bit modi special supplement dec 14

Brisbane Indian Times special supplement to commemoratethe visit of Indian Prime Minister Hon. Narendra Modi

Brisbane

A Division of Qld Multicul tural Times

Indian TimesDecember 2014 Issue

From the PublisherFIRST of all I would likecongratulate Indian PrimeMinister Narendra Modi Jion his first official visit toBrisbane after becomingthe Prime Minster.To all our readers,welcome to the specialsupplement on the historic visit by IndianPrime Minister Narendra Modi to Australia.Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brokenthe old saying of “Indian Time” what he didin nine days no other Indian Prime Ministerhad been able to do , he attended meetingsthroughout the day and night. He managedto fit everything within the tight scheduleand still deliver a very powerful speech. Iwitnessed him speak at the unveiling

ceremony of Gandhi statue inRoma street Parklands,followed by his address atBrisbane city hall. Thehighlight was his historicaladdress at all phones arena inOlympic Park, Sydney. Ittruly was history in the

making.This supplement is a tribute to his visit, wehad invited community leaders andassociations for their messages but very fewresponded, which is a bit disappointing, Iwould have thought that the response wouldhave been greater.I hope you will enjoy reading the specialsupplement.Umesh Chandra.

Umesh Chandra

Iam pleased to send this message tothe Brisbane Indian Times for their

forthcoming publication of a specialsupplement on Prime MinisterNarendra Modi’s recent visit toAustralia. It has been 28 years since an IndianPrime Minister visited Australia. Prime Minister Modi’s visit is a vote ofconfidence in the friendship betweenAustralia and India. It is also aninvestment in an even greater futuretogether. Our two countries share growing tradeand people-to-people links. Two-waytrade between Australia and India isaround $15 billion a year and India is oursecond largest source of internationalstudents with over 40,000 currentlystudying in Australia. Australians of Indian heritage have found

success in a country that rewardsdedication, hard work and a willingnessto serve the community.Since 1788, Australia has been animmigrant society. Successive waves ofnewcomers eager for a better life,including many from India, have enrichedour culture and added a heroic dimensionto our national story.As a nation, we have found unity in ourdiversity and respect in our differences.Together, we have built a modern nationon the idea that anyone can get aheadprovided they are prepared to “have ago”.Today, there are almost half a millionmembers of the Australian-Indiancommunity. Modern Australia isunimaginable without them.Tony AbbottPrime Minister of Australia

Prime MinisterNarendra Modi’s visit to Australia

HOSTING the G20 Leaders Summitpresented Brisbane and Queensland with anunprecedented opportunity to build on ourglobal reputation as an exciting business andtourism destination.In order to maximise the benefits theQueensland Government hosted orparticipated in a series of key events, whichincluded meeting the Prime Minister ofIndia, Mr Narendra Modi, as well asattending Indian Community Receptions andan Indian Business Breakfast.Queensland and India already have a strongrelationship and the G20 allowed us to buildon that.As a result Indian Prime Minister Modi has

issued me with a personal invitation toattend the 7th Vibrant Gujarat Summit from11th to 13th January 2015 in Gujarat, India.I have accepted this invitation and will leada trade mission to participate in the Summitand visit other key cities.We will celebrate our business links andlook to create new opportunities so that theQueensland and Indian economies can grow.As Queensland Premier I was incrediblyproud of the success of the G20 Summit andI look forward to the benefits that it willcontinue to bring this State.

Campbell NewmanPremier of Queensland

www.indiantimes.com.au2 - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tour 2015 Call Trudi on 07 3865 6533

Fijian PM thanks Indiancounterpart for visit

PRIME Minister Voreqe Bainimarama hasexpressed his appreciation on behalf of theGovernment and people of Fiji to thePrime Minister of India, Narendra Modifor his recent visit on November 19, 2014.“I am convinced that our bilateral andmultilateral discussions found manyopportunities of co-operation anddevelopment between Fiji – India and thePacific as our nations share fundamentalvalues of individual freedom, rule of law,religious diversity and electoraldemocracy,” PM Bainimarama said.“I look forward to working closely withyou and your government in these areas ofco-operation and hope that these arecomprehended soon,” he added.During the visit, the two head of states,discussed on issues pertaining to climatechange, strengthening of resourcecapabilities and the importance ofdeveloping small micro enterprises in Fiji.

