LAUNCH OF DIGITAL MSME SCHEME
Kalraj Mishra Gives Away National Awards for MSME 2015
3 MoUs Exchanged with SAP India, Intel and HMT
3 MoUs Exchanged with SAP India, Intel and HMT
National Awards for MSME 2015 was organized here today. Shri Kalraj Mishra, Union Minister for MSME gave away the MSME Awards 2015. Since the United Nations has declared 27th June as the UN Day for MSMEs, the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises has selected this day for distributing National Awards to Micro, Small and Medium Entrepreneurs for their outstanding performance, to express the gratitude of the Government to the achievers in this field which is so important for the national economy.
Shri Giriraj Singh and Shri Haribhai P. Chaudhary, Ministers of State for MSME were also present to grace the occasion. Shri KK Jalan, Secretary MSME, Shri Surendra Nath Tripathi, Development Commissioner, Shri. Vinai Kumar Saxena, Chairman, KVIC, Shri C.P. Radhakrishnan, Chairman, Coir Board also were present on the occasion.
On this occasion the Union Minister for MSME Shri Kalraj Mishra also launched ‘Digital MSME Scheme’ and handed over three Memorandums of Understandings to SAP India, Intel and HMT respectively. These steps would further boost Ministry’s effort towards making the Digital India Mission successful. The Digital MSME Scheme is revolving around Cloud Computing which is emerging as a cost effective and viable alternative in comparison to in-house IT infrastructure installed by MSMEs. In cloud computing, MSMEs use the internet to access common as well as tailor-made IT infrastructure including software for managing their business processes. Cloud computing is free from the burden of investment on hardware/software and infrastructural facilities. Therefore CAPEX converts into OPEX. This scheme would encourage MSMEs towards this new approach i.e. Cloud Computing for ICT adoption
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Kalraj Mishra, Union Minister for MSME informed that for the year 2015 the total number of National Awardees are 56 for various categories, including 50 for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and 6 for Banks. He also said that the Ministry of MSME is making concrete efforts in line with ‘Digital India’ and ‘Make in India’ visions of the Speaking on the occasion, Sh. Kalraj Mishra, Hon’ble Union Minister (MSME) informed that for the year 2015 the total number of National Awardees are 56 for various categories, including 50 for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and 6 for Banks. He also said that the Ministry of MSME is making concrete efforts in line with ‘Digital India’ and ‘Make In India’ visions of the Hon’ble Prime Minister. He congratulated the award winners for achieving excellence in various fields and expressed his hope that other enterprises in the sector would emulate the examples set by the awardees. He exhorted the MSME sector to walk the path of ZED and Lean manufacturing to make Hon’ble Prime Minister’s dream a reality.
Union Minister of State for MSME, Shri Haribhai P. Chaudhary stated that the importance of MSMEs and their contribution to the economic and social development of India could not be overemphasized. The MSME sector including Khadi & Village Industries and Coir Sector is the largest employer, after agriculture. The MSMEs have shown growth of over 10% in recent years, this being more than that recorded by the large corporates. The MSMEs provide employment to over 110 million persons through over 50 million enterprises producing over six thousand products. In view of its importance in the national economy, the MSME Sector has always been in the top priority of the present Government. He also listed out the achievements made in MSME sector during the last three years. Further, the Government has also extended the coverage of the loans covered under the Credit Guarantee Scheme from Rs. 1 Crore to Rs. 2 Crore and the corpus of Credit Guarantee Fund has also been enhanced from Rs. 2500 crore to Rs. 7500 crore to facilitate collateral free loans to Micro & Small Enterprises.
Union Minister of State for MSME, Shri Giriraj Singh stated that M/o MSME, as per the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister, has taken a number of steps for ‘ease of doing business’ and ‘Digital India Mission’. Udyog Adhaar Memorandum launched in September, 2015, an online portal linked with Aadhaar number, can be filed within few minutes with no fee and on self certification basis. Furthermore, MSMEs can now access information on all schemes implemented by the Ministry on a single window at MyMSME mobile app.
