Dubai: Dr J.R. Gangaramani, President and Executive Chairman of the Al Fara'a Integrated Construction Group, was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award at a ceremony held on January 9 in Chennai, India.
Dr Gangaramani accepted the award from President of India, Pratibha Devisingh Patil.
The global award is 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 for it, Dr Gangaramani is the fifth UAE resident to achieve this accolade in the last seven years.
"The UAE has welcomed me with open arms and has been 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 Gangaramani.
Gangaramani joins the ranks of notable personalities including Abdool Raouf Bundum, Vice-President of Mauritius; Lord Diljit Rana, Irish business tycoon and member of the UK House of Lords, as well as Neville Joseph Roach, Chairman of Fujitsu, Australia, in achieving the highest accolade granted to persons of Indian origin.
As the founding member of the Indian Business Professional Group, an organisation established to promote strong business relations between India and the UAE, Dr Gangaramani has been forthcoming in opening the doors of his group companies to provide research platforms to the visiting delegations backed by organisations such as FICCI, from India in a bid to share best practices and elevate quality standards.
In addition to encouraging greater Indo-UAE business ties, Dr Gangaramani has also dedicated his resources towards patronising NGO's that push the educational and personal development of under-privileged children.