Fiji and India signed three Memorandumsof Understanding (MOU) during the event,including the exchange of land for a newchancery building in New Delhi,diplomatic exchanges allowing Fiji’sdiplomats to train at the IndianGovernment’s Foreign Service Instituteand project finance for an electricity co-generation plant funded through the EximBank of India.The Fijian PM thanked his Indiancounterpart for convening the Forum forIndia – Pacific Islands Cooperation in Fijiand inviting the Pacific Leaders to Fiji.PM Bainimarama said the address givenby Shri Modi to the Fijian parliamentadded dimension to democracy, economicdevelopment, innovation and prosperity tothe Pacific region.Fiji and India share 135 years of historicalrelations with formal diplomatic relationsestablished in 1970.

Tourist Visa on Arrival in India for43 countries including Australia

Written By Yadu Singh

THE government of India has started aTourist Visa on Arrival (TVoA) enabled byElectronic Travel Authorisation (ETA),which is a great news. It should remove thehassle which many experienced whileobtaining a Visa for India. This facilityshould increase the tourist’s numbers toIndia. It was announced by India’s HomeMinister, Sri Rajnath Singh and Minister ofState, Tourism, Dr Mahesh Sharma inNovember.TVoA ENABLED BY ETA-EXPLAINEDThe purpose of Tourist Visa on Arrival(TVOA) enabled by Electronic TravelAuthorisation (ETA) is to facilitate foreigntravellers visiting India. This facility hasbeen extended to Nationals of followingcountries: Australia, Brazil, Cambodia, CookIslands, Djibouti, Federated States ofMicronesia, Fiji, Finland, Germany,Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kenya,Kingdom of Tongo, Laos, Luxembourg,Mauritius, Mexico, Myanmar, New Zealand,Niue, Norway, Oman, Palestine, Papua andNew Guinea, Philippines, Republic ofKiribati, Republic of Korea (i.e. SouthKorea), Republic of Marshall Islands,Republic of Nauru, Republic of Palau,Russia, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands,Thailand, Tuvalu, UAE, Ukraine, USA,Vietnam, Vanuatu. List of more countrieseligible for TVoA may be notified by thegovernment from time to time.

PURPOSE AND VALIDITY OF TVoAENABLED BY ETA* Foreigners whose sole objective of visitingIndia is recreation, sight- seeing, shortduration medical treatment, casual businessvisit, casual visit to meet friends or relativesetc. Not valid for any otherpurpose/activities.* Entry into India within 30 days from thedate of approval of ETA.* Valid for 30 days stay in India from thedate of arrival in India.* Allowed to enter and depart from any of the9 Airports, viz Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi,Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai &Thiruvananthapuram.* Cannot be availed more than twice in acalendar year.WHO ALL ARE ELIGIBLE* Foreigner of above countries who holds anOrdinary passport with minimum six monthsvalidity.* Foreigners travelling on Passport other thanordinary passport such as Diplomatic,Official, Special and Service passports arenot eligible for TVOA service.* Should not have a residence or occupationin India.* Travellers should have return ticket oronward journey ticket with sufficient moneyto spend during his/her stay.* International Travellers having PakistaniPassport or Pakistani origin may please applyfor regular visa at Indian Mission

www.indiantimes.com.auCall Trudi on 07 3865 6533 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tour 2014 - 3

Australian Tamil Congress A Unified Voice for All Tamils www.australiantamilcongress.com ABN: 97 138 993 852

“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us”. - Albert Schweitzer

Prime Minister Honourable Narendra Modi has rekindled and lighted the flame of hope within millions of people, both at home and overseas, with hope for a better future. For that we are deeply grateful and honoured by his visit to Brisbane.

We wish Prime Minister Modi every success on his journey of making India a truly a great nation on earth.