CLEAR ACTION PLAN DRAWN TO REVITALISE CRUISE TOURISM IN INDIA
Clear Action Plan drawn to revitalize Cruise Tourism in India
The Minister of Shipping and Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari has said that Cruise Tourism is one of the fastest growing components of the leisure industry worldwide, and can be a major growth driver for the Indian economy by generating huge employment opportunities. Shri Gadkari was speaking at the National Workshop on “Action Plan for Development of Cruise Tourism in India”, in New Delhi today. The workshop was also attended by Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (I/C) Dr Mahesh Sharma, and representatives of all stakeholder organizations – both from the government and the private sector – including regulatory agencies which deal with issues impacting cruise tourism.
Pointing out that tourism has the highest investment to employment multiplier Shri Gadkari said that on an average, employment generation on a cruise ship is 1 job for 3-4 passengers. With India having the potential to cater to 700 cruise ships per year as against 158 handled this year, the cruise industry can generate more than 2.5 lakh jobs for ten lakh cruise passengers, giving a big boost to the country’s economy. He further informed that cruise terminals are being developed at five major ports – Mumbai, Goa, Cochin, Mangalore and Chennai. In addition, the transport potential of 111 inland waterways will also be tapped. Work will start for developing ten inland waterways by the end of this year. This includes the rivers Ganga and Brahmaputra on which work is already in progress, he informed.
Shri Gadkari called upon state governments also to play an active role in promoting cruise tourism by developing, packaging and marketing their tourists attractions to draw more and more tourists.
The Ministry of Shipping has been working actively with all relevant ministries and organizations of the government to promote cruise tourism in the country. A joint task force headed by Secretary Shipping and Secretary Tourism was constituted for the purpose, and a global consultant was engaged for drawing up an Action Plan. The objective of today’s workshop was to discuss this Action Plan which requires various arms of the Government to take action for creating an enabling business eco-system for growth of cruise tourism in the country.
Speaking on the occasion Dr Mahesh Sharma said that India is fast growing as an attractive tourist destination. To realize the full potential for cruise tourism in the country there was a need for all stakeholders to work together, in cooperation with each other, and create a favourable ecosystem for growth.
Highlighting the efforts of the Shipping Ministry for promoting cruise tourism, Dr Alok Srivastava, Special Secretary (Shipping), informed that e visa, e-landing and incentives like minimum rebate of 30% on all cruise vessel related charges and additional rebate of 25% for coastal cruise movement have already been implemented. Further to this, a joint task force has been set up by the Ministry of Shipping & the Ministry of Tourism and an action plan for deriving standard operating procedure has been drawn, which would be implemented in a time bound manner after discussion with various stakeholders.
Secretary Tourism Smt Rashmi Verma said that the coming together of the Shipping and Tourism ministries to promote cruise tourism in the country would help maximize the benefits that the sector has to offer.
Stakeholders discussed several regulatory issues pertaining to various aspects of cruise port operations namely security, immigration, customs, ports in the workshop. They worked towards drawing up Standard Operating Procedures for all govt. organizations for cruise vessel handling.
CHEER HARAN A TRUE PICTURE OF JAT RESERVATION AGITATION
Cheer Haran a true picture of Jat reservation agitation that claimed many lives
The jat reservation agitation that paralyzed Haryana and shamed India across the globe last year, moved Kuldeep Ruhil so deeply that he decided to make a documentary on it. The producer and director of the 90-minute documentary said, “As a film maker it’s my duty to prevent and show the reality of Haryana.” On being asked about the reason behind portraying it as a documentary and not a feature film, the director said, “Thereason behind the documentary is that a feature could be a statement with conclusion. But that could not be the idea because there would be no exploration otherwise. The documentary serves the reality.” He also added that, “You will see that the real victims and survivors are still positive but these reservations has kept alive the cast discrimination.”
Randeep Hooda on being asked about the jat agitation said, “Reservation should be on socio economic basis and not on the basis of cast. It should be for those who need it. Moreover, money and development can come back but lives cannot. That is the most tragic and terrible thing to happen. It became a riot later and a riot is faceless. There was no cast then. There were a lot of anti-social elements that made it to such a bad thing and it was not about reservation anymore it became a riot.” He also said that, “I am not in the movie. My role is only to take this to you people and it’s a story of my heart and home.”
