaceable loss to the world of music. Bharat Ratna #LataMangeshkar will live in our hearts forever,” he said in a tweet.
He also retweeted a condolence message from Maldives President Ibrahim Mohammed Solih, who said that Mangeshkar’s music crossed cultural frontiers.
Solih tweeted: “Saddened to hear of #LataMangeshkar’s passing. Her music crossed cultural and linguistic boundaries and continues to bring joy to millions around the world. India has lost a national treasure and I offer my condolences to her loved ones and the people of India.”
The India government has decided to observe two-day national mourning on the sad demise of Lata Mangeshkar, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced on Sunday.
Union government has also decided that as a mark of respect, two days of state mourning will be observed from Sunday (February 6) and and Monday (February 7). “During State Mourning, the National Flag will be flown at half-mast both days throughout India and there will be no official entertainment.
Lata Mangeshkar, India’s most loved singer who had once moved Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to tears, leaves behind a teary-eyed nation of admirers who grew up listening to her immutable voice give wings to the words of poets and the screen careers of legions of heroines.
President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and all political leaders have expressed their condolences over the demise of Lata Mangeshkar.
The Kerala Chief Minister expressed his pride in the strong relationship the people of the state have with the UAE, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, on Wednesday met with Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala, at Expo 2020 Dubai.
The meeting was attended by Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.
Welcoming the Kerala Chief Minister, Sheikh Mohammed praised the contributions of the Indian expatriate community to the UAE’s development and highlighted the growing investments the two countries are making in each other’s economies, especially in renewable energy, logistics services, air transport and food security.
കേരള മുഖ്യമന്ത്രിയായ പിണറായി വിജയന് എക്സ്പോ 2020-ലെ ‘കേരള വീക്കി’ൽ സ്വീകരണം നൽകിയപ്പോൾ. കേരളവുമായി യുഎഇക്ക് സവിശേഷ ബന്ധമാണുള്ളത്, ദുബായുടെയും യുഎഇയുടെയും സാമ്പത്തികവും വികസനപരവുമായ അഭിവൃദ്ധിയിൽ കേരളീയർ പ്രധാന പങ്ക് വഹിക്കുന്നുണ്ട്. pic.twitter.com/wIeJA5DpEy
Sheikh Mohammed affirmed the UAE’s keenness to expand economic and investment cooperation with India and further strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries. India is the UAE’s second largest trading partner in the world while the UAE is India’s third largest trading partner and the largest in the Arab world.
Sheikh Mohammed further said that the UAE’s ability to provide a conducive environment for foreign investment, a supportive legislative framework that protects these investments and a productive base for international companies to establish their headquarters creates a wide range of opportunities for enhancing the partnership between the two countries.
Noting that India’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai has enriched the event, Sheikh Mohammed said the organisation of ‘Kerala Week’ within the Indian Pavilion will showcase the state’s economic and investment potential. The country’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai gives an opportunity for the two countries to explore new partnerships that can help build on the strong historical ties between India and the UAE.
The Kerala Chief Minister expressed his pride in the strong relationship the people of the state have with the UAE.
He conveyed his deep appreciation to the UAE government for ensuring the welfare of the Indian expatriate community. Expatriates from Kerala account for a large percentage of the Indian community in the UAE.
Pinarayi Vijayan noted that the two countries have significantly enhanced their ties in recent years as evidenced by the growing bilateral trade. He expressed the hope that the two sides will continue to advance their cooperation in various sectors and wished the UAE leadership and people continued progress and prosperity in the years to come.
The meeting was attended by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority Chairman of Dubai Airports and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group; Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; and a number of ministers and officials from both sides.
Pinarayi meets Hamdan at UAE Pavilion
On the same day, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also met Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, at the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.
The meeting explored ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries and identify opportunities for future partnerships.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed said the UAE is proud of its historical relations with India, especially with the state of Kerala. He noted that the UAE and India have a shared desire to constantly seek new ways to strengthen their bilateral ties and work together to enhance sustainable development in both countries.
Abu Dhabi chamber, CM discuss trade
Abdulla Mohammed Al Mazrui, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, discussed with Kerala Chief Minister, the prospects of cooperation in diverse economic sectors and the best means of cementing trade and investment relations between Abu Dhabi and Kerala in a way that reflects their respective capabilities.
Held at the Chamber’s tower in Abu Dhabi, the meeting witnessed the attendance of Sunjay Sudhir, Ambassador of India to UAE, and Yousef Ali, 2nd Deputy Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Chamber, along with Mohamed Helal Al Mheiri, Director General of the Chamber.
