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Fewer foreign companies to participate in Defexpo (Lead)

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New Delhi, April 4 (IANS) The 10th edition of defence manufacturing exhibition “Defexpo”, to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 12, has seen a significant dip in the number of foreign companies joining the event, officials said on Wednesday.

However, the total exhibition area and the number of Indian companies participating in the event have gone up.

According to Defence Production Secretary Ajay Kumar, there are 154 foreign companies participating in the Defexpo this year.

The Secretary said the drop in number of foreign companies participating was around 10 per cent compared to the last expo.

An official statement issued ahead of the last Defexpo held in Goa in 2016 had said that 490 foreign companies took part in the exhibition.

This year, 523 Indian companies will participate in the event, up from 510 in 2016.

Overall in 2016, the Defence Ministry had announced participation of around a thousand Indian and foreign companies. Compared to that, the total number of participants this year has slipped to 677.

Defexpo 2018 — being held around 35 km off Chennai — would be spread over 290,000 square feet area and also have a live demonstration area.

Among the exhibitors this year, around 72 per cent are Indian firms, and about 20 per cent of the area is covered by medium small and micro enterprises (MSME), the Secretary said.

This year, for the first time, the Indian naval warships will be exhibited for the public.

Kumar said warships will be anchored at the Chennai harbour on April 13-14. Entry would be free for general public.

Apart from this, 47 official delegations from different countries have confirmed their participation in Defexpo, 13 of them being ministerial level delegations.

Several countries have large delegations with over 10 delegates showing tremendous interest in Defexpo 2018.

Ministerial level delegations are from countries including the USA, the UK, Afghanistan, Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Madagascar, Myanmar, Nepal, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Seychelles and Vietnam, among others.

The Defence Production Secretary said the aim of the exhibition was “to project India as a defence manufacturing hub”.

“The Defexpo is aimed at sending out a message that India is emerging as a defence manufacturing hub. This is in line with Make in India,” Kumar said, adding that all leading global defence manufacturers were participating in the event.

According to Kumar, the exhibition location near Chennai was picked because there is access to sea and a vast expanse of levelled ground is available.

He also said it was also close to tourist sites of Mahabalipuram and Cholamandal artists’ village. This would be an added attraction for the visitors.

“It is close to the historic site from where thousands of years back large number of ships had sailed during the Chola dynasty,” Kumar added.

–IANS
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Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok

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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.

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