PUBLIcATION OF THE cONSULATE GENERAL OF INDIA IN DUBAI VOL. 2 ISSUE 11-12 | NOV-DEc 2010 President Patil Visits UAE The State Visit marked an important milestone in INDIA -UAE relations C FROM THE CONSUL GENERAL’S DESK O Dear Reader, A year-end issue beckons a rear-view mirror look at the last twelve months. India had good rains this N year and the economy defied global pessimism as it moved towards a 9 percent GDP growth rate. An overwhelming majority of nations backed us as a Community celebrated a decade of purposeful exis - T Non-Permanent Member of the UN Security Council tence. It was also a year in which our Indian High for a two-year term. In an unprecedented acknowl - School in Dubai entered its 50th year. Our congratu - edgement of India’s growing international stature, lations to both these great institutions. E leaders of all P-5 countries, viz., UK, USA, France, Apart from the core responsibilities of the Russia and China visited New Delhi in a space of ten Consulate, we continued to reach out to the Indian weeks. We also successfully hosted the biggest community through a variety of ways in 2010. This Commonwealth Games so far. included film shows, cultural events at the Consulate, N Bilaterally, it was a year of high-level political celebration of Gandhi Jayanti, blood donation and engagements. HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al medical camps. Passport and visa services were fur - Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the ther streamlined to shorten delivery time. The inter - T UAE and Ruler of Dubai, visited New Delhi in March face with our nationals was further increased by an 2010, where he met our Prime Minister. The Hon’ble Open House on consular matters as well as one on President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, vis - financial issues. 2010 was also a year when our S ited UAE in November 2010 to add a high note to radios show “India Matters” went live for a more President Patil’s visit deepens ties India-UAE relations. Significant for the community in real-time feel. 4 the Northern Emirates during the Presidential visit On behalf of the Consulate General of India in Through her maiden visit to the Gulf Region, Indian President Pratibha Patil was the launch of the Indian Workers Resource Dubai, I wish all our readers a 2011 full of well- has further strengthened the already burgeoning relations between the Centre in Dubai and inauguration of the India Trade being and happiness! United Arab Emirates and its largest trading partner, India & Exhibition Centre in Sharjah. Happy Reading! In 2010, the Indian Community Welfare Sanjay Verma ECONOMY 18 Resilient India bouncing back INDIA MATTERS ON AIR The Indian economy is showing remarkable resilience and may end the current fiscal year with a growth rate close to 9 pc 26 SUPERBRANDS The winner of the Apollo Hospitals PROFILE | KESHAVA October 2010 16 The seven-year-old tabla prodigy monthly quiz contest is BOOKS 34 Reaching New Ms. Raksha Shet TRAVEL She wins a gift hamper. Horizons 42 Smelly water, shark After hosting the prestigious Hay-on-Wye fins...Don’t crib, but The Consulate General of India in Dubai has re-launched festival in November, India gets ready for the its weekly radio programme, India Matters, with the grand Jaipur Lit Fest. With new festivals, crab! Crabbing is still a favoured outing for rural purpose of informing the public about various Consular Indian literature has made a mark in the s! teenagers and some enterprising adults in services, events relating to India and about what matters gratulation global arena to Indians in the UAE. Con some parts of Goa India Matters is aired every Saturday between 6 pm and 7 pm on FM 105.4 Radio Spice and repeated every Friday India Matters is a monthly publication of the Consulate General of India (CGI) in Dubai . All rights reserved. No part of this journal may be produced, stored between 4 pm and 5 pm. or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the permission of the CGI Dubai . FM 105.4 Radio Spice caters to the South Asian commu - Editorial correspondence and manuscripts can be addressed to [email protected] nity in the UAE, broadcasting mainly in Hindi and English. Content and design by IANS (www.ianspublishing.com) on behalf of Consulate General of India in Dubai. 