World
India gives Asian Financial Forum a miss, for Davos
By Bhavana Akella
Hong Kong, Jan 15 (IANS) India is missing at the Asian Financial Forum (AFF) event here, ostensibly because its ministers and officials have opted for the World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos in Switzerland later this month, an official said.
“Indian ministers and officials declined our invite citing lack of time as they have to go for Davos for the four-day WEF from January 23-26,” a Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) official told IANS here.
Preparations and meetings for the 2018-19 Union Budget presentation on February 1 has also been cited as another reason for the conspicuous absence of India at the 11th edition of the two-day financial summit being held at Hong Kong Convention Centre in downtown.
Nearly 100 speakers from the global financial community and about 3,000 delegates from around 50 countries, including China and US, are taking part in the forum organised by the Hong Kong government and the HKTDC.
Keynote speakers of AFF include the First Deputy Managing Director of International Monetary Fund (IMF) David Lipton, President of Asian Development Bank (ADB) Takehiko Nakao, President and Chairman of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Jin Liquin.
The previous editions of this annual forum had hosted the likes of former Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan, former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India U.K. Sinha and global software major Infosys co-founder N.R. Narayana Murthy.
“We had invited some Indian financial officials and industry leaders to speak at the AFF, but they replied that they weren’t available for the event dates,” a HKTDC official told IANS here.
The council, however, did not reveal who all or how many Indian officials were invited.
However, there are about 10 Indian delegates from Mumbai representing the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India attending the 11th edition of the two-day forum.
A large group of Indian ministers and government officials would be taking part in this year’s WEF.
On January 23, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be addressing an inaugural session at the 48th annual WEF.
An array of Indian ministers like Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu, Railways Minister Piyush Goyal, Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Minister of State for External Affairs Ministry M.J. Akbar will be part of the WEF meeting.
“As a country with such a large finance and start-up community, it is surprising to see such little Indian participation at this international forum,” Rajkumar Adukia, a Mumbai-based chartered accountant attending the AFF, told IANS here.
“If we want foreign investments coming into our country, we need to have Indian businesses and officials taking these fora seriously,” Adukia remarked.
The emerging financial technology (FinTech) sector in Asia and how it can transform the future of banking, the future of jobs in Asia, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and big data opportunities are some of the topics to be discussed at the two-day event.
With the US economy on the rebound and demand picking up worldwide, the platform would look at the impact of it on the rest of the world and how Asia could capitalise on the opportunities in the developed countries.
(Bhavana Akella is in Hong Kong at the invitation of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. She can be contacted at [email protected])
–IANS
bha/rn
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
Cheers and Cheers: Barzilla’s Joyful Ode to Inclusivity and Celebration
Casino Days Reveal Internal Data on Most Popular Smartphones
Meghalaya Reserves Legalized Gambling and Sports Betting for Tourists
IPL 20202 UPDATE: KXIP vs MI IPL Dream11 Team Prediction for Today Match, Update Point Table of all Team.
In a Live debate AAP leader Syed Asad Abbas hurls abuses to BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
‘India’s Most Wanted’ trailer out Arjun Kapoor on hunt of Osama-Bin-Laden
Time to move on: Sonakshi on Shatrughan’s joining Congress
