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India Pavilion’s legacy continues

India Pavilion's legacy continues

The India Pavilion successfully represented India’s vast cultural diversity, sectoral expertise, and the business potential of the participating states, reports Asian Lite News

The India Pavilion successfully signed off from the Expo2020 Dubai as curtains came down on the six-month long mega event on March 31. As one of the largest and most iconic pavilions at the Expo, the India Pavilion recorded more than 1.75 million footfalls since its inauguration on October 1 last year.

The Pavilion will remain for posterity as part of India’s legacy in the UAE. Its building will embody India’s commitment to sustainability and will be environment-friendly. Inaugurated by Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, and Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha,Piyush Goyal, the India Pavilion recorded 1,753,889 visitors till the closure of the Expo on March 31. Goyal also participated in India’s Honour Day Celebrations at Expo2020 Dubai on March 29.

Sunjay Sudhir, Ambassador of India to the UAE said: “We are delighted and proud of the way in which India has been able to showcase itself at Dubai Expo. Various sectors and states that participated during the 6 months have been able to utilise every opportunity to expand and grow. Moreover, our bright young minds and entrepreneurs have also capitalised on the opportunity, and we take pride in the fact that the India Innovation Hub is only getting started. The India Pavilion is one of the few ones that will remain for posterity and will continue telling our nation’s story in the years to come.”

India Pavilion’s legacy continues



“Our ties with the UAE have been further strengthened with India’s hugely successful participation at Dubai Expo. We have seen numerous meetings here in the last six months that have initiated a dialogue for future associations and many of them have already led to successful partnerships,” Sudhir added.

The India Pavilion witnessed over 2000 B2B, G2G, and G2B meetings conducted by delegates from various participating states and sectors, discussing investment opportunities & mutual areas of collaboration. The Pavilion also saw over 100 MoUs/ LoIs getting signed in the last 6 months by different states, sectors, and startups.

The ‘Elevate’ pitching series under the India Innovation Hub project of the India Pavilion also showcased over 700 startups in the last 6 months. The Elevate provided opportunities to Indian startups and helped the budding entrepreneurs with the right mentorship, platform, and networking opportunities to scale their businesses.


The India Pavilion successfully represented India’s vast cultural diversity, sectoral expertise, and the business potential of the participating states. Mirroring the theme of the Expo,’Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”, the India Pavilion showcased the country’s sectoral expertise, key business areas from the states, and innovative ideas from budding entrepreneurs across the country. It was also recently recognised among the top three pavilions at Expo2020 Dubai for its exclusive design and innovation, under the ‘People’s choice’ category by the Exhibitor Group.

The Pavilion hosted many states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, northeastern states, and UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, which successfully showcased their business attractiveness along with rich cultural heritage and garnered investment opportunities from leading global investors during their participation.

Key sectors such as Media & Entertainment, Water, Steel, Food, Agriculture and Livelihood, Health & Wellness, Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), New & Renewable Energy, Environment, Space, Urban and Rural Development, Oil & Gas, Textile, Knowledge and Learning, and Tourism also held respective weeks at the India Pavilion to highlight the growth and investment opportunities in these areas.

The Pavilion saw high-profile visitors, including Anurag Singh Thakur, Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Youth Affairs and Sports, N.V. Ramana, Chief Justice of India, Ram Chandra Prasad Singh, Union Minister of Steel, M.K. Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Om Birla, Lok Sabha Speaker, Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of Kerala, Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs, Dr. S Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Chemicals and Fertilizers, Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Union 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, Dr. K. Sivan, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) & Secretary, Department of Space among others.

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Narayan Rane, Minister of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME), R.K. Singh, Union Minister of Power, New & Renewable Energy, Darshana V. Jardosh, Union Minister of State for Textile & Railways, Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, Minister of State for MSME and Satish Mahana, Minister for Industrial Development, Government of Uttar Pradesh (UP), along with various other dignitaries joined virtually.