The title is being compared to the heinous incident from the Mahabharata as Haryana was in a similar situation, unguarded and abandoned when all of a sudden the Jat agitation for OBC reservation flared up into a devastating inferno of sectarian violence. The film tries to make out why things turned violent, whether the brutality could have been averted?
Produced by Twister Entertainment, the Hindi documentary is all set to be released in abroad. It will first be showcased in film festival first and then will be released in India.
52 DEAD IN NIGER UN MIGRATION AGENCY SEARCH
52 Dead in Niger as UN Migration Agency Search and Rescue Operation Saves 600 Stranded Migrants in Sahara Desert
Niger – Sunday morning (25/06), 24 migrants alerted authorities in Niger that they had been stranded in the desert. It is not clear for how long they had been walking in the deserts of central Niger, near Seguedine. The 24 were taken to Seguedine, where one died on arrival, making the total number of survivors, 23. Among the survivors, there are migrants from Gambia, Nigeria, Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire.
They had been in a group of 75 migrants in three different cars, eventually abandoned by smugglers during the journey north. The authorities went back to where they had found the survivors to look for the other 51 who had been in the group, but they could not be found due to a sand storm. The migrants were presumed dead and search missions resumed once the sand storm ended – the bodies have yet to be found. IOM teams on the ground in Dirkou went this morning to pick up the 23 survivors and take them to IOM’s transit centre in Dirkou.
At IOM’s transit centres across Niger migrants receive direct assistance including water, food, shelter, and medical and psychological assistance. They are also assisted with voluntary return and reintegration upon their return.
More than 600 lives have been saved since April 2017 through a new search and rescue operation run by the UN Migration Agency (IOM) in Niger. The operation is financed by the Government of the Netherlands and the European Union (EU) Trust Fund.
Smugglers are exploring new migratory routes along the Northern Corridor, the busiest and most important transport route in East and Central Africa. IOM’s new operation provides life-saving assistance to migrants in distress in areas where there is limited humanitarian presence.
In April 2017, IOM launched a new project financed by the Government of the Netherlands: “Migrants Rescue and Assistance in Agadez Region” (MIRAA). The MIRAA project will last for 12 months, and aims to ensure the protection of migrants in hard-to-reach areas while also strengthening the management of migration by the Government of Niger.
“We are enhancing our capacity to assist vulnerable migrants stranded in Northern Agadez, towards the Niger-Libya border,” said Giuseppe Loprete, IOM Niger Chief of Mission. “Saving lives in the desert is becoming more urgent than ever. Since the beginning of the year we have been receiving frequent calls to rescue victims who embark on this route,” Loprete adds.
MIRAA is complementary to the larger initiative “Migrant Resource and Response Mechanism” (MRRM), developed by IOM Niger and financed by the EU Trust Fund. It aims to bring together in one mechanism a wide range of services and assistance for migrants, including assisted voluntary return to their countries of origin and reintegration once they return.
Adaora*, 22 years old, is one of the survivors of a rescue mission on 28 May, and the only woman to have survived from her group. Adaora left Nigeria in early April hoping for a better future in Europe. There were 50 migrants on the pick-up truck when it left Agadez for Libya, but only six are still alive today.
“We were in the desert for ten days. After five days, the driver abandoned us. He left with all of our belongings, saying he was going to pick us up in a couple of hours, but he never did,” Adaora recalls.
Adaora had left Nigeria with two close female friends, who both died in the desert. “They were too weak to keep going,” she sadly remembers. “We buried a few, but there were just too many to bury and we didn’t have the strength to do it,” Adaora adds.
During the next two days, 44 of the migrants died which persuaded the six left to start walking to look for help. “We had to drink our own pee to survive,” she says.
“I couldn’t walk anymore. I wanted to give up,” she recalls. Two other migrants carried her until a truck driver picked them up and took them to local authorities who then alerted IOM staff in Dirkou in the Agadez Region of north-eastern Niger.
By the time the six survivors reached IOM’s transit centre in Dirkou, Adaora was unconscious. She received medical assistance, and once recovered, she gave a detailed account of her experience to both the authorities and IOM staff. Two of the other migrants from the group went back with IOM staff and the authorities to find the bodies and identify the victims.
