Venkat Raman
A visiting Indian Minister spoke about the achievements of the Indian government led by Narendra Modi and the exciting developments underway in strengthening the country’s infrastructure and other projects.
At a private lunch hosted by former Member of Parliament and Founder-Member of New Zealand India Trade Alliance (NZITA) Mahesh Bindra at Indian Accent Restaurant in Mt Wellington yesterday (Tuesday, April 24, 2018), Mansukh Laxman Mandaviya said that apart from innovative programmes and policies, his government was implementing ideas to provide specialists products and services at affordable prices.
Reducing burden
“He spoke about the pharmaceutical industry and explained how his government spoke with manufacturers of stents (used during angioplasty procedures) and brought down the price to about Rs 7300 from a fraction of what was charged by international companies earlier.
“Our Prime Minister is keen to ease the burden of the common man and make available goods and services at reasonable costs,” he said.
Mr Bindra said there was also discussion on the overall developmental plans that the Union and State governments were implementing as a part of ‘Make in India,’ and other innovative projects and programmes.
The luncheon was attended by India’s High Commissioner to New Zealand Sanjeev Kohli, Second Secretary and Head of Chancery Sandeep Sood, NZITA Chairman and Secretary General respectively Giri Gupta and Sunil Kaushal and Secretary to the Minister Rajbir Singh.
Community Reception
Later in the evening, Mr Mandaviya addressed a reception organised in his honour by the New Zealand Indian Central Association (NZICA) and Auckland Indian Association (AIA) at Mahatma Gandhi Centre in Eden Terrace, Auckland Central.
He briefed the members of the Indian community on the infrastructure development with particular reference to roads and highways in India as well as improvements to shipping.
Mr Mandaviya is currently on an official visit to Tonga and Fiji to attend meetings of the Energy and Transport Ministers, following which he will be Auckland on his way back home.
About the Minister
Born and raised in a middle-class farmer family in Hanol, a small village in Palitana Taluk of Bhavanagar District in Gujarat, Mr Mandaviya obtained a postgraduate degree in Political Science. Earlier, his love for animals encouraged him to pursue a course in Veterinary Science.
He has the distinction of being the youngest MLA in Gujarat in 2002 and in 2012, was elected to Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament).
He was appointed to his current ministerial role on July 5, 2016.
Mansukh Laxman Mandaviya (third from right) with (from left) Rajbir Singh, Sanjeev Kohli, Sunil Kaushal Mahesh Bindra and Giri Gupta in Auckland on April 24, 2018 (Picture Supplied)