During the meeting, Al Mazrui applauded the strong Emirati-Indian relations, and the fast-paced cooperation in all economic sectors, which would create more opportunities for growth and prosperity, attract more investments, and increase bilateral trade between the two sides.
Al Mazrui added that the Abu Dhabi Chamber is completely ready to increase its cooperation relations with Kerala to better serve the private sector in the two states, pointing to the need to seize all cooperation opportunities and expand the partnerships in the agriculture sector, the industry, tourism and food security.
Hon. Vijayan expressed his appreciation for the welcome he received at the Chamber, noting that Kelara and Abu Dhabi share strong relations on all levels especially in the economic, trade and investment fields.
The Chief Minister added that his visit comes to cement the cooperation and investment relations between Indian businesses with their Emirati counterparts, considering the attractive business environment of the UAE in general and Abu Dhabi in particular, which makes it an attractive destination for Indian investments and capitals.
Yousef Ali, 2nd Deputy Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Chamber, gave a brief explanation about the Chamber’s services, noting that the Chamber works constantly with other economic establishments in the emirate to support businesses and to turn the private sector into an active and impactful factor in the national economy.
Ambassador Sudhir, for his part, praised the strong relations between the UAE and India on all levels, noting that the free trade agreement between the two countries is at its final stages and that it would contribute to boosting trade and investment trade between them.
By the end of the meeting, Vijayan called on to the Abu Dhabi Chamber to form an economic delegation and visit Keala to take a closer look at the available investment opportunities in diverse sectors, especially in agriculture, industry and tourism.
The Kerala Chief Minister, who is already in UAE since Saturday, had met with Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, the UAE Minister of Economy on Monday, reports Asian Lite News
The India Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai is all set to host Kerala Week from February 4-10. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the special week, aimed at boosting business and investment opportunities in the state, on Friday.
The chief minister, who is already in UAE since Saturday, had met with Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, the UAE Minister of Economy on Monday.
“Had a fruitful interaction with Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy,” Vijayan tweeted soon after the meeting. “Discussed the welfare of NRKs and the prospects of fresh investments in Kerala’s industrial sector.”
Had a fruitful interaction with Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy. Discussed the welfare of NRKs and the prospects of fresh investments in Kerala's industrial sector. Thank you for the warm welcome and the wholehearted support offered for Kerala's progress. pic.twitter.com/TeFEiNlPgH
He also thanked the UAE authorities and the Indian mission in Abu Dhabi for “the warm welcome and the wholehearted support offered for Kerala’s progress.”
Vijayan was accompanied by India’s Ambassador to UAE, Sunjay Sudhir and chairman of Lulu Group International, M A Yusuffali.
The chief minister is scheduled to meet with Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, on February 3, the Khaleej Times reported citing Indian mission in Abu Dhabi.
The Indian mission also confirmed that, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, will also be present at the inaugural ceremony of the Kerala Week.
The chief minister will be accompanied by P Rajeev, Kerala’s Minister for Law and Industries, Sunjay Sudhir, UAE Ambassador to India, Dr Aman Puri, Consul General of India to Dubai, and APM Mohammed Hanish, principal secretary (industries), along with other senior officials.
Kerala Week will showcase various projects, investment avenues, tourism, IT, start-ups, and up-skilling opportunities. The week will present the rich cultural heritage of the state as well. A special reception to host the Chief Minister, organised by Norka Roots, will be held on February 5 at the Al Nasr Leisure Land.
The upcoming weeks at the India Pavilion will witness participation from states such as West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu among others and sectors such as Steel, Healthcare, Information & Broadcasting, Agriculture, Electronics and Information Technology, Energy Conservation, Environment & Sustainability, Tribal Affairs to name a few.
States such as Gujarat, Karnataka, Telangana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and UT of Ladakh among others have successfully showcased their business ecosystem along with rich cultural heritage and sourced investment opportunities from leading global investors. Additionally, sectors such as New and Renewable Energy, Space, Urban and Rural Development, Oil & Gas, Textile, Knowledge and Learning have held respective weeks to highlight the growth and investment opportunities in these areas.
Consul General of India in Dubai Dr Aman Puri has received the chief minister, who landed in Dubai on Saturday morning, reports Asian Lite News
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who was scheduled to return from the US after his treatment on Saturday, will now spend few days in Dubai before heading home.
