Mangalore: Ball set rolling for Rachana World Convention

Pics: Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (FR)

Mangalore, Jan 19: Union minister for petroleum and natural gas and forest and environment Dr M Veerappa Moily on Sunday January 19 said that an opportunity has come to India to harness demographic dividend and it should take it as a challenge and excel.

Inaugurating the office and releasing the brochure of Rachana World Convention and Exhibition – Magnet 2014 at Bishop’s House hall here, Veerappa Moily emphasized that gas is the real energy of the 21st century and India would emerge as a major energy power by 2030. He further added that Rs 2 lac crore would flow as investment into the petrochemical complex in Mangalore in the next few years without affecting anything.

"We have only choices – either demographic dividend or demographic disaster. We have to take this challenge as an opportunity," Moily pointed.

He also stated urged that we should not allow energy to go waste and added "We have to create energy from waste. We need to take decisions and nothing is impossible if we have the passion and enthusiasm".

"We have Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (a Sanskrit phrase which means that the whole world is one single family. It says those animals, birds, plants, trees and other organisms in the ecosystem being part of our family) and therefore it is not difficult for India to take up this challenge," Moily stated. He further said that two centuries ago USA got this opportunity of demographic dividend.

Unlike the USA which was a conglomeration of many nationals after its independence, India has the advantage of being an integrated nation. "We had a spiritual constitution even before independence. It is not difficult for our country to move from integration to higher level of integration. We need to take up this challenge as an opportunity. Apart from political freedom we need to strive to attain economic freedom," he pointed out.

He further stated that Bangalore has now emerged as the Silicon city of the world and the foundation of the same was laid by him in the 70’s despite not getting favourable response from several quarters. Today Bangalore’s Silicon Valley stands as a true example demonstrating that everything is possible if we make up our mind and work to achieve it with unflinching enthusiasm. He complimented Rachana for its initiative and said it has come up with the world convention at an opportune time and promised to extend all possible help to make the event a grand success.

President of Rachana Ivan D'Souza in his welcome address requested Veerappa Moily to provide necessary grants from the central and state governments for the event to be successful. Through this event we hope that more and more youngsters are encouraged to take up professional self employment, he pointed out.

Chairman of the Organizing Committee of Magnet 2014 Walter D'Souza, briefing the gathering about Magnet 2014 stated that Rachana has planned this world convention to build a network of entrepreneurs and professionals from all over the world to provide inspiration and support to make youngsters self employed professionals. The event would also facilitate flow of FDI into the country from overseas establishments. "We want the creation of the Rachana Venture Capital fund to provide need-based venture capital to start ups by first generation entrepreneurs and also establish Rachana Industrial credit cooperative society to help existing entrepreneurs," he stated.

Earlier Capt John Menezes and Ronald Gomes presented a memorandum towards "Partnership and Progress of Coastal Karnataka" to Union Minister Veerappa Moily. The memorandum highlighted the need to develop and improve infrastructure facilities, Railway connectivity, promote tourism development and the urgency to set up Agriculture/Horticulture Board and Air Cargo Complex in Mangalore.

Msgr Denis Prabhu, Vicar General, Diocese of Mangalore, Ivan D'Souza, President of Rachana, John Monteiro, Secretary – Rachana, Marcel Monteiro, General Secretary and Walter D'Souza, Chairman of the Organizing committee were on the dais.

Magnet 2014, Mangalorean Global Network for Entrepreneurial Talent will be held on April 6, 2014 at the TMA Pai International Convention Centre, Mangalore. The one day event is an initiative of Rachana, Catholic Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Mangalore.