Evening hosts impressive array of dignitaries, business leaders and celebrities
In a historic moment for the Indian diaspora and global business community, the ICAI Dubai Chapter (NPIO) hosted Shri Ram Nath Kovind, the Immediate Past President of India, at a grand event marking a first in its 42-year history. This was the first time the Chapter had welcomed a former President of India, making the occasion truly significant, reported gulfnews.com.
A gathering of prominent figures and influential discussions
The evening featured a distinguished list of dignitaries, business leaders, and celebrities, including Vasu Shroff, Ankur Aggarwal (Founder & Chairman of BnW Developments), actor and entrepreneur Vivek Oberoi, educationist Dinesh Kothari, and community leader Surendra Jain. Their presence underscored the importance of the event, highlighting the growing influence of the Indian professional community in the UAE.
Key topics discussed included the UAE’s Make it in the Emirates initiative, which redirected over Dh110 billion into the local economy, and the India-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which has increased bilateral trade by 50% since 2022. The gathering also explored the $7 billion UAE investment in India and new opportunities in clean energy, AI, and advanced manufacturing.
Salama Alawadhi, Assistant Undersecretary in the Industrial Development Sector, emphasized the success of the Make it in the Emirates initiative, which has created over 22,000 jobs and positioned the UAE as a global industrial hub.
Visionary leadership highlighted during the event
CA Jai Prakash Agarwal, Chairman of ICAI Dubai Chapter NPIO, opened the event with an inspiring message: “Vision is not about seeing the future. It is about seeing what others do not see — and believing in what others dare not dream.”
Vivek Oberoi echoed this theme, stressing the importance of action: “After believing in vision, the action is important. Vision becomes reality when it’s actioned.” Ankur Aggarwal added, “At BnW Developments, every individual is a visionary who dares to dream, believes, and acts. That’s why BnW Developments is getting bigger, better, and bolder across the UAE.”
The evening also included high-level discussions on India-UAE partnerships and their respective visions of growth. Gaurav Sharma from Franklin Templeton Investment Solutions spoke on the evolving global trade dynamics, noting the influence of economic policies and tariffs on future market trends.
With over 3,000 members and 500+ companies, the ICAI Dubai Chapter continues to play a key role in fostering stronger ties between India and the UAE, reinforcing the importance of collaboration in trade, culture, and diplomacy.