After having received medical assistance at IOM’s transit centres in both Dirkou and Agadez, Adaora is currently recovering at IOM’s transit centre for migrants in Niamey, awaiting her imminent voluntary return to Nigeria.
Adaora says she had no idea what the route was going to be like, otherwise she would have never left Nigeria. Going back, she wants to continue her work as a nurse. “I think it’s important we all assist each other when we are in need,” she says.
On 9 June, another 92 migrants were also rescued through an IOM search and rescue operation; among them were 30 women and children.
*Adaora’s name has been changed to protect her identity
For further information, please contact Monica Chiriac at IOM Niger, Tel: +227 8931 8764, Email:
EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
Standard Life Opening Event: Bloom
- The third in a series of free to the public digital commissions celebrates the opening of the 2017 Festival season
- Celebration of 70 years of the International Festival and Edinburgh’s status as the world’s Festival City
- Standard Life Opening Event: Bloom reimagines the St Andrew Square inviting audiences to travel through a magical digital installation
- For the first time the Opening Event takes place on two nights, Friday 4 & Saturday 5 August
- Free event tickets released at 10.00am on Monday 3 July
- A family of sponsors, donors, collaborators and city agencies have come to gether to make Standard Life Opening Event: Bloom possible
A full media kit including images further background information can be downloadedhere.
In 1947, Sir John Falconer – Lord Provost of Edinburgh and the International Festival’s first Chair – spoke of his ambition that the inaugural Edinburgh International Festival should ‘provide a platform for the flowering of the human spirit’. 70 years later, Edinburgh has bloomed into the world’s Festival City and its impact has been an constant inspiration, propagating new festivals throughout Europe and beyond. The Interantional Festival continues to celebrate our highest artistic achievements, our imagination and creativity, our generosity and diversity.
The third in a series of commissions from the International Festival’s Artistic Associates 59 Productions, the Standard Life Opening Event: Bloom is a an epic public artwork by 59 Director Leo Warner, which brings together large-scale animation and architectural projection mapping, celebrating the cultural reignition sparked by the Festival’s creation. Featuring a newly commissioned musical score from award winning composer Nick Powell, the Standard Life Opening Event: Bloom charts the joyful transformation of Edinburgh, from the darkness and division of the post-war years to the colour and vibrancy of today’s Festival City. Bloomdraws upon the architechtural beauty of the new town, Edinburgh’s rich cultural heritage and the technological innovation for which the city is renowned.
Today the International Festival unveiled new information about the Standard Life Opening Event: Bloom, naming the location as St Andrew Square in Edinburgh’s New Town. Following the successes of The Harmonium Project in 2015 and 2016’s Deep Time, this year’s opening event sees 59 Productions transform not only a single building but use the facades around St Andrew Square to create a vast canvas for projection-mapped animations. The Square becomes an immersive environment of colour, texture, sounds and sensations that places the audience at the centre of a visually stunning digital constellation.
The International Festival also announced that the Opening Event will take place on two nights for the first time, on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 August, giving audiences another opportunity to experience the Standard Life Opening Event: Bloom during the opening weekend of the International Festival. The event runs from 10pm to midnight on a 20 minute loop, allowing audience members to explore it at their own pace.
The Standard Life Opening Event: Bloom is made possible by support from a portfolio of partners across the private and public sector. This is the second event in a three year partnership between the International Festival and Standard Life – the International Festival’s Opening Event Partner – which supports the the event alongside other key funders including EventScotland and the University of Edinburgh, which have supported the Festival’s Opening Event since it’s inception in 2015. This year the Standard Life Opening Event: Bloom also enjoys support from the Scottish Government’s Edinburgh Festivals EXPO Fund. This year the EXPO Fund has made an additional £300,000 available to support the Festivals celebrating 70 years of the Festival City. Edinburgh International Festival is working with Essential Edinburgh to realise the event.
Entry to the event is free. To guarantee access for the 10pm start, a limited number of tickets are available for both nights and will be released from 10am on Monday 3 July. Ticket holders can access the event arena from 9pm ahead of the event beginning at 10pm on both evenings. Non-ticket holders are also welcome to attend and will be admitted from 10.30pm on a first come basis.
