Varsity pact opens a new chapter for Indo-NZ trade organisation

Another Chapter to brighten NZ-India Relations: New Zealand Bharat Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Mahesh Bindra (left) and Pimpri Chinchwad Education Trust Chairman Dnyaneshwar Landge (right) display the MoU that they signed, watched, among others by Trust Executive Director Dr Girish Desai (stand second to the right of Mr Bindra) at the University Campus in Pune, Maharashtra, India, on January 6, 2025 (Photo Supplied)

Venkat Raman
Auckland, January 28, 2025

Student Exchange and Internship Programmes, Research, Entrepreneurial Support, Networking and Joint Initiatives are among the areas of cooperation that have arisen anew between New Zealand and India through an Agreement signed recently.

Auckland-based New Zealand Bharat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NZBCCI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Pimpri Chinchwad Education Trust and the Pimpri Chinchwad University and the latter’s Campus in Pune on January 6, 2025. The signatories were NZBCCI Chairman Mahesh Bindra and Education Trust Chairman Dnyaneshwar Landge.

Collaboration in Education

Among those present were Trust Executive Director Dr Girish Desai, Head of Centre for European Studies Dr Aishwarya Gopalakrishnan and officials of the Trust and the University.

Mr Bindra, a former Member of Parliament (NZ First), said that the MoU aims to foster international academic collaboration and strengthen bilateral cooperation in skills development and polytechnic education.

“The NZBCCI was established to help New Zealand and India contribute and capitalise on India’s massive economic growth. India has become an economic powerhouse primarily due to the urbanisation of the erstwhile Tier Two and Tier Three Cities and the massive influx of human capital from these hitherto untapped areas. Pune is a hub for Global Capability Centres (GCC) and Pimpri Chinchwad University feeds this talent pool. We are thrilled to enter into this MoU,” he said.

Mr Bindra said that the mission of the NZBCCI is to move away from the traditional big-ticket items on which New Zealand and Indian businesses have focused and develop Sunrise Industries.

Dr Desai described the MoU as the ‘beginning of an exciting new Chapter for the Trust and the University with bright prospects.’

“We look forward to working closely with the NZBCCI to explore new opportunities in knowledge development and capacity building and push the boundaries of what is possible in our field,” he said.

A Pact for Brighter Education: New Zealand Bharat Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Mahesh Bindra (left) singing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Pimpri Chinchwad Education Trust Chairman Dnyaneshwar Landge (right), watched among others, by Trust Executive Director Dr Girish Desai (standing behind) at the University Campus in Pune, Maharashtra, India on January 6, 2025 (Photo Supplied)

About Pimpri Chinchwad Education Trust and University

The Pimpri Chinchwad Education Trust was established in September 1990 by the late Shankarrao Bajirao Patil (who served as a Member of the Indian Parliament and a Member of the Legislative Assembly of the erstwhile Bombay State) and his wife, the late Lilatai Patil (a renowned educationist) to promote quality teaching and learning through quality institutions.

The Trust owns and operates eleven educational institutes including the Pimpri Chinchwad College of Engineering (one of the top Engineering Colleges in Pune), the Pune Business School and S B Patil College of Architecture and Design.

The Trust has a legacy of nurturing excellence, operating three campuses in Nigdi, Ravet, and Sate, Pune. The Pimpri Chinchwad College of Engineering, Pune Business School and S B Patil College of Architecture and Design thus far account for 46,000 students.

The Pimpri Chinchwad University has a ten-acre campus in Pune, offering courses ranging from undergraduate programmes to doctoral studies leading to graduate degrees – Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Computer Applications, Bachelor of Technology, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Pharmacy and Master of Business Administration degrees and many others.

A Trusted Brand

Mr Bindra said the Pimpri Chinchwad Education Trust and University is a ‘trusted brand, offering quality education from early childhood education to Doctorate Programmes.’

“The late Mr Patil was a visionary and his mission was to serve society, the industry and stakeholders through value-inculcating, quality education in the area of schooling, as well as professional tutelage in Engineering, Management and Computer Applications. The Trust is committed to creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art and academic values,” he said.

The Campus accounts for about 7200 students pursuing specialised courses in Science and Technology, Management, Business Administration, Computer Applications, Architecture and Design, Research and Development and Entrepreneur Development. ‌

Global Associates

Mr Bindra said that the Trust has affiliations and accreditations with institutions and organisations of repute all over India and the world.

“These national and international alliances have been birthed through the immense hard work and dedicated support of the Trustees and Board of Directors through years of nurturing and providing excellence in education to students for varied fields. ‌Through the NZBCCI, we hope to bring added value to the education sector and promote stronger relations between New Zealand and India,” he said.

About NZBCCI

The New Zealand Bharat Chamber of Commerce and Industry was launched by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters and India’s High Commissioner to New Zealand Neeta Bhushan at the Diversity Centre in the South Auckland suburb of Papatoetoe on September 21, 2024.

The event witnessed the signing of a MoU with the Ahmedabad-based Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry virtually.

“The formation of this Chamber has been a step-by-step approach with a strong focus on value-added services to facilitate better trade, commercial and investment relations between the two countries. Our association with the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry will allow us to work closely with companies in Gujarat and help us to expand further. We hope to formalise such relationships with Chambers of Commerce and Industry in all the States of India,” Mr Bindra said.

Among the Directors of the NZBCCI are Mahesh Bindra (Chairman), Roy Kaunds (Secretary), Sukerna Amirapu (Treasurer), Edwin Paul, Major Ron Mark (former Defence Minister), Jacob Mannothra, Prithi Pal Singh Basra, Alan Nicholson, Fletcher Tabuteau and Sudhanshu Mehta (Chairman, NZBCCI Bharat Chapter).

Mr Bindra advised New Zealand businesses to ‘understand India first, establish a presence and then engage seriously with their Indian counterparts.’

Ms Bhushan said that the exponential growth of the Indian economy has opened up rich potential for mutually beneficial engagement.

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