President of Mauritius Chaired 7th Convocation at LPU

· Mauritian President advised 15,000+ graduating LPU students to bring difference in the world through education received

· “India is an economic power- house in the South Asian Region”: HE Dr (Mrs) Ameenah

· “Punjab is the land of lions, where bravery and courage rule the hearts of men-women alike”: HE Dr (Mrs) Ameenah

· “As a scientist, I am enthused by LPU’s emphasis on invention, creativity and development”: HE Dr (Mrs) Ameenah

· “LPU is a citadel of learning and has all ingredients of an excellent university”: HE Dr (Mrs) Ameenah

22 November 2016: Jalandhar:  Her Excellency Dr (Mrs) Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, President of the Republic of Mauritius, chaired two-phased 7th Convocation of Lovely Professional University (LPU) today. She honoured PhDs and toppers of various LPU academic programs and delivered Convocation Address. During this ceremony, 15000+ distance education students, who passed their June 2016 examinations, also received post-graduate, graduate degrees and diplomas. LPU Convocation also turned out to be momentous for Mauritius and India when the Chief Guest, President of the Republic of Mauritius, Her Excellency Dr (Mrs) Ameenah Gurib-Fakim was conferred upon honorary Doctor of Letters  (Honoris Causa) degree of the University.  Dr (Mrs) Ameenah was conferred honorary doctorate for her ardent working towards advancement of science, technology and in recognition of her services for the society. On this occasion, Lovely Group Chairman Mr Ramesh Mittal, Vice Chairman Mr Naresh Mittal, LPU Chancellor Mr Ashok Mittal, Pro Chancellor Mrs Rashmi Mittal, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Ramesh Kanwar and Director General Er H R Singla shared the main dais. 

HE President of the Republic of Mauritius Dr Ameenah Gurib Fakim, LPU Chancellor Ashok Mittal, Pro Chancellor Rashmi Mittal giving PhD degree to student Rajiv Sobti at LPU Convocation

 Her Excellency Dr Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, President of the Republic of Mauritius addressing the students during 7th Convocation at LPU.

 Her Excellency Dr Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, President of the Republic of Mauritius addressing the students during 7th Convocation at LPU

 Lovely Group Chairman Sh Ramesh Mittal, Vice Chairman Sh Naresh Mittal, LPU Chancellor Ashok Mittal giving bouquet to HE Dr Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, President of the Republic of Mauritius at LPU

 LPU Chancellor Ashok Mittal, Pro Chancellor Rashmi Mittal, VC Dr Ramesh Kanwar giving Honoris Causa to HE President of the Republic of Mauritius Dr Ameenah Gurib Fakim at LPU Convocation

  “Left to Right:  Lovely Group Vice Chairman Sh Naresh Mittal, Chairman Sh Ramesh Mittal, LPU Chancellor Mr Ashok Mittal, Her Excellency President of the Republic of Mauritius Dr Ameenah Gurib Fakim, Pro Chancellor Ms Rashmi Mittal, Vice Chancellor Dr Ramesh Kanwar and DG Er Hr Singla present during 7th Convocation at LPU”.

Students of LPU looking cheerful and raising their hats after getting degree from HE President of the Republic of Mauritius Dr Ameenah Gurib Fakim during 7th Convocation at LPU

Before making Convocation address, HE Mauritian President Dr (Mrs) Ameenah expressed her condolences and sympathies to the family members of the persons died in recent train accident in India. Admitting to be an ardent fan of energy providing Punjabi culture, HE Dr (Mrs) Ameenah began convocation address with “Sat Sri Akal” and “Mainu Punjab ‘ch aa ke bahut khushi mehsoos ho rahi hai.” She said: “Punjab is the melting pot of incredible India and is undoubtedly a land of lions, where bravery and courage rule the hearts of men and women alike. Moreover, the economic opportunities in Punjab are endless.” Advising students, she said: “Bring difference in the world through education received at LPU. As a scientist, I am enthused by LPU’s emphasis on invention, creativity and development. LPU is a citadel of learning and has all ingredients of an excellent university. Carry on this legacy of excellence which has been forwarded to you here. Knowledge can only be effective if it is applied and leads to innovation and development. Go on to deliver excellence in every field of your life. Make your parents, Punjab and Motherland proud of you.”

Illustrative, world renowned biodiversity scientist, Her Excellency is the first ever woman to hold the title of the President of Mauritius. Mentioning India as the land of her forefathers, she shared that India and Mauritius has so many things in common be it traditions, values or culture. She also shared: “India will continue to play a key role in the global economy and as an economic powerhouse in the South Asian region.” She also wanted a kind of education in India and Mauritius under which young and ignited minds of both the countries should not leave for other countries.

Prior to this, welcoming the high-profiled chief-guest HE Dr Ameenah at densely packed Shanti Devi Mittal Auditorium, LPU Chancellor shared with all how Mauritius with not much land and natural resources has risen as one of the richest countries in the African Continent, through able guidance of leaders like HE Dr (Mrs) Ameenah. Addressing students, Mr Mittal shared: “Today, Mauritius has become a center of textiles, tourism and advanced technology. Students should learn strong determination, sincerity, and hard-work from Mauritian stories of regular successes. Believe me - no dream is big enough. Just like the people of Mauritius and Her Excellency Dr Ameenah, dream big and strive to achieve the impossible.”