The India Pavilion also hosted renowned celebrities including Salman Khan, Ranveer Singh, Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, S.S. Rajamouli, Ram Charan, NTR Jr, Janhvi Kapoor, Jaaved Jaaferi, R. Madhavan; singers such as Shaan, Kailash Kher, Salim-Sulaiman, Hariharan, Neha Kakkar, Benny Dayal, Jonita Gandhi; Indian tennis star, Sania Mirza and the famous fashion designer, entrepreneur and filmmaker, Manish Malhotra to name a few.

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Media & entertainment fortnight at India Pavilion

Media & entertainment fortnight at India Pavilion

M&E fortnight will also see the star cast of upcoming period action-drama movie, ‘RRR’ at the India Pavilion to host a promotional event, reports Asian Lite News

The India Pavilion at EXPO2020 Dubai is set to host the ‘Media & Entertainment fortnight’ starting today and showcase vast business and investment opportunities across India’s media & entertainment industry to global audience.

Apurva Chandra, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B), Government of India will inaugurate the sector floor at the India Pavilion today.

As part of the fortnight, the Ministry of I&B will organize various events covering areas including Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC), Film, Broadcasting, Events, and OTT among others. During the fortnight, India’s prowess in the sector will be showcased to global audience and discussions on possible collaborations of the Indian industry with their global counterparts would be organized.

The delegation will organise and attend various B2B, G2B and G2G meetings and the startups from the sector will showcase their innovative ideas at the Elevate pitching series. The fortnight will also comprise various celebrity visits including a performance by Padamshree Kailash Kher and Kailasha Live on the inaugural day.

Senior officials from the Ministry of I&B along with industry representatives will participate in various sessions covering emerging themes like opportunities in media startups, Indian gaming ecosystem, animation and VFX, content production and creation between India and the UAE, and India as the most favorable shooting destination.

Media & entertainment fortnight at India Pavilion

M&E fortnight will also see the star cast of upcoming period action-drama movie, ‘RRR’ at the India Pavilion to host a promotional event on March 18th in addition to hosting the world premiere of Malayalam film ‘Viral Sebi’ on March 20th.

The scale of Indian market and the Government’s nod to 100% FDI (with some exceptions) has enabled various global media companies to invest and capitalize on the country’s fast-growing digital consumption. With the objective of attracting investments, the M&E delegation at EXPO2020 will showcase opportunities in areas like shared content creation between India and the UAE, and VFX and post-production.

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The fortnight will also host a conference on 21st March to highlight the journey of Indian M&E Industry@75 which will see participation from various industry leaders and government officials from the sector. The conference will also announce the launch of ‘FICCI-EY Report on Media and Entertainment and Overall Presentation on Media and Entertainment Industry’. The screening of National Award-winning films will also be organized during the fortnight at the India Pavilion.

Several renowned celebrities including Kangana Ranaut, Shekhar Kapur, Ketan Mehta, Tobino Thomas, among others and industry leaders like Jyoti Deshpande, CEO, Viacom 18 & Co- Chair, FICCI M&E Committee, Vikram Chandra, Founder, Editorji and Anurradha Prasad, Chairperson & Managing Director, B.A.G Network will be visiting the India Pavilion during the M&E fortnight. Many international dignitaries and speakers including Hans Fraikin, Commissioner, Abu Dhabi Film Commission, Nayla Al Khaja, Filmmaker and Reim El Houni, Dubai Content, TV, Video Production and Media Strategy Dubai Video Production, Executive Producer of Expo 2020 will also be a part of the sessions.

The M&E fortnight will conclude on 31st March.

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India Pavilion crosses 800K footfall milestone

The India Pavilion, one of the largest and most visited pavilions at EXPO2020 Dubai, has crossed the 8 lakh footfalls milestone…reports Asian Lite News

The Pavilion was inaugurated by Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, and Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha, on October 1 2021 and has so far clocked 8,00,103 visitors as of January 18.

In his tweet message, Goyal said, “Yet Another Milestone! Footfall at the India Pavilion at @Expo2020Dubai crosses the 8 Lakh mark. Underlining India’s Growth Story, the buzz at #IndiaAtDubaiExpo continues to captivate people with our rich heritage & ambitious growth opportunities.”

The India Pavilion is currently hosting the ‘Goa’ and ‘Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME)’ weeks. While the Goa week was inaugurated on January 15, MSME week was inaugurated virtually by Narayan Rane, Union Minister of MSME, yesterday.