Consul General of India in Dubai Dr Aman Puri has received the chief minister, who landed in Dubai on Saturday morning. The CM is expected to visit various Emirates during his 8-day stopover in the United Arab Emirates.
Consul General of India in Dubai Dr Aman Puri received Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at Dubai airport.
(Photo via Twitter@HaridasKishore)
He is scheduled visit India Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai and inaugurate the Kerala Week on February 4. The chief minister is also understood to have lined up meetings with the top echelons of power in the UAE.
There was no mention of his change of plan even when he presided over the on-line cabinet meeting a few days back.
Sixteen start-ups pitched innovative ideas to global investors as part of the India Innovation Hub, reports Asian Lite News
Sixteen start-ups showcased their entrepreneurial spirit and pitched innovative ideas and scalable business solutions to investors from the UAE and the world over at the seventh edition of the ‘Elevate’ pitching series held recently.
Among the sixteen participants, six start-ups were from India, while nine were based out of the UAE and one was from the Netherlands. The Founders and Co-Founders of these start-ups presented their scalable business ideas to the investors highlighting solutions across sectors such as Technology, Health-tech, Agri-tech & Food Processing, Vocational Skills, Sustainable Energy Storage, Fintech and Edutech, among others.
‘Elevate’ series is a key initiative of the India Pavilion at EXPO2020 Dubai that aims to display unconventional solutions created by 500 Indian start-ups over five months under the India Innovation Hub umbrella and is supported by HSBC.
Dr. Aman Puri met Dr. Juma Al Matrooshi, DG, DSO and Mr Ghanim Al Falasi, Senior VP, Technology & Entrepreneurship,
Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Campus
and discussed the opportunities for the collaboration of India Innovation Hub with DSO & Dtec.
The event saw representation from various investors, financial institutions, family offices and HNWIs. The event was crucial to the start-ups as it gave a global stage to the founders to pitch their ideas before global investors. Some of the start-ups, which presented their business ideas include, Kamaxi Skills, which provides high-quality culinary training and soft skills to students with an aim to make India the culinary skill capital of the world; Panacea, a deep learning and hard-coded hybrid software designed to optimise the virtual learning experience for people of determination; Offgrid Energy Labs, a deep technology IP led company that has innovated in design, materials of batteries; PJP Tailorsmart Services Private Limited, an E-commerce platform for young and budding designers and Miracle Boocha, a wellness brand that aims at educating and promoting the health benefits of Kombucha, an ancient fermented beverage from the East among many others.
As part of the session, start-ups also learnt about the latest sectoral trends and participated in specially designed sessions with leading corporates along with fireside conversations with newage entrepreneurs, innovators, and investors.
Dr Aman Puri, Consul General of India in Dubai and Deputy Commissioner General of India at EXPO2020 said, “We are proud that startups from India as well as several other parts of the world, including the UAE and Netherlands have participated in this Elevate session. These sessions are becoming a viable platform for innovators and start-ups from various countries and can be a huge opportunity for investors from the UAE and across the globe.”
“We are glad that our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has declared January 16 as ‘National Start-up Day’. There is a huge emphasis on start-ups in India and we have several start-ups that we are hoping will turn into unicorns this year,” added Dr Puri.
The Indian start-up ecosystem today has over 60,000 DPIIT-registered start-ups from 628 districts across all 28 States and 8 Union Territories. India ranks in the top 50 countries in the Global Innovation Index (GII) and is the 5th most start-up friendly country in the world (leading in Asia). Embodying the true spirit of a self-reliant India, and despite the extreme challenges posed by the global pandemic, 42 new unicorns came into existence in India, taking the total number of unicorns to 82. Today, India is the country which in 2021 is amongst the top three creators of unicorns in the world.
The event was attended by eminent dignitaries including Shri K. Kalimuthu, Consul (Eco & Com), Consulate General of India, Dubai; Mr Antony Jos, Executive Director, Joyalukkas Exchange; Mr Pramendra Garg, CEO, Yas Holding; Mr Kamal Vachani, Group Director, Al Maya Group; Mr Kuber Rai, Managing Partner, Corniche Capital; Mr Venkatesh Mahadevan, Chief Information Officer, Dubai Investments; Mr Sanjay Siroya, Director, Belgium Diamond Jewellery; Mr Chandra Sen Hada, Head Investment Operations, Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) & Mr Varun Sharma, Investment Associate, Wamda Capital among others. The next Elevate session will happen on 27th January 2022.
Dubai is defying the pandemic scare unleashed by Omicron. The visitors numbers are reaching a million and more prominent visitors are attending events at Expo.