With our humble salutations:

INDIAN PM Mr Modi’s recent visit toAustralia has sparked fresh hopes forgreater economic and social engagementbetween two nations. For those who cansense the times and season we are movinginto as a migrant community, we can expectmiracles to transform villages in India. Areyou ready for the challenge? Are you readyto be part of a great miracle?The answer to these key questions dependshow well you are willing to engage andgive sacrificially to the less fortunatepeople of India. It is not only governmentpriority to transform the nation but everycitizen who has been blessed by theAlmighty God. Especially people fromIndian origin and subcontinents areenjoying a better life in Australia and inother prosperous countries.Paul Kelly, editor at large for The WeekendAustralian made an important and anaccurate statement in my opinion. Mr Kellywrote “In Narendra Modi , the primeminister (Tony Abbott) has found a partnerwho will bring us new prosperity”. Ifengaging with India can bring newprosperity to Australia, we must step up andready to bless India with generous hearts.There are number of small communityorganisations I am directly involved incommunity transformation in India. JoyfulChildren’s home based in Dharwad,helps toeducate girls from ‘Devadasi’ community.This is a small step in rescuing young girlswho would be dedicated to one of goddessto perform prostitution to local men. This isa miracle for those girls as a curse of manygenerations is broken through sacrificialservice of dedicated people. There are manyother organisations we are partnering tobring true miracles and freedom to India.Mr Modi’s, speech during Indian

Independence Day revealed his intention toserve people as servant leadership plans. Hesaid “Today I stand here not as your primeminister but as your prime servant”. In a

recent speech Mr. Modi commented “Manyof us who have not had opportunity to fightfor Indian independence, to be beaten,jailed. And there should be some pain in ourhearts as we continually remember the greatsacrifice price paid for our freedom.” We could not die or suffer the country’sindependence, but we must strive hard tolive for the country’s true values of loveand sharing each other’s burdens. To live inlove and harmony with caring for the lessfortunate. Then only India can find truefreedom and these small miracles willcreate a transformed nation.That is a remarkable shift in the languageof Indian politics. This is what MahatmaGhandi was speaking during his freedomfighting days. When we sincerely seek thespirit of servant hood heart to serve theunder privileged people of our generation;we are on the right direction to transformour nation. We as a community must find commonground and come together to accept thechallenge of today’s deep issues here inAustralia and in India. We must step up ourindividual responsibility to love one anotherand give generously to the charities. Mostof us have come to this nation with nothingand have been blessed by the great land ofthe Holy Spirit. Australia has special part toplay in the transformation of India. You arewilling and obedient, don’t wait for thegovernment to tackle the small issues suchas adapting village or town to build a toiletsor training centres. One miracle hero is Moses who rescuedpeople into freedom. Moses took up thechallenge of leading the people with servanthood leadership. The Bible says, Moseswas the most humble person, by trusting theword of God he lead millions of people tothe promise land. The book of Exodusrecords the key verse, “Then the Lord toldMoses, I have certainly seen the oppressionof my people…I have heard their cry ofdistress…now go..Just like our leaders and politicians, we

have a call and a mandate from GodAlmighty to go and bring true freedom topeople from injustice, bondage, andpoverty. Go India, go Australia, multitudeof miracles waiting to be released throughyour generous hearts and minds. And this isthe true reason for Christmas; that Jesuscame to earth set the captives free and bringfreedom from sin and death. MerryChristmas to all BIT readers.Join us in the journey by emailing yourideas and thoughtsto:[email protected]

Mr ModiMiracle..?

• G20 Volunteers

• “Indian PrimeMinister NarendraModi with G20volunteer SudhaSharma during theG20. Photo’scourtesy AwadheshSharma.

QUT’s Centre for Tropical Crops andBiocommodities (CTCB) and the Instituteof Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai,are leading a multi-million dollar researchproject to reduce the costs of producing biooils and chemicals from agricultural waste,minimise investment risks and encouragediversification in farming. Associate Professor Ian O'Hara, ProfessorWilliam Doherty and Dr Phil Hobson fromCTCB and Professor Arvind Lali from ICTgave a presentation on the project to PrimeMinister of the Republic of India MrNarendra Modi who is in Brisbane for theG20 Leaders' Summit.Professor Doherty said as well as makingthe production of renewable fuels moreeconomically viable, the research aimed toextract chemicals to replace conventionaloil-derived compounds used in paints,adhesives, fire retardants and plastics for arange of applications including vehiclebody parts and building materials.“The agricultural waste we are using

which cannot be used as food or fodder isbeing sourced from three main crops thatare common in Australia and India – sugarcane bagasse, forest residues left over fromlogging and rice straw,” Professor Dohertysaid.“Working with eight other research

