In a glittering ceremony at the Grand Hyatt in Dubai on Sunday evening, attended by the who’s who of Indian Gulf business community, India’s number 1 English news channel Republic TV honoured the biggest names with their very first Republic TV Gulf Indian Leadership Summit and Awards 2018, co-powered by Raymond and Omkar Developers.
Chief guest of the occasion was none other than Indian Minister of State (Independent Charge) Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Colonel Rajyavardhan Rathore. He was also joined by Shri Vipul, Consul General of India in Dubai along with a host of special guests and speakers like Surjit Bhalla, Member of the Indian PM’s Economic Advisory Council and Sameer Manchanda, Chairman, DEN Network and part of the CII Media committee.
With its highly successful launch in the Middle East recently, Republic TV presented the legends of the business world from India in Gulf with Lifetime achievement awards while several others were honoured with the Visionary and Inspirational leader awards.
The honourable Minister presented the Lifetime award to industry icons like Dr Zulekha Daud, Dr B R Shetty and Dr Azad Moopen, who have all played a significant role in the health care sector both in the gulf and back home in India. Other recipients of the award were the legendary Mohan Valrani, Vasu Shroff, Dr. Ram Buxani and Bharatbhai Shah.
Speaking at the event, founder and editor-in-chief of Republic TV, Arnab Goswami, presented an ambitious map for Indian media worldwide. He asked, ‘Why is it that the robust Indian media cannot produce international content and compete with the BBC and CNN’s of the world? Within the next two years, not later than 2020, Republic TV or any other Indian media must aim to do so. An Indian channel producing world coverage watched by everyone in hotels all around the world like this one in Dubai.’
Minister Rathore echoed his sentiments saying, ‘Western perspective is all good but we have had enough of it. We now need Indian perspective of the world. All of you are ambassadors of India overseas and your voice is equally important.‘ Later, Arnab Goswami, a household name himself, quizzed the minister on the Indian government’s ‘Mission 2022’ in his own inimitable style. Since its launch in May 2017, Republic TV has been the undisputed No. 1 leader in India for straight 59 weeks.
Most of the awardees also shared their critical views on the Indian Gulf business relationship and their stories of success with inspiring words and nuggets of wisdom on several panel discussions hosted by Mr. Goswami and Republic TV Anchor and News Editor Shivani Gupta.
Others awarded for their valuable contribution in the world of business included Mr. Feroz Allana, Founder and Director, IFFCO Group, Mr. PNC Menon, Founder and Chairman, Sobha Group, Mr. Rizwan Sajan, Senior Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Danube Group and Mr. Paras Shahdadpuri, Chairman, Nikai Group of Companies to just name a few.
The Dubai chapter of ICAI, Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, hosted the event along with Republic TV.
