Venkat Raman –
Venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz
Auckland based Logistics Company Link 2 Group took major honours at the Ninth Annual Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards Ceremony held at Sky City Convention Centre in Auckland City on Monday, November 28, 2016.
More than 1100 people attended the Black-Tie dinner which included speeches and live entertainment that included dances by Ratna Venkat, singing by Ashish Ramakrishnan and the ‘Gurus of Groove’ band (A separate Report appears on Page 3).
Among the Guests of Honour were Prime Minister John Key, Leader of the Opposition Andrew Little, Ministers Judith Collins (Police & Corrections), Peseta Sam Lotu-liga (Ethnic Communities), Paul Goldsmith (Commerce and Consumer Affairs), Auckland Mayor Phil Goff, Indian High Commissioner Sanjiv Kohli and Gautam Lewis, Chief Executive, Freedom in the Air, London.
Mr Key spoke of the growing relationship between New Zealand and India and the contributions of the Indian community, while Mr Lewis recalled the love and care that Mother Saint Teresa bestowed on him as an abandoned child and how she influenced his life and career.
Mr Lewis was the Guest Speaker at the Sixth Annual Mother Teresa Interfaith Meeting held on Sunday, November 27 at the St Paul’s College Chapel in Ponsonby, Auckland.
Kuchipudi Princess
RAMS Foundation Trustees Ragavan Rengachariar and his wife Alamelu conferred the title of ‘Kuchipudi Princess’ on Ratna Venkat for her contributions, innovative interpretations and presentation of this great South Indian traditional dance form.
Prime Minister John Key presented the Title and Citation to the artiste.
Awards Galore
The Link 2 Group won the Supreme Business, Business Excellence in Customer Service and Best Employer of Choice Awards, while its Chief Executive Rahul Sirigiri won the Best Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
Mr Key and BNZ Chairman Doug McKay presented the Supreme Business of the Year Award to Link 2 Group Indra Sirigiri. The Judges had noted that the company, which began with two employees in Year 2000 today employs more than 200 people, serving a growing number of multinational and national companies in New Zealand.
Police and Corrections Minister Judith Collins presented the Best Employer’s Choice Award, a new category introduced this year to Mr Indra, along with Sneha Antony and Wenceslaus Anthony, representing sponsors SRF Limited of New Delhi and WAML Limited based in Auckland.
Apart from receiving the Best Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award from Mr Key and Relianz Travel Managing Director (Sponsor the Category) V Giridharan, Rahul Sirigiri also received the Business Excellence in Customer Service Award presented by Mercury Printz Managing Director Ilango Krishnamoorthy, Leader of the Opposition and Auckland Mayor Phil Goff.
Photo Caption:
Indra Sirigiri is all smiles as John Key has a word with the winner of the Supreme Business of the Year Award, watched on either side by Manasa Sirigiri and Doug McKay
(Pictures by Narendra and Sai Bedekar)
Following is the full list of winners:
Business Excellence in Retail Trade: Hunua General Stores
Business Excellence in Customer Service: Link 2 Group
Business Excellence in Innovation: The Rainbow Corner Early Learning Centre
Business Excellence in Marketing: Global Imports & Exports Limited
Best Small Business: Starlight Fabrics
Best Medium-Sized Business: The Rainbow Corner Early Learning Centre
Best Large Business: Discoveries Educare
Best Employer of Choice: Link 2 Group
Business Excellence in International Trade with India: Global Imports & Exports Limited
Best Financial Advisor (Mortgage) of the Year: Ajay Kumar (Global Finance)
Best Financial Advisor (Insurance) of the Year: Ajay Kumar (Global Finance)
Best Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Rahul Sirigiri (Link 2 Group)
Best Businesswoman of the Year: Ashima Singh (Legal Associates Limited)
Supreme Business of the Year: Link 2 Group