As part of the Goa week, the state is making a strong pitch to the global investors by showcasing its business capabilities along with its tradition and culture through a series of events exhibiting opportunities across key focus sectors. The state week will also see industry-specific expert sessions, roundtable discussions, B2B & G2G meetings, along with cultural performances by renowned artists and Goan bands.

The Ministry of MSME’s participation in EXPO2020 will help develop understanding about the MSME ecosystem in India as well as enable interaction with Governments of different countries, business, and industry leaders, which would help in exchange of best practices adopted across the world.

The high-profile visitors to the pavilion since its inauguration include Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas & Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Dr S Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, V Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Chemicals and Fertilizers, Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Union 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, Dr K. Sivan, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) & Secretary, Department of Space, among others.

Narayan Rane, Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), R.K. Singh, Union Minister of Power, New and Renewable Energy, Darshana V Jardosh, Union Minister of State for Textile & Railways, Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, Minister of State for MSME and Satish Mahana, Minister for Industrial Development, Government of Uttar Pradesh (UP), along with various other, dignitaries joined virtually.

The India Pavilion has made its mark among the 192 participating nations by being recognized as one of the most iconic pavilions at EXPO2020 Dubai by the American Institute of Architects.

The Pavilion has also played a key role in showcasing the Indian start-up ecosystem amongst a global audience through initiatives like ‘Elevate’, that aims to display unconventional solutions created by 500 Indian start-ups from across the country.

ALSO READ: Expo 2020 Dubai visits cross 10 million

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 Pavilion has also hosted various renowned Bollywood celebrities including Deepika Padukone, Janhvi Kapoor, Jaaved Jaaferi; singers such as Salim-Sulaiman, Hariharan, Benny Dayal, Jonita Gandhi; Indian tennis star, Sania Mirza and the famous fashion designer, entrepreneur and filmmaker, Manish Malhotra to name a few. Additionally, the Pavilion has showcased the cultural diversity of the various participating states by displaying their products, hosting cultural performances, etc. Key Indian festivals such as Navratri, Dusshera and Diwali were celebrated with great enthusiasm by both Indian and global visitors.

The upcoming weeks at the India Pavilion will witness participation from states such as West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, 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.

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India Pavilion celebrates 100 glorious days

India Pavilion also marked the country’s vaccination drive crossing the milestone of administering over 1.5 billion COVID-19 vaccines by displaying this remarkable achievement on the facade of the pavilion…reports Asian Lite Newdesk

India Pavilion, one of the largest and most visited pavilions, is celebrating 100 days as a hub of innovation, growth and opportunities at Expo 2020 Dubai.

The Pavilion was inaugurated by Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, and Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha, 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.

I his tweet message, Goyal said, “100 Glorious Days of the India Pavilion shining bright at the Expo 2020 Dubai. The world is witnessing India Pavilion as a hub of innovation, growth and opportunities.”

Meanwhile, India Pavilion also marked the country’s vaccination drive crossing the milestone of administering over 150 crore (1.5 billion) COVID-19 vaccines by displaying this remarkable achievement on the facade of the pavilion.

The India Pavilion is currently hosting the ‘Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) week’ and ‘Tourism week’ which was inaugurated on January 3. As part of the J&K week, Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory (UT) of J&K along with other government officials from the UT is holding various G2B, B2G and G2G meetings and invite global investors to invest across key sectors like tourism, handloom & handicraft, food processing among others while the Tourism week highlights the vast opportunities in India’s tourism and hospitality sector during the 2-week participation of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.

The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Friday has signed an MoU with Century Financial in Dubai for a $100 million investment in the state under which hotels and commercial-cum-residential complexes would be built.

The MoU was signed in a special event presided by the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha. “Global business & industry are waking up to the vistas of opportunity in J&K. Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is committed to the development of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir”, said J&K Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha while speaking on the occasion. “We are happy to see the interest shown by UAE’s big business houses and leaders in supporting this vision of our Hon’ble Prime Minister.”

“I have always believed that Jammu & Kashmir has tremendous investment potential and there cannot be a better time than now. Making a significant contribution to my home region has always been my dream and today as I see this dream getting realised, it’s immensely gratifying” said Century Financial’s owner, Bal Krishen.