partners, including the Institute of ChemicalTechnology in Mumbai, the project isfunded by the Australian and IndianGovernments and has major implicationsfor the production of bio-based energy andrenewable chemicals.“Up to 30 per cent of the cost of producingbio oils and other renewable fuels is in thecollection, transport and storage of biomass(agricultural waste) prior to processing. Weare currently developing tools that enableus to reduce the cost of delivering biomass.“Our primary aim is to establish biomassas an economically and environmentallysustainable alternative energy source andreduce the risk barriers for companies

investing in advanced manufacturing inAustralia and India.“This will significantly increase the

viability of farming and rural communitiesby encouraging diversification associatedwith the production of major crops commonto both the Australian and Indianagricultural sectors.“Our hybrid biorefinery concept bringstogether both thermochemical andbiochemical conversion processes andtechnologies developed by participatingparties to maximise carbon conversionefficiency and end product value.”Professor Doherty said the team was nowset to take the process from the laboratoryto the pilot stage at the biocommodityplants in Queensland, WA and India.The Australia-India Strategic ResearchFund 2013-2016 project partners are:• Queensland University of Technology,Brisbane; • University of Western Australia,Perth; • Curtin University, Perth; •NewSouth Wales Department of PrimaryIndustries • Institute of ChemicalTechnology, Mumbai; •CSIR- NationalInstitute of Interdisciplinary Sciences andTechnology, Thiruvananthapuram;• International Centre for GeneticEngineering & Biotechnology (ICGEB),New Delhi; • The Energy and ResourcesInstitute (TERI), New Delhi; and • R & DCentre, Indian Oil Corporation, Faridabad

Australia-India research aims for cheaper fuels and chemicalsfrom agricultural waste

Prime Minister Narendra Modiunveils Gandhi Statue in Brisbane NOVEMBER 16th, Brisbane witnessed a historic momentand a proud achievement for Queensland Indiancommunity, the unveiling of Gandhi Statue in Roma streetparklands by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Months of hard work had finally come to fruition. A lot ofhard work had gone behind the scenes to make this happenby Gandhi Statue committee under the chairmanship of JimVarghese. The idea of a Gandhi statue is nothing new, it had beenaround for a while, in October 2013 after inauguratingGOPIO Canberra chapter in front of Gandhi statue in GlebePark, Umesh Chandra put forward a proposal to Local andState Governments requesting a site for a statue. This wasclearly announced at India Day Fair 2014 in Roma Streetparklands. Both the levels of government were open to theidea and the matter was forwarded to Councillor MatthewBurke who is in charge of Parks, some undesirable siteswere offered by local government, which were not

accepted. The story takes a turn here, G20 was announcedand there was a lot of hype about Prime Minister NarendraModi’s visit, as it happens quite a few years back ShreeNarendra Modi in one his visits to Brisbane had dinner atMr Pars Ram Punjs’s house, among the invited guests wereHemant and Kalpana Naik. Over dinner Shree NarendraModi Ji had mentioned to Hemant that there should be astatue of Gandhi in Brisbane, Hemant Naik promised hewould look in to the matter. Now coming back to thecurrent situation, Prime Ministers visit to Brisbaneprompted Hemant that this was the opportune time to act;he consulted Jim Varghese, who suggested that a committeebe formed to take the project further.

On consulting the department Jim and Hemant wereinformed about the pre-existing proposal, Jim Vargheseconsulted Umesh Chandra and invited him to join thecommittee, and to take the project forward in a collective

and united manner. Umesh Chandra agreed to worktogether as the end result was more important than whogets the credit. Lord Mayor had called Umesh Chandra fora meeting in his office, after the formation of the committeeLord Mayor contacted Umesh Chandra to see if he wasaware of the committee and would all be working as oneunit and there would be only one proposal, Umesh Chandrainformed that he had already been contacted by JimVarghese and that he will work with the committee for theproject. The meeting was still on at the same time and thecommittee was invited to attend, Lord Mayor briefly metUmesh Chandra before meeting the entire committee.Hemant Naik and Umesh both were sourcing the statuefrom the same source, a donor from Canberra. At the initial meeting Councillor Matthew Bourke