Fergus Linehan, Edinburgh International Festival Director, said: ‘Since 1947 the International Festival has welcomed the world to Edinburgh, creating an electric atmosphere in this city which has radiated back out across the globe. That energy has transformed Edinburgh and sparked not only the development of the Festival City we know today, but the creation of countless other festivals around the world. We’ll experience that transformative power first-hand in Bloom, as 59 Productions create a digital constellation in the centre of our city that places our story and Edinburgh’s people at its heart. It takes a huge amount of collaborative work to mount an event like this, and it wouldn’t be possible without the support of our partners. I’d like to thank all of them – Standard Life, the Scottish Government, EventScotland, the University of Edinburgh, Blue-i Theatre Technology and Mclcreate – their support enables us to present this incredible celebration of our Festival City in its birthday year’.
Leo Warner, Founder of 59 Productions and Director of Standard Life Opening Event:Bloom said: ‘Following two wonderful years working with Fergus and his team at the International Festival to create increasingly ambitious and engaging opening events, we faced a challenge in conceiving a new piece befitting the significance of this anniversary year. We decided to place audiences inside the event, encompassing them within nearly half a linear kilometre of projection-mapped architecture and bespoke lighting fixtures, and use music, sound and light to tell a story celebrating the 70 year history of the International Festival and the associated Edinburgh festivals, and the immesurable impact that it has had on the cultural world.’
Standard Life’s Chief Executive Keith Skeoch, said: ‘We’re delighted to be sponsoring the Edinburgh International Festival’s Opening Event, particularly as it celebrates its 70th Anniversary. The Standard Life Opening Event: Bloom will look back and celebrate the creativity and achievements of this world-class Festival. Both Standard Life and the International Festival have a rich heritage that reflects our shared commitment to excellence and our forward-looking approach, often leading the way through collaboration and innovation.The Standard Life Opening Event: Bloom will bring many examples of this to life and will inspire others for the future too.’
Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop said: ‘I never tire of championing Scotland’s outlook as a welcoming and progressive nation and this is particularly demonstrated in the arts. In 1947, the Edinburgh International Festival boldly invited artists from across Europe to perform in the capital. 70 years on, we’re revered as a festival nation that welcomes performers and audiences from every corner of the globe. We boosted the Scottish Government’s EXPO Fund by a further £300,000 to mark Edinburgh’s 70th anniversary as a festival city. I am delighted that part of this will support the Standard Life Opening Event: Bloom, an ambitious, inspiring and artistic visual representation of those 70 years. It is a fitting tribute to Edinburgh’s legacy as the city that inspired cities around the world to celebrate the arts.’
Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop said: ‘I never tire of championing Scotland’s outlook as a welcoming and progressive nation and this is particularly demonstrated in the arts. In 1947, the Edinburgh International Festival boldly invited artists from across Europe to perform in the capital. 70 years on, we’re revered as a festival nation that welcomes performers and audiences from every corner of the globe. We boosted the Scottish Government’s EXPO Fund by a further £300,000 to mark Edinburgh’s 70th anniversary as a festival city. I am delighted that part of this will support the Standard Life Opening Event: Bloom, an ambitious, inspiring and artistic visual representation of those 70 years. It is a fitting tribute to Edinburgh’s legacy as the city that inspired cities around the world to celebrate the arts.’
Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, said: ‘EventScotland is delighted to once again support the Standard Life Opening Event: Bloom at this year’s Edinburgh International Festival. Since its inception in 2015, the opening event has truly captured the imagination of festival-goers and opened it up to a whole new audience. Scotland is the perfect stage for events and we are very proud to have backed Fergus and his team’s vision to launch an event that has gone from strength to strength. In 2017, the Standard Life Opening Event: Bloom will be a wonderful visual celebration of the Festival’s 70th anniversary and Scotland’s Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology.’
Professor Dorothy Miell, Vice-Principal and Head of the College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, said: “The University’s strong links with the Edinburgh International Festival go back to its inception, and we are delighted to collaborate once again to create this spectacular opening event. Our world-class researchers in digital media, design informatics and biological sciences will assist in shaping this epic artwork, and our archives will help tell the story of how the Festival has inspired a blossoming of creativity within the city and beyond. Academics will also work closely with 59 Productions to develop ambitious new ways for people to interact with the Standard Life Opening Event: Bloom, creating a lasting legacy for future generations.”