“The investment will cover 3 hotels and one commercial- cum-residential complex in Jammu & Kashmir. The owner of Century Financial Bal Krishen, originally a native of Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district has been a forerunner in supporting his home region”, stated a release.

The MoU was signed by Principal Secretary, Industries, J&K, Ranjan Prakash Thakur and Bal Krishen, Owner of Century Financial in the presence of Aman Puri, Consul General of India in Dubai and several distinguished UAE-based business owners, investors, and entrepreneurs.

“Despite challenges of a global pandemic, neither the pace of economic and policy reforms nor the implementation of key infrastructure projects has slowed in any way in UT and we as responsive administration will continue to respond to business’s concerns”, said the Lt Governor.

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.

ALSO READ: Sri Lanka National Day celebrated at Expo 2020

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 Goa, 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.

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India Pavilion records 7 lakh visitors

Indian Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai

The Pavilion has so far clocked 7,05,622 visitors as of 3rd January…reports Asian Lite News

The India Pavilion, one of the largest and most visited pavilions at Expo 2020 Dubai welcomed the new year in style as it crossed 7 lakh footfalls since its opening. The Pavilion has so far clocked 7,05,622 visitors as on 3rd January.

In his tweet message, Goyal said, “Celebrating the Grandeur of #IndiaAtDubaiExpo with 7 Lakh+ Footfall. The buzz continues at India Pavilion as it achieves remarkable feat in less than 100 days. The iconic India Pavilion at @Expo2020Dubai has left the whole world in awe with our dynamic culture & futuristic plans.” (twitter.com/PiyushGoyal/status/1478263927934894081?t=D8RZ0Pp1AA8wG-dFbSAD5Q&s=19).

The India Pavilion is currently hosting the ‘Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) week’ and ‘Tourism week’ which was inaugurated on January 3. As part of the J&K week, Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory (UT) of J&K along with other government officials from the UT will hold various G2B, B2G and G2G meetings and invite global investors to invest across key sectors like tourism, handloom & handicraft, food processing among others while the Tourism week will highlight the vast opportunities in India’s tourism and hospitality sector during the 2-week participation of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.

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.

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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.

The India Pavilion has been recognised as ‘one of the most iconic pavilions’ at the Expo by American Institute of Architects among the 192 participating countries. The Pavilion has played a key role in showcasing the Indian start-up ecosystem amongst global audience through initiatives like ‘Elevate’, that aims to display unconventional solutions created by 500 Indian start-ups from across the country.

The upcoming weeks at the India Pavilion will witness participation from states such as Goa, 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.

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UAE@50: Night of Cultural Magnificence at India Pavilion

The year 2021 has been an important milestone as India is celebrating its 75th year of Independence and the UAE is celebrating its 50th year of unification…reports Asian Lite News

The India Pavilion today marked the UAE’s 50th National Day and will be presenting an array of cultural performances showcasing a unique fusion of India’s and UAE’s culture.

India’s Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution and Textiles and Leader of House in Rajya Sabha, Shri Piyush Goyal said in a tweet message: “I extend my best wishes to the leadership & people of UAE on the occasion of their 50th National Day. India Pavilion @Expo2020Dubai is a testament to solid bonds of friendship & extensive cooperation India & UAE share. Wishing 50 more years of peace & prosperity.”

The UAE National Day celebrations will be hosted at the Amphitheatre at India Pavilion. Various dance groups including Balle Balle Dubai, The Punjabi Dance Group and Dhol Tasha will perform at the ceremony to highlight India’s festive spirit and its support to the UAE, an important strategic partner for India.

H. E. Sunjay Sudhir, Ambassador of India to UAE, congratulated UAE on its 50th National Day, and said, “UAE is one of India’s most valued partners. The two nations have always shared a commitment to openness, peaceful coexistence and social harmony that are based on their cultural traditions, spiritual values and shared heritage.”