suggested Wickham Park, this was rejected by thecommittee and finally Roma Street parklands was offeredand the committee whole heartedly accepted that. Throughour Honorary Consul for India in Queensland, Mrs ArchanaSingh, Indian High Commissioner got involved as well; theinvolvement saw a change in the statue that would beinstalled, as now the statue was being donated by IndianGovernment with the Help of PBD. Hemant Naik took onthe major role of coordinating the actual works; being anarchitect and developer he has a lot of experience in thatfield. Upon finding out about the project Pars Ram Punjexpressed his desire to be involved as well and the contractfor the works was awarded to his son in law Indu Kant,Indu Kant also donated the stone that would go around thebase, Pars Ram Punj donated the cutting and installationcost of the stone. A legally binding contract had to besigned with the contactor as the committee had no legalentity, a Brisbane baseddeveloper Suman Makan came

to the rescue and he signed the contract for the works toproceed. Suman Makan also undertook to make up anyshortfall in costs; Dr Maha Sinnathamby had pledgedSeven thousand dollars towards the project. Hemant andKalpana Naik oversaw the project works; given the shorttime frame there no room for error. The committee wasunder tremendous pressure to make this happen in a timelymanner. A lot had to be coordinated, Prime Ministersapproval for the unveiling, the security, the protocol, theactual works, necessary permits, planning the run sheet,and above all and most troublesome preparing the invitelist. Many people felt left out, but the committee had strictinstructions to keep the numbers low and the security tight. Considering everything and the given time frame the

committee did an exceptional job of planning and executingthe project. Brisbane now has a Gandhi’s statue and that tooone that was inaugurated by Indian Prime MinisterNarendra ModiJi, in a prime central location, a location thatthis dear to Queensland Indian community, as it is thevenue for GOPIO Queensland India Day Fair, now we haveGandhi ji to bless the occasion.The committee had representation from GOPIO Qld,

FICQ, AIBC and Queensland Indian Business Community. COMMITTEE • Jim Varghese AM (JV) – Chair • KalpanaNaik (KN) Secretary • Hemant Naik (HN) ExecutiveSecretary • Mrs Archana Singh (AS) - Honorary consul of

India • Professor Arun Sharma (AS) - Chairman QldGovernment India Council • Mr Randeep Agarwal (RW) -President AIBC QLD • Professor Prasad Yaragladda (PY) -President of the FICQ • Ms Raynuha Sinnathamby (RS) -Managing Director Springfield Land Corporation • MrShaym Das (SD) - Immediate Past President of GOPIO Qld• Professor Kamal Puri (KP) - Chief Advisor includinglegal counsel • Mr Umesh Chandra (UC) – GOPIOInternational Coordinator Oceania & Publisher BrisbaneIndian Times • Mr Surendra Prasad (SP) – advisor on QldEthnic communities • Mr Yousuf Ali Khan – (YK)President, GOPIO, Qld • Mr Suman Makan – (SM) Co-opted member (Events) and donor • Mrs Harsha Makan –(HM) Co-opted member (Events) and donor.



NEW DELHI: Prime Minister NarendraModi returned home after a nine-day-three-nation tour of Myanmar, Australia and Fijiduring which he had a range ofinternational engagements. The special Air India plane carrying the

Prime Minister and his delegation landed inNew Delhi airport after a 14-hour flightfrom Fiji with a two-hour refuelling halt atYangon in Myanmar. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swarajwas among others at the airport to receivePrime Minister Modi.

During his three-nation tour, Modiattended the East Asia and ASEAN-IndiaSummits in Myanmar, the G-20 Summit inAustralia and held bilaterals with his

Australian and Fijian counterparts. Modi, the first Indian premier to visit thePacific country after Indira Gandhi who hadcome here in 1981, held talks with hisFijian counterpart Frank Bainimarama andalso announced a slew of Lines of Creditand development aid totalling USD 80million for the country. He also addressed Fijian parliament, the

first by a foreign leader, after parliamentaryelections, during which he said that Indiawas prepared to build a “Digital Fiji”. Modi announced visa on arrival facility forall the 14 Pacific Island countries andhoped it will promote better understandingbetween the peoples. During his four-city tour in Australia, Modiand his counterpart Tony Abbott agreed ona landmark framework for securitycooperation across the spectrum in defence,

cyber and maritime security and combatingterrorism, including the threats posed by

foreign fighters joining extremistsgroups. The two countries also decided to

conclude a long- pending Free Tradepact by the end of next year and an“early closure” of the civilian nucleardeal that will facilitate uraniumimports to India. Prior to arriving inAustralia, Modi attended theASEAN-India summit and the EastAsia Summit in Myanmar. At the East Asia summit in Myanmarcapital Nay Pyi Taw, Modi assertedthat the world community must rejectany linkage between religion andterrorism while formulating a

“genuinely international” partnership in thefight against all forms of terror acts.

