J.R. Gangaramani receives global award from President of India

Honored for his exceptional and meritorious contribution towards building closer links between India and the UAE through his company and his sizeable philanthropic works, Dr. Gangaramani accepted the award from President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil.

As a recipient of this award, he joins the ranks of notable personalities including Abdool Raouf Bundum, Vice President of Mauritius; Lord Diljit Rana, Irish business tycoon and member of The House of Lords, as well as Neville Joseph Roach, Chairman of Fujitsu, Australia, in achieving the highest accolade granted to persons of Indian origin.

The global award has been bestowed by the Indian Government on an annual basis and is limited to a maximum of 15 awardees per year. With only a select few entitled to nominate possible recipients of it, Dr. Gangaramani is the fifth UAE resident to achieve this accolade in the last seven years. This honour is reflective of his achievements in the realm of entrepreneurial success, his pivotal role in strengthening Indo-UAE ties and his immeasurable efforts at caring for the communities in which he operates. The award is conferred on Non-Resident Indians and Persons of Indian Origins or on institutions established and run by Non-Resident Indians or Persons of Indian Origin for their significant contribution towards better understanding of India abroad and support to India's interests in a tangible way.

"The UAE has welcomed me with open arms and has been astoundingly generous in a way that has fostered my personal and professional development as a person and an entrepreneur. I would like to commend the highly dynamic culture of the UAE, and the Rulers of the UAE, whose vision has made it easier for expatriates such as myself to integrate with the local community and therefore create dynamic opportunities for others in the Emirates,"

said Dr. J.R. Gangaramani.

"This award is truly significant for me, and I am overwhelmed by the appreciation shown by the Indian Government for my efforts in creating potent opportunities for various societies in the UAE. As a token of my appreciation, I am committed to remain active in further strengthening the ties between India and the UAE through various initiatives, which can catalyze further collaboration amongst the two for the benefit of all," he added

As the founding member of the Indian Business Professional Group, an organisation established to promote strong business relations between India and UAE, Dr. Gangaramani has been forthcoming in opening the doors of his group companies to provide research platforms to the visiting delegations backed by organizations such as FICCI, from India in a bid to share best practices and elevate quality standards.

Focused on championing the cause of the construction industry, he is committed towards bringing about greater transparency and professionalism and encouraging the use of state-of-the-art technology in the operations of the industry not only in the UAE but also in India. Moreover, the Al Fara'a Group recently sponsored the festival of award winning Indo-UAE films in Abu Dhabi to strengthen cultural relations between the UAE and India.

"I wish to thank the Indian President, the Indian Government, the Rulers of the UAE, and the founders of 'Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards', whose acknowledgement of the Al Fara'a Group's work and unique approach towards economic and social initiatives will definitely inspire the entire Al Fara'a Family and myself with motivation to further strive for excellence in all our endeavors. My sincerest gratitude also goes to my family, friends and the 18,000 people who all have played a significant part in the company's growth in this highly competitive market. I assure every member of our community that we will be imparting our resources for the ultimate goal of cultivating stronger business relations between India and the UAE," concluded Gangaramani.

In addition to encouraging greater Indo-UAE business ties, Dr. Gangaramani has also dedicated his resources towards patronizing NGO's that push the educational and personal development of under-privileged children both in the UAE as well as in India. The 'Special Care Centre' in Abu Dhabi and the 'Hope Centre' in Al Ain are some of the charitable groups promoting empowerment and well-being of children, which has seen constant support from the Group.

Most recently, Dr. Gangaramani has signed an agreement with HH Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mabarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education & Scientific Research, and the Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) for a three year integrated programme in partnership with HCT for various initiatives aimed at bolstering the Engineering Faculty on a sustainable basis. The initiative is expected to further promote training and development of Emiratis in the UAE.

Regarded in the local community as the pioneer of one of the most successful business conglomerates in the country, Dr Gangaramani has built a bankable status for his business for its vertically integration capabilities and the ability to deliver high quality on time for all the projects that the Group takes on.

Throughout his 35 years in the UAE, he has played an active role in facilitating cooperation between the different communities, various chambers of commerce and governmental regulatory authorities. Further, he has also hosted numerous delegations of government trade ministers and influential businessmen from India in the UAE, in an effort to establish strategic alliances between the governments and business communities of both countries.