UAE’s 50th National Day is of great importance to India as it was on 2nd December 1971 when the bilateral relations between the two countries strengthened with the unification of the UAE and the Federation coming into place; exactly 50 years ago. The cultural performances will include the dance groups presenting an amalgamation of Indian dances with Arabic Music, representing the true essence of the UAE and its achievements in the last 50 years and the peaceful co-existence of varied culture in one nation.

Expo 2020 Dubai

India is UAE’s second largest trading partner, and the total volume of trade was estimated at USD 43 billion in 2020-21. India and the UAE are working together relentlessly to ensure a long-term growth in the coming years. India has commenced negotiations with the UAE to conclude a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) which will help in leveraging the complementarities in trade between the two countries and see a quantum jump in the bilateral merchandise trade as well.

The Expo2020 Dubai has been a catalyst for a stronger collaboration between India and the UAE and continues to grow and strengthen further. Besides showcasing India as an important destination on an international platform, the Expo has played a pivotal role in the recovery from the repercussions of the pandemic, the bilateral trade is gradually seeing signs of picking up and is expected to reach pre-COVID level soon.

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Both India and the UAE are optimistic to deepen the trade ties despite the inherent challenges. The synergies, shared vision and complementary strengths of India and the UAE present a rare opportunity to contribute to the progress of not only our two countries, but also for the larger region and the world.

The year 2021 has been an important milestone as India is celebrating its 75th year of Independence and the UAE is celebrating its 50th year of unification. This auspicious year is a stepping stone to an even stronger strategic partnership that will resonate with success in the years to come.

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Maharashtra to showcase trillion-dollar vision at Expo

Maharashtra’s two-week participation will start today with the inauguration of the state’s pavilion by Minister of Industries Subhash Desai…reports Asian Lite Newsdesk

The state of Maharashtra will showcase its trillion-dollar economic vision and business attractiveness along with its cultural heritage when it launches its presence in the India Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai from Friday.

Maharashtra’s two-week participation (Nov 19 – Dec 2) will start with the inauguration of the state’s pavilion by Subhash Desai, Minister of Industries, Government of Maharashtra, who will be joined by Aditi Tatkare, Minister of State for Industries and Tourism and Dr Anbalagan CEO, MIDC and Nodal Officer, Dubai Expo, and others. 

Subhash_Desai

Several investor meetings to encourage investment opportunities in the state and efforts to open a channel of collaboration with global investors will form the core of the state government’s outreach as it exhibits opportunities in key sectors such as Film & Entertainment, Textiles, Environment & Energy, Agriculture, Culture & Tourism, Infrastructure among others to push its core vision of achieving a trillion-dollar economy.

The state will also sign some key investment initiatives as well as Bi-lateral agreements of economic cooperation with strategic investment and country partners. More than 15 departments of the state government will be participating to showcase their achievement and vision for the state.

Along with showcasing the business attractiveness, the state will also exhibit some of its key urban development initiatives such as AURIC (Aurangabad Industrial City), the Navi Mumbai International Airport, the Coastal Road Initiative, the Trans Harbor Link, and the Samruddhi Corridor, among others.

The state has divided its participation into 12 sub-themes aligning with the broader themes of the Expo – Businesses of the Future, Visioning Mumbai in 2025, Resource Security, Magnetic Maharashtra, building pathways to prosperity, Hyper Mobility, Connecting India & the World, Fashion Forward, Future Workforce, Resiliency and Climate Change, Stronger Together and Bollywood & Beyond.

Two days ago, India’s Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, asserted that India is on the right track as far as its transition from a fossil-fuel based economy to a green one is concerned.

Interacting with the media at Expo 2020 Dubai’s India Pavilion, the minister said: “What is happening (right now) in India is truly remarkable. In the coming decades, the transition from a fossil-fuel based economy to a green economy will come from within the existing structure, and the oil companies will facilitate that.”

Meanwhile last week, during a visit to the Indian pavilion, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said that he saw signs that India’s economy is faring well, and the growth is back.

“It is seen not only in numbers reported by the companies, but also on the streets, in spirit,” he said during his address to the media here while commending the efforts of the team that’s seen a pavilion footfall of over 300,000 since it was inaugurated on October 1 by Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.

“There are two parallel processes going on at the moment,” he said while referring to India’s Covid as well as economic recoveries.

