National
Australia-India bilateral trade can grow further: Envoy
New Delhi, Aug 28 (IANS) Though Australia-India economic ties have grown significantly in the last decade, there is scope for further growth, Australian High Commissioner to India Harinder Sidhu said on Monday .
India is Australia’s 10th largest trading partner, with two-way trade valued at A$21 billion and two-way investment valued at A$24 billion in 2015-16. India is Australia’s sixth largest export market, comprising nearly A$15 billion in goods and services.
“Even though these are very significant figures, more can be done to increase exports and attract foreign investment in both directions as India takes a more active approach to engaging with the global marketplace,” Sidhu said in a statement issued by the Australian High Commission ahead of the visit of Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Steven Ciobo, who will be leading a delegation of over 170 Australian businesses for Australian Business Week India (ABWI) to be held from August 28 to September 1 across New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bhopal, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
According to the statement, Australia is committed to exploring ways to expand its engagement even further and it is making practical efforts to help Australian businesses develop personal connections with Indian counterparts in business and government.
ABWI is designed to grow commercial links and highlight Australian capability in a range of industries including agribusiness and food, higher education and research, smart cities and infrastructure, innovation and resources and mining technology and services.
“ABWI 2017 builds on an earlier business mission to India, ABWI 2015, which delivered 20 significant deals worth millions of dollars,” the statement said. “Moreover, it comes at a crucial time for Australia’s blossoming commercial relationship with India.”
The Australia-India CEO Forum will also be held alongside ABWI on August 29.
“A Prime Ministerial initiative, the Forum will bring together business leaders from many key sectors. The Forum will present both governments’ recommendations to enhance economic linkages,” the statement said.
–IANS
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National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
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.