“The UAE has defied the global pandemic with Expo 2020 Dubai, gathering 192 countries while applying strict precautionary measures to ensure the health and safety of everyone involved,” said Francisco Andre, Portugal’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.
He was attending an event to celebrate Portugal’s National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai in the presence of Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Director-General for the Expo 2020 Dubai.
Portugal celebrated with a packed itinerary of cultural shows, attended by Andre, Luís Castro, Portugal’s Commissioner-General to Expo 2020 Dubai, and several Emirati and Portuguese officials.
The celebration featured Portuguese folk music performances, which the attendees appreciated.
During the event, Andre commended the vision of the UAE’s leadership, stating, “The UAE and Portugal share deep-rooted diplomatic ties and relations, and we aim to boost our economic and investment relations in the near future.”
“Expo 2020 Dubai is an outstanding opportunity for entrepreneurs and investors to share cultures, opinions and opportunities with a large audience. The Portuguese pavilion invites visitors to an unlimited journey to explore Portugal,” he added.
“The major international event is taking place during a critical time. We aim to promote Portugal as a modern and sustainable economy that links cultures and maintains excellent relations with the entire world. We are enthusiastically establishing new partnerships with the UAE in all areas,” he further added.
India Pavilion
India Pavilion is one of the most popular venues at the event. The Pavilion was inaugurated by Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce & Industry, on October 1, 2021, and has so far clocked over 7 lakh visitors as of first week of January. The India Pavilion had crossed 6 lakh footfalls on December 22, 2021. The India Pavilion is currently hosting the Goa Week. Mr. J Ashok Kumar, Secretary, Industries & Tourism, Government of Goa inaugurated the event in the presence of Consul General of India Dr Aman Puri besides Mr. Sanjay Kumar, Secretary – Revenue, IT, Labour & Employment and Ms. Swetika Sachan, CEO, Goa-IPB, Mr. Gavin Dias, General Manager, Goa Tourism Board.
Gala performance by Gems Modern Academy Choir Strings UAE at the inaugural ceremony of the India Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai
In December, the India Pavilion saw high-profile visits including Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Chemicals and Fertilizers, Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology and Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, B.S. Yediyurappa, Former Chief Minister of Karnataka, and India’s Foreign Secretary, Harsh V Shringla among others. Indian tennis star, Sania Mirza, renowned fashion designer, entrepreneur and film maker, Manish Malhotra and noted Indian singers Hariharan, Benny Dayal, Jonita Gandhi among others also visited the India Pavilion recently.
States such as Gujarat, Karnataka, Telangana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and UT of Ladakh among others have successfully showcased their business ecosystem along with rich cultural heritage and sourced investment opportunities from leading global investors. Additionally, sectors such as New and Renewable Energy, Space, Urban and Rural Development, Oil & Gas, Textile, Knowledge and Learning have held respective weeks to highlight the growth and investment opportunities in these areas.
The upcoming weeks at the India Pavilion will witness participation from states such as Jharkhand, Kerala, Tamil Nadu among others and sectors such as Steel, Healthcare, Electronics and Information Technology, Energy Conservation, Environment & Sustainability, Tribal Affairs to name a few.
“Delighted to see the response from the visitors who wish to immerse themselves in Modern India’s confluence of opportunities and potential,” Indian envoy to UAE Sunjay Sudhir said, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk
The India Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai has achieved another milestone by recording half a million visitors’ mark since its inauguration on October 1, 2021 by Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles.
In his tweet message on this landmark achievement, Goyal said, “#IndiaAtDubaiExpo stands tall, showcasing our capabilities in achieving ambitious goals for global good, which reflects India’s Partnerships, Pride & its People.”
Talking about the success of the India Pavilion, Sunjay Sudhir, Ambassador of India to the UAE said, “India is honoured to participate in Dubai EXPO – a global platform where different nations have congregated to showcase their business potential and cultural heritage. As India is an important and growing investment destination, EXPO2020 Dubai has given us a unique opportunity to network with global stakeholders and secure investments for our country.”
He added, “We are delighted to see the response from the visitors who wish to immerse themselves in Modern India’s confluence of opportunities and potential. The visitors have participated enthusiastically and have rejoiced in the festivities at the India Pavilion. We will ensure that the momentum is sustained, and our visitors get to experience the real essence of India as we move ahead in our journey at the Expo.”