ALSO READ: EXPO 2020: FOCUS ON INDIA

“Both are showing resilience in different forms. In terms of lives and livelihoods, the next few months and years will really show who has been more resilient and who has perhaps not been that much,” he added, highlighting that India recently crossed 1.1 billion vaccination shots.

“The pace is continuing and there has been confidence that in the next few weeks, all the eligible people will get two shots (of Covid vaccine). It will leave us in a good shape to tackle any future mis-happenings that may take place,” Jaishankar said before shifting his focus on economy.

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‘India’s transition from fossil fuel to green energy on track’

India’s minister for petroleum and natural gas also invited the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and others to invest and participate in India’s journey of transition to a green economy…reports Asian Lite Newsdesk

Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, asserted on Wednesday that India is on the right track as far as its transition from a fossil-fuel based economy to a green one is concerned.

Interacting with the media at Expo 2020 Dubai’s India Pavilion, the minister said: “What is happening (right now) in India is truly remarkable. In the coming decades, the transition from a fossil-fuel based economy to a green economy will come from within the existing structure, and the oil companies will facilitate that.”

This comes just days after the COP26 climate summit, where India pledged to cut emissions to net zero by 2070, reduce carbon emissions by one billion tonnes by 2030, and raise the share of renewables in the energy mix to 50 per cent, among others, before staging a last-minute climbdown opposing a commitment to “phase out” coal.

Yet the minister held that India is moving ahead with its plans on bio-fuel and green energy, stating that when Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014, “only 1 per cent or less of ethanol blending was taking place”.

“Today, we are already at 8.5 per cent and I am sure that the 2030 target for 20 per cent ethanol blending, which we have now brought forward to 2025, would lead to 20 per cent blended fuel being available at the pumps, I think from January 2023,” Puri said on the sidelines of inaugurating the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas section at the India Pavilion.

During his address, he also invited the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and others to invest and participate in India’s journey of transition to a green economy.

“If there is opportunity in the world, it is in India. We are extending an open invitation to everyone operating in the oil and gas sector to come to India. The transition from fossil-fuel to green energy has to be organised in a way that it is a win-win for all,” the former Minister of State for Civil Aviation said while emphasising that India’s strategic relationship with the UAE is very important.

“The real growth will now come from India,” he said.

Puri also gave a thumbs to Expo 2020 Dubai, calling it a “huge opportunity” to strengthen India-UAE relationship.

ALSO READ: India to pitch for global investments in Oil and Gas Value Chain

“This Expo is taking place at a very interesting time, when India is celebrating 75 years as an Independent country. And very soon, the UAE, which is a close friend and a strategic partner, will also celebrate the 50th year of its foundation,” said Puri, who earlier took time out of his schedule to visit the construction site of the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, UAE’s first traditional Hindu temple, where he also participated in a ceremony to lay a brick over the foundation.

Earlier on Tuesday, the minister had visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

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India to pitch for global investments in Oil and Gas Value Chain

Minister Hardeep Singh Puri to outline strategies for accelerating investments in the sector at a round table in the India Pavilion…reports Asian Lite News

India’s Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, will address global investors at a round table today on “Opportunities in Oil & Gas Sector” in the India Pavilion of EXPO2020. 

The minister will spell out the government’s strategies for accelerating investments in the Indian Oil and Gas value chain, besides utilising this global platform to understand global best-practices and discuss reforms with the global captains of the industry. 

Hardeep Singh Puri

The round table will also provide the National Oil Companies (NOCs), International Oil & Gas majors, Sovereign Funds and Institutional Investors an opportunity to have in-depth discussion with the regulators and decision-makers from the Indian Oil and Gas sector and explore collaboration opportunities in India and understand the ongoing market and regulatory reforms in the country.

India is the 3rd largest oil consumer and 4th largest LNG importer and is a key player in the global Oil and gas sector.

The deliberations at the round table are aimed at utilising this opportunity to invite global investors to contribute and gain from the country’s objective of becoming self-reliant in the oil & gas sector and its vision towards attaining energy security.