LPU students Rajeev Sobti (CSE), Harpreet Singh Bedi (Management), Sunaina Ahuja (Management), Aditi Gupta (Chemistry), Varun Kumar (Mathematics), Madhuri Girdhar (Bio-Technology), Meena Jhamat (Education), Ajay Verma (Pharmaceutics), Amandeep Bagga (Computer Applications), Shruti Shukla (Education), Harjit Ghotra (Physics), Nidhi Phutela (Management), Anil Bhardwaj (Chemistry), Vijay Kumar (Chemistry), Rahul Sharma (Management), Vishal Thakur (Physics) and others, who received Ph D degrees in their respective programs, seemed very happy and shared that their preference to join LPU Ph D Programs, indeed, proved grand.

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Mauritius to remain preferred source of FDI says Sir Jugnauth

India 21 November 2016: “The relations between India and Mauritius have always been very strong and I see no reason that it will be otherwise. It will be very strong we are doing everything to make it stronger,” Mauritius Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth told on a luncheon meet with business leaders organized by All India Association of Industries (AIAI) in association with Indo-Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and World Trade Centre, Mumbai.

The Initial treaty was the double taxation avoidance, it was helpful to both Mauritius as well as India because many investments were coming here through Mauritius. Even now, as negotiations are underway, Mauritius is hopeful of remaining the largest source of foreign Investments into India even under the new treaty, Mr. Jugnauth stressed.

The Prime Minister of the Island nation said economic and diplomatic ties between the two nations have been on an upswing and pointed out that there are already lots of investments by Indian people so he does not see any reason why it should not continue. Mr. Jugnauth, further said that they had no other option but to negotiate with India after the Indian government decided to put an end to the decades old treaty, however, we are still negotiating to have something new to replace it. The old treaty was obviously beneficial but to us and since it is not there we are losing the benefit that we were making as I said we had no other option.

On question Mr. Jugnauth replied about the impact of the abolition of the old treaty would have on the country’s economy, the Prime Minister said, “Mauritius is still having its financial centre which has not been affected to much extent and we are trying to diversify. We are also trying to make up for whatever loss the centre is facing. We have to live up to reality (abolition of the treaty), we can’t do otherwise.” Mr. Jugnauth said the country is trying to diversity and at the same time negotiating for new treaty.

“We have already said it to Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi that it (the new treaty) should not be less favourable than the treaty that India would be making with other countries which they used to have the treaty before Jugnauth said, addition, “India would do everything not to make us lose therefore we are still negotiating. I can’t say what will be the final result.”

As per the protocol, India would be taxing on capital gains arising from sale/transfer of shares acquired on or after April 1, 2017. The protocol protects investments in shares acquired before 1st April, 2017, that is existing investments made before 1st April, 2017 have been grandfathered and will not be subject to capital gains taxation in April next, Mr. Jugnauth added.

According to statistics, foreign Investments in India from Mauritius has been around 33 per cent since 2000 and in FY 2016, it was 21 per cent. The foreign funds owned over 28 per cent in the Sensex and Nifty stocks.

Mauritius Prime Minister Mr. Jugnauth said that the government was offering various incentives for film industry to promote, as we have all the infrastructure and one of the best locations to use Mauritius for producing films.

Mr. Vijay G. Kalantri, President – All India Association of Industries (AIAI) in his welcome address said that various taxes, holidays and investments for global corporation, film development for giving boost to SME Sector in the recent budget by financial services and also to specially encourage excellent idea on the Pharmaceutical Sector in order to export to African market.

Mr. Kalantri said that besides this, the Second Sector which Mauritius envisages to develop is the gold sector which India already has enough capabilities in terms of designs and workmanship. This will encompass a wide spectrum of high value-added activities, ranging from refinery of gold, producing gold bars, setting up top end jewellery processing units, vault facilities and to trading of gold and bullions on the new commodity exchange. The exchange is also supposed to facilitate trade in diamond and other precious metals.

In the automotive sector, and Indian Delegates has already visited Mauritius and has expressed an interest in setting up several manufacturing projects in Mauritius, one of which is the production of bicycles and motorcycles. This project aims mainly at exports to the African market and has the potential for creating a significant number of jobs, Mr. Kalantri added.

The meeting was attended by various Industrialists, Bankers, Mrs. K. Napaul - Consul General of Mauritius, Lady Sarojini Jugnauth - Spouse of Rt Hon’ble Prime Minister of Mauritius, Cabinet Chief - Mr. Medha Gunputh and others.

Caption for Photo- 

Hon’ble Prime Minister of Mauritius the Rt. Hon. Sir Anerood Jugnauth GCSK, KCMG, QC being felicitated by Mr. Vijay Kalantri, President, All India Association of Industries at the luncheon meeting organized in honor of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of Mauritius on 20, November, 2016 in Mumbai. 

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