CGI Dr Aman Puri and Ambassador Sunjay Sudhir
The India Pavilion has hosted various meetings and events pertaining to investments across focus sectors and states along with cultural events for the visitors since inauguration. Besides showcasing India as an attractive investment destination on an international platform, the Expo has been pivotal in strengthening the bilateral trade relations with the UAE and cultural ties between India and the rest of the world.
The India Pavilion has been recognized as one of the most iconic pavilions at the Expo by American Institute of Architects and is one of the most visited pavilions at the EXPO2020 Dubai. The Pavilion has played a key role in showcasing the Indian start-up ecosystem amongst global audience through the Innovation Hub bus.
Among the states, Gujarat, Telangana, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and UT of Ladakh have already showcased their business potential and have secured investment opportunities in key sectors. The Pavilion has also promoted India’s key sectors such as New and Renewable Energy, Space, Urban and Rural Development, Oil & Gas and Textile during their respective weeks.
Leading voices from the government and industry including Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas & Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, Dr S Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, Government of India, Darshana V Jardosh, Minister of State for Textile & Railways, Government of India, Shanti Kumar Dhariwal, Minister for Urban Development & Housing, Government of Rajasthan, Subhash Desai, Minister of Industries, Government of Maharashtra, Aditi Tatkare, Minister of State for Industries and Tourism, Government of Maharashtra and Dr K. Sivan, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) & Secretary Department of Space have been a part of the sessions at the India Pavilion.
The India Pavilion has hosted several cultural activities during Dusshera and Navratri celebrations. These included folk dances, storytelling and music for countless visitors and dignitaries. It hosted Diwali Week from November 2-5 which was celebrated with great enthusiasm. The festival of Diwali was celebrated with colourful installations and lighting in the form of Swarangoli or LED Rangoli, virtual display of firecrackers and events including performances by leading Indian artists like Salim-Sulaiman, Vipul Mehta and bands like Rooh and Dhruv.
The upcoming weeks at the India Pavilion will witness participation from other states such as Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, UT of Jammu & Kashmir among others and sectors such as Healthcare, Electronics and Information Technology, Energy Conservation, Environment & Sustainability, Tribal Affairs, Spices & Tourism to name a few.
A high-level delegation from Rajasthan government will be in Dubai to meet the investors during the week and pitch for the investments, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk
Rajasthan is geared up to offer big-bang investment opportunities to the global investors during the State’s week (November 12-18) at Expo 2020 India Pavilion in Dubai.
The sectors in which the state is looking at major investments include chemicals & petrochemicals, fintech, automobile & electric vehicles, renewable energy, infrastructure, mining, tourism, MSMEs, etc. A number of MoUs are slated to be signed during the course of Rajasthan week at the India Pavilion.
A high-level delegation from Rajasthan government will be in Dubai to meet the investors during the week and pitch for the investments. The programme would also feature diaspora connect programmes and tourism prowess of Rajasthan.
The delegation will include Shanti Kumar Dhariwal, Minister for Urban Development & Housing; Parsadi Lal Meena, Minister for Industry; Arjun Singh Bamaniya, Minister of State for Industry; Ashutosh A T Pednekar, Secretary – Industries, Government of Rajasthan; Rukmani Riar, Executive Director, RIICO; Dhiraj Srivastava, Commissioner – Rajasthan Foundation, etc.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot
The Rajasthan Week will kickstart with the inauguration of the state’s pavilion in the India pavilion on Saturday followed by an inaugural session which will be addressed by the Rajasthan government ministers and other top officials. The delegation will have focussed interactions and G2B meetings with a number of companies in Dubai for attracting investments in the state.
Among the specific projects in which the State is looking for investments, is Petroleum, Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR). HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited (HRRL), a subsidiary of HPCL is developing this project, which is one of the largest refineries of the country in Barmer, Rajasthan. Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) is developing PCPIR near the refinery to catalyze the investment for the downstream products of the refinery. With a capacity of 9 MMTPA, the Refinery has the potential to generate Rs 15,000 crore investment.
india_pavilion
The other mega project of Rajasthan is FinTech Park at Jaipur. RIICO is pitching Jaipur as destination par-excellence for corporates and start-ups of the financial and Information Technology world by developing a world-class FinTech Park spread over 100 Acres. The State is also planning to develop a textile park at Jodhpur. Considering the current potential and existing ecosystem of textile and apparel sector in the State, RIICO has proposed to develop a dedicated textile park in the city, which is well connected by road, rail, and air.