Other topics which will also be discussed during the round table include, India’s increasing role in the global oil & gas value chain, energy security, access, as well as transition to sustainable energy along with Indo-UAE energy cooperation.

The round-table will be attended by Dr Aman Puri, Consul General of India in Dubai; Shri Subhash Kumar, Chairman & Managing Director, ONGC; Mr Prachur Sah, CEO, Cairn Oil and Gas and Mr Prashant Modi, Managing Director & CEO, Great Eastern Energy Corporation Limited & Chairman, FICCI Hydrocarbons Committee.

‘UAE India’s strategic energy partner’

Minister Puri said the UAE is a strategic partner of India in the energy sector, noting his country is the third leading importer and consumer of Emirati oil.

Last year, India imported hydrocarbon products from the UAE worth US$14.5 billion, representing nearly 33.3 percent of the total trade between the two countries, he added.

In his statement to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of his country’s participation in the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference (ADIPEC 2021), Singh Puri stressed India and the UAE share strong and deep-rooted overall relations, most notably in the energy sector, adding their strategic ties are constantly growing, most notably their cooperation in liquefied natural gas.

He then highlighted his country keenness to reinforce its cooperation with the UAE in the energy sector, as well as benefit from the extensive expertise of Abu Dhabi in this strategic area.

Singh Puri noted India has launched many renewable energy projects and is among the first countries to engage in solar energy projects.

India also has an ambitious programme to support the international efforts to reduce emissions, he further added.

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He stressed that while his country relies on fossil fuels to a large extent, it is exerting significant efforts to make renewable energy account for 50 percent of its national energy mix.

Singh Puri affirmed that India will become a leading country in energy demand in the coming years, due to its large population and ambitious national projects.

He then expressed his happiness at being in Abu Dhabi and participating in ADIPEC 2021, a key global platform for shaping the future of the energy sector for the coming decades.

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Dubai EXPO 2020 India News

Jaishankar India’s economy is faring well

During a visit to the Indian pavilion at the Expo 2020 Dubai on Saturday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said that he saw signs that India’s economy is faring well, and the growth is back…reports Asian Lite News

“It is seen not only in numbers reported by the companies, but also on the streets, in spirit,” he said during his address to the media here while commending the efforts of the team that’s seen a pavilion footfall of over 300,000 since it was inaugurated on October 1 by Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.

“There are two parallel processes going on at the moment,” he said while referring to India’s Covid as well as economic recoveries.

“Both are showing resilience in different forms. In terms of lives and livelihoods, the next few months and years will really show who has been more resilient and who has perhaps not been that much,” he added, highlighting that India recently crossed 1.1 billion vaccination shots.

“The pace is continuing and there has been confidence that in the next few weeks, all the eligible people will get two shots (of Covid vaccine). It will leave us in a good shape to tackle any future mis-happenings that may take place,” Jaishankar said before shifting his focus on economy.

“I would say we are well poised and part of the reason is that a lot of effort went into creating the capacities to handle Covid — hospitals, ventilators and even the vaccination drive. Part of it is also because of the resilience and foresight with which we responded,” he said.

“We husbanded our resources well and reacted in a balanced and right manner. We recovered and at the same time we recovered in a very responsible manner. So, that creates a fair degree of confidence and optimism in India as we look into 2022. I would certainly hope that in a country like the UAE, which is a great friend, it will certainly get reflected.

“And this is already getting reflected in our trade figures. This year may actually be one of our best years in trade. Trade recovery has been very strong and we don’t think that it is just because of pent-up demand. The recovery remains very strong,” said Jaishankar, indicating at India’s signigicant drop in recent Covid cases as the country registered 11,850 new cases on Saturday, just a 0.03 per cent rise in week-on-week numbers.

Jaishankar also spoke about his expectations from the recent meeting of the new QUAD that includes the UAE, Israel, India and the US.

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“It was a hybrid meeting. Two of us were together and two of us joined virtually. We must have a follow-up session so that we agree on exactly how we want to go forward. The follow-up meeting will be taking place in the coming weeks,” he elaborated.

He also visited the UAE and Israeli pavilions, accompanied by Ambassador of India to the UAE, Pavan Kapoor, and the Consul General of India in Dubai, Aman Puri.