On India-ASEAN relationship, Modi saidthere were “no irritants” in their ties andthey can be “great” partners. He said there will be “major improvement”

in India’s trade policy and environment andproposed a special facility for speedyimplementation of connectivity projectswith the 10-nation ASEAN bloc.On the sidelines of the summits, Modi metChinese Premier Li Keqiang, Malaysiancounterpart Najib Razak, Russian PremierDmitry Medvedev, and Thai counterpartGen Prayut Chan-o-cha.

PTI

PM Narendra Modi coversthree-nation tour in nine days


THE Global Organization of People ofIndian Origin (GOPIO) extends a warmwelcome to India’s Prime Minister Hon.Narendra Modi to Brisbane. There is anextra-ordinarily high level of excitementand anticipation among Non-residentIndians (NRIs) and Persons of IndianOrigin (PIOs) in Brisbane about the visit ofHon. Narendra Modi to the Australia. It is aunique time in the history of the partnershipbetween India and the Australia with manyopportunities to strengthen the relationshipon several fronts while doing so withrespect, consideration of present andemerging trends, as well as recognition ofrealities. The growing partnership betweenIndia and Australia is poised for an historicalliance between equals. NRIs and PIOs in Australia comprise arapidly increasing population. Theseinclude significant numbers of prominentachievers and contributors in all segmentsof society, innovators in technology, High

technology medical and professional,academia, media, finance, legal, political,business and investments, culture,hotel/motel hospitality, pharmaceutical, etc.There is a highly visible sense of euphoriaamong NRIs and PIOs in Australia aboutthe recent political change in India andanticipation of stronger partnership betweenIndia and Australia, as well as mutualinterest of India and Australia for peaceamong India’s neighbors. There is alsomutual interest of India and Australia forcombating violence, terrorism andextremism among India’s neighbors andcountries in the region. India-Australiarelationship potentially can be thecornerstone of much needed global strategicinterests and regional stability which can betremendously beneficial to both India andAustralia. While there is also a new generation ofNRIs and PIOs well integrated in Australiansociety at all levels, there is strong interest

among NRIs and PIOs in Australia tostrengthen the relations between Indian &Australia. There is also a strong interestamong NRIs and PIOs in Australia for moreprogress in India internally for goodgovernance, accountability at all levels,quality education to all children, healthservices, clean water supply, updatedsanitation and social services, equitabletreatment of women and children, upliftingthe poor and downtrodden and taking pridein quality of services. There also exist goodfeelings towards India and NRIs and PIOsin Australia among the Australiapopulation, officials, business, academiaand society in general.As the premiere global advocacy IndianDiaspora organization representing theinterests and concerns of NRIs and PIOs,GOPIO looks forward and supports moreprogress to strengthen the partnershipbetween India and Australia. GOPIO’sspecial message in this supplement

highlights the enormous successes andcontributions of the Indian Diaspora inAustralia and globally. We are confidentthis special supplement in Brisbane IndianTimes will enhance the prominence of thePrime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to theAustralia and highlight the Indian-Australian community’s support for PrimeMinister Modi, his mandate and agenda forreform and India’s prominent place in theglobal arena.Umesh ChandraGOPIO International Coordinator(Oceania) GOPIO is a non-partisan, non-sectarianglobal organization formed in 1989 and haschapters in several countries, activelypromoting the interests of people of Indianorigin worldwide by monitoring andaddressing current critical issues ofconcern, and by enhancing cooperation andcommunication between groups of Indiansliving in various countries.