Investments would also be in the offer for Khushkera Bhiwadi Neemrana Investment Region (KBNIR) along the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), Marwar Industrial Cluster and MEDtech Medical Devices Park. RIICO is developing the Medtech Medical Devices Park at Jodhpur with a proposed area of approximately 230 Acres. The park will have a dedicated common facilitation centre (CFC) equipped with high quality laboratory and research and development facility.
The India Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai has hosted over 2,00,000 visitors as of November 3 with various sector and state-specific sessions to discuss India’s growth roadmap, reports Asian Lite News
The India Pavilion, inaugurated by Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, on October 1, has successfully completed its first month at the Expo 2020, Dubai.
According to an official release of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the India Pavilion has hosted over 2,00,000 visitors as of November 3 with various sector and state-specific sessions to discuss India’s growth roadmap.
“It also secured investment opportunities for the country and celebrated several cultural events to attract visitors,” the release said.
Commenting on the success of India Pavilion, Dr Aman Puri, Consul General of India in Dubai and Deputy Commissioner General for India at Expo 2020 Dubai said, “The October month was a huge success for the India Pavilion. We saw a strong visitor turnout and expect this momentum to continue in the coming months”.
“While the India Pavilion will showcase more business opportunities for collaboration and investment, the popularity of India’s festivals, food, and cultural performances, have been crucial aspects in attracting visitors from across the globe”, he added.
The Pavilion started with the Climate and Biodiversity Week from October 3 to October 9.
Glittering Diwali at India Pavilion
The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy conducted various sessions that highlighted India’s renewable energy goals and climate action plan to the world.
These weeks were followed by Space and Urban and Rural Development weeks, where discussions around the future of the sectors, the issues and challenges in the sectors, the role of the government regulations, and incentives were discussed.
Besides sector-specific weeks, the India Pavilion also hosted specific weeks for Gujarat, Karnataka, and UT of Ladakh. The state of Gujarat organized events at the India Pavilion where Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister, Gujarat virtually showcased the state’s vibrant Pharma sector along with its plan for sustainable development.
Similarly, the Karnataka Week also witnessed the presence of Murugesh Nirani, Minister, Large and Medium Scale Industries, Government of Karnataka along with Dr CN Ashwath Narayan, Minister for Higher Education; IT and BT, Science and Technology; Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood, Government of Karnataka.
“Additionally, a series of events showcasing opportunities in Ladakh across focus sectors like sustainable infrastructure, connectivity, food processing, and tourism were discussed during the Ladakh Week at India Pavilion,” the release said.
The Ministry informed that the Karnataka week saw an announcement on partnership between the government of Karnataka and Gulf Islamic Investments (GII) to strengthen the investment ties between India and UAE.
HE Reem Al Hashimi, MoS and MD for Expo 2020 Dubai, Pawan Kapoor, Ambassador to the UAE and CGI Dr. Aman Puri, during the lamp-lighting ceremony at Dubai Millenium Amphitheater for the Diwali celebration.
“GII’s investment approach in India is sector-agnostic and the firm plans to invest another USD 500m (Rs 3,500 crores) in India in the next 3 years and was one of the key achievements for the state of Karnataka,” the Ministry said.
The Climate and Biodiversity week saw virtual participation from dignitaries such as RK Singh, Minister of Power, New and Renewable Energy, Government of India, Bhagwanth Khuba, Minister of State, New and Renewable Energy, Chemicals and Fertilizers, Government of India and Indu Shekhar Chaturvedi, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India.
The Space sector sessions were addressed by Dr K Sivan, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Secretary Department of Space and Dr Pawan Goenka, Chairman, Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) and Umamaheshwaran R, Scientific Secretary, ISRO.
The Urban and Rural Development week that started from October 31was attended by senior officials of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India including, Kunal Kumar, Joint Secretary and Mission Director (Smart Cities Mission); Jaideep, OSD (Urban Transport) and Dinesh Kapila, Economic Advisor (Housing).
“The month of October at the India Pavilion also witnessed an array of cultural activities during Dusshera and Navratri celebrations. These included folk dances, storytelling and music for countless visitors and dignitaries. The ongoing Diwali celebrations at India Pavilion comprise of colourful installations, lighting in the form of Swarangoli or LED rangoli, virtual display of firecrackers and performances by leading artists such as Salim-Sulaiman, Dhruv and Rooh bands from India and Dubai,” the release said.
“The enthusiasm of visitors resulted in India Pavilion being one of the most visited Pavilions at Expo 2020 Dubai. The activities and events during October were witnessed by hundreds of visitors with zeal and enthusiasm,” it added. (ANI)
