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Exim Bank, FICCI mark Africa-India Partnership Day in Ivory Coast

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Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire): With preparations on for the upcoming Third India-Africa Forum Summit in October in New Delhi, an Africa-India Partnership Day was recently organised here jointly by the Export-Import Bank of India and industry chamber FICCI for sharing India’s developmental experiences with Africa, particularly on the public-private partnership model of financing infrastructure development.

Speaking on the occasion, Dinesh Sharma, additional secretary in India’s department of economic affairs, said that India has signed the protocol for replenishment of technical cooperation worth $9.52 million with the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) to show India’s commitment to the region.

Addressing the gathering, India’s Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Dinesh Bhatia said: “India’s commitment is not just restricted to investment but also in the knowledge and skill development sphere through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Program (ITEC).”

Under ITEC, the Indian government extends fully paid scholarships to participants in developing countries for studying a diverse range of subjects.

Kodeidja Diallo, director (Private Sector) African Development Bank, said a Project Development Company is to be launched in Africa to develop infrastructure projects in the continent.

India’s Exim Bank, in collaboration with the AfDB, is setting up a Project Development Company in Africa to identify and develop infrastructure projects with the aim of providing the Indian private sector an opportunity to invest in and implement such projects in Africa.

The PDC is expected to provide specialist project development expertise to take the infrastructure project from concept to commissioning. It will focus on infrastructure projects that have specific strategic interest to India.

The Exim Bank has also released a report documenting the manifold jump in trade in recent years between India and the West African regional grouping, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), whose members are Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo and Guinea-Bissa’.

India’s two-way trade with ECOWAS has seen a 12-fold increase from $1.9 billion in 2004 to $22.7 billion, the report, Enhancing Trade Relations with ECOWAS, says.

“While India’s total exports to ECOWAS have risen six-fold to $7 billion in 2013, India’s total imports from ECOWAS have risen 23-fold to $15.7 billion,” Exim Bank said.

“As a result, India’s trade balance with ECOWAS has turned negative in recent years, primarily due to the large and rising volume of crude petroleum imports,” the report added.

It placed India’s trade deficit with ECOWAS at $8.7 billion in 2013.

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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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