2 IsnepdteiMa bMer a20t0t9 ers| Nov-Dec 2010 Nov-Dec 2010 |IndisaepMteMabtetr e2r00s 9 3 INDIAN PRESIDENT VISITS UAE avenues for cooperation between the two President Patil countries in the best interest of the peoples arrives in of the two countries.” Dubai The meeting’s discussions covered various accompanied areas, such as politics, science, culture and by Ambassador economy, and included an exchange of M.K. Lokesh, opinion on a number of regional and Consul General international issues of mutual interest. Sanjay Verma Both Sheikh Khalifa and the President and Sheikha stressed the importance of regional and Lubna al global cooperation in resolving international Qasimi issues and enhancing peace and security to achieve prosperity and stability at the global level. In this regard, Shaikh Khalifa affirmed the important role played by India in accom - plishing security and stability in the Indian Ocean and Eastern Asia region, as well as its contributions to achieving security at the global level. They also expressed their satisfaction with the consistent growth experienced in their relations. Shaikh Khalifa praised the continu - ing role played by the Indian community in the UAE’s development projects. President Patil hailed the historic bilateral relations between both nations, and highlighted the care provided by the UAE to Indian expatriates. “We appreciate and thank PRESIDENT the UAE, under the leadership of Sheikh Khalifa, for the hospitality it provides for Indian workers on its land,” said President Patil. Present during the meeting were Sheikh PATIL’S VISIT Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the DEEPENS TIES Western Region, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, Sheikh Sultan translating it into reality would require shifting Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President’s Through her maiden visit to the Gulf Region, Indian President Pratibha Patil has further from transactional to strategic engagement. Representative, and other Sheikhs and senior Indians being the largest expatriate officials. Sheikh Khalifa also hosted a banquet strengthened the already burgeoning relations between the United Arab Emirates and community in the UAE, with a population in honour of the Indian President and her its largest trading partner, India of around 1.7 million, have contributed to the delegation. new vigour in bilateral ties with frequent On the same day, President Patil addressed high-level visits. the Indian community at the Indian Social he President of India, Smt. Pratibha In terms of figures, the bilateral business The President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa and Cultural Centre (ISC), the biggest Indian Devisingh Patil, in her maiden state record is envious — trade between India and Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on November 22, 2010 recreational club in the Middle East with a visit to the Gulf region, arrived in the UAE stood at $43 billion, which made met President Patil at Al Mushrif Palace. On Dh35 million five-storey building with mod - TAbu Dhabi on November 21, 2010 them the largest trading partners in 2009-10. arrival she was presented a Guard of Honour ern amenities. The club has around 2,500 for a five-day official visit. Exports from India were worth $24 billion and a 21-gun salute. The national anthem of members. The visit of President Patil to the United and imports from the UAE were worth $19 India was also played on the occasion. Over time, the profile of the Indian com - Arab Emirates serves as a reminder that the billion. These figures exclude trade in oil. Welcoming President Patil and her accom - munity in the Gulf has been undergoing a time-tested bonds between India and the Having replaced China as the UAE’s largest panying delegation, Sheikh Khalifa said that transformation, President Patil said in her UAE, while rooted in the past, need to be trade partner last year, India now expects to the visit reflected the depth of cooperation, speech at the function. “Though large num - recalibrated in its approach, focusing on the more than double this figure over the next five friendship and historic links between the bers of Indian skilled workers were employed present, and evolving a vision for the future. years. While this outlook is encouraging, UAE and India. “The visit will open more in the UAE in the 1990s as a result of the 4 IsnepdteiMa bMer a20t0t9 ers| Nov-Dec 2010 Nov-Dec 2010 |Indisa epMteMabtetr e2r00s 9 5 INDIAN PRESIDENT VISITS UAE President Patil construction boom, gradually more and more speaking at the professionals in the fields of finance, banking, Dubai Chamber insurance and information technology have of Commerce gained employment in this friendly country,” and Industry she said, while addressing the Indian business community in the ISC auditorium. leaders meet “This transition in the profile of the Indian (below); The community is reflective of the UAE economy, President at which is gaining momentum in the knowl - India Club edge-based services sector. By providing (right) highly skilled services at a competitive cost, your role has proved to be important for the UAE. Your sustained remittances to India over the years have contributed to the foreign exchange reserves of India,” the President said.