GOPIO International welcomes India’sPrime Minister Narendra Modi to Australia

Indian PM stresses importance of research during QUT visitINDIAN Prime MinisterNarendra Modi hasdeclared research the"mother of invention" afteran historic visit to QUT.One of the most tech-savvyworld leaders attending theG20 Summit in Brisbane,Mr Modi was given a tourof The Cube, one of theworld's largest interactivelearning and display spaces.Mr Modi inspected the two-storey-high digitalcentrepiece of the Scienceand Engineering Centre, atQUT's Gardens Pointcampus, where he heardabout ground-breakingresearch and met local highschool students. As Australia's leading

research centre in roboticvision, QUT unveiled itslatest agricultural robot.AgBot II has the potential to change farming practicesaround the globe and early next year will start field trialswhich will see it seed, weed and fertilize crops.Asked to write a message on the robot, Mr Modi wrote(translated from Gujarati): "Research is the mother ofinvention. The development journey of mankind is acontinuous stream of research. Science and technology isvery important for agriculture."Agricultural scientists rely heavily on science and

technology. Agricultural progress is very important for thewelfare of humanity. I congratulate you for your effortshere and wish you the best."Generous with his time, Mr Modi, who has more than 7.8million Twitter followers, happily posed for "selfies" withexcited high school students.Mr Modi explored the diversity of The Cube, from "Chem

World" to the spectacular "Virtual Reef" and "The CubeGlobe", which visualised trade and investmentopportunities between Queensland and India.He also met the QUT research team spearheading theuniversity's multi-million dollar partnership with the IndianGovernment to develop iron-rich bananas to help stamp outiron-deficiency anaemia in India, a major cause of maternaldeath during childbirth.The joint project has enormous humanitarian potential asiron deficiency is a problem in all developing countries.The progressive Prime Minister was briefed on a projectbeing jointly led byQUT's Centre for Tropical Crops andBiocommodities and the Institute of Chemical Technology,Mumbai, which aims to create cheaper fuels and chemicalsfrom agricultural waste.The project expects to reduce risks for companies

investing in advancedmanufacturing in regionaland rural areas and isfunded through theAustralia-India StrategicResearch Fund.QUT's expertise in the

development of drought-resistant chickpeas andother pulses, staple foodsin India, was also on thePrime Minister's itinerary.The development of newvarieties of pulses such aschickpeas and mung beansshould allow Australia andpotentially other nationssuch as India, to be able tofarm land currentlyconsidered unsuitable forproduction.As income levels rise

within the Asian region inparticular there will beunprecedented demand for

protein and this void will be filled by pulses rather thanlivestock.QUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Coaldrake and

Professor Arun Sharma, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Researchand Commercialisation) welcomed Mr Modi to QUT, alongwith Australian Minister for Agriculture, the HonourableBarnaby Joyce MP."It was a huge honour for QUT to welcome Prime MinisterModi to our world-class Science and Engineering Centre,"Professor Coaldrake said."QUT is proud of its very strong ties with India, inparticular our joint major research projects in the areas ofagricultural innovation and food security. These areground-breaking research projects that could be crucial tothe future of food production in India, Australia andglobally."

• GOPIO International executive team.


Modi magic hits Australia...

The team at Brisbane Indian Times congratulates Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modion his historic visit to Myanmar, Fiji and Australia. We would also like to congratulate GandhiStatue committee for the mile stone achievement. Congratulation is also in order for Prof NihalAgar and his team at Indian Australian Community foundation for planning and executing thevery successful civic reception for Honourable Narendra Modi Ji in Sydney.

Brisbane Indian Times, Queenslands first full colour newspaper for the Indian community, serving the community since 2013. Covering all regions and religions

Brisbane

A Divi s ion of Qld Multicu ltural T imes

Indian Times

Real Estate Is Our World

Globenet Realty, longest established agency in its trade area serving the community since1998. Number one agency for listing and sellingas per Real Estate.Com statistics

Licensee Usha Chandra and the team atGlobenet Realty Boondall congratulateHonourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi on hishistoric visit to Myanmar, Fiji and Australia.

We would also like to congratulate Gandhi Statuecommittee for the milestone achievement.

Congratulation is also in order for Prof Nihal Agarand his team at Indian Australian Communityfoundation for planning and executing the verysuccessful civic reception for HonourableNarendra Modi Ji in Sydney.

(07) 3865 4466www.globenetrealty.com.au

bit modi special supplement dec 14

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