Professor Dorothy Miell, Vice-Principal and Head of the College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Edinburgh, said: “The University’s strong links with the Edinburgh International Festival go back to its inception, and we are delighted to collaborate once again to create this spectacular opening event. Our world-class researchers in digital media, design informatics and biological sciences will assist in shaping this epic artwork, and our archives will help tell the story of how the Festival has inspired a blossoming of creativity within the city and beyond. Academics will also work closely with 59 Productions to develop ambitious new ways for people to interact with the Standard Life Opening Event: Bloom, creating a lasting legacy for future generations.”
The Rt Hon Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, Frank Ross, said: ‘In 1947, my predecessor Lord Provost Falconer championed the inception of the International Festival. Today, I am as determined as ever to see the event bring people together from all over Scotland and the world. The Standard Life Opening Event: Bloom will provide a beautiful and fitting celebration of our festivals and our city, and of course, the continued flowering of the human spirit. We are delighted to have supported our city’s festivals for 70 years.’
Sponsored by Standard Life
Supported by EventScotland
Supported through the Scottish Government’s Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund
Created by 59 Productions
In association with The University of Edinburgh
Technology Partner Blue-I Theatre Technology in partnership with mclcreate
Friday 4 & Saturday 5 August, 10.00pm – 12midnight.
Entry to the event is free. To guarantee access for the 10pm start there are a limited number of tickets for both nights available on 3 July at eif.co.uk/bloom. Ticket holders will have access to the arena from 9pm. Non-ticket holders will be admitted from 10.30pm on a first come basis.
Tickets are available at eif.co.uk/bloom.
For initial media enquiries contact susie@thecornershoppr.com or 07834 073 795
Standard Life Opening Event: Bloom (Event PR):
Susie Gray, The Corner Shop PR / 0131 202 6220
07834 073 795/ susie@thecornershoppr.com
Susie Gray, The Corner Shop PR / 0131 202 6220
07834 073 795/ susie@thecornershoppr.com
Kate Bouchier-Hayes, The Corner Shop PR / 0131 202 6220
07825 335489 / kate@thecornershoppr.com
07825 335489 / kate@thecornershoppr.com
Edinburgh International Festival (Festival PR):
Liz Wallace
Media Relations Manager
0131 473 2020 / 07708 795 320 / liz.wallace@eif.co.uk
press@eif.co.uk / eif.co.uk
Liz Wallace
Media Relations Manager
0131 473 2020 / 07708 795 320 / liz.wallace@eif.co.uk
press@eif.co.uk / eif.co.uk
\ENDS
Notes to Editors
Standard Life Opening Event: Bloom
Friday 4 & Saturday 5 August, 10.00pm
St Andrew Square (access from George Street)
Friday 4 & Saturday 5 August, 10.00pm
St Andrew Square (access from George Street)
#edintbloom @edintfest @standardlifeplc
Edinburgh International Festival
- The Edinburgh International Festival is an unparalleled celebration of the performing arts and an annual meeting point for peoples of all nations. Committed to virtuosity and originality, the International Festival presents some of the finest performers and ensembles from the worlds of dance, opera, music and theatre for three weeks each August.
- The International Festival continues to attract people both locally and from across the globe, with audiences from 84 nations attending last year’s cultural celebration in Edinburgh.
- In 2017 the International Festival celebrates its 70th anniversary. The International Festival was established in 1947 to ‘provide a platform for the flowering of the human spirit’ through a shared celebration of artistic excellence and cultural exchange. The 2017 programme celebrates 70 years of outstanding virtuosity and innovation, and explores how the Festival’s founding ideals still resonate today.
- The 2017 International Festival runs from Friday 4 to Monday 28 August, welcoming 2,020 artists from 40 nations to perform in Scotland’s capital city.
International Festival and Standard Life
- With a mutual commitment to excellence, ambition, creativity and innovation, this partnership allows both organisations to celebrate their shared home of Edinburgh on an international stage.
- The partnership will support the International Festival in advancing its ambitions for future Opening Events, which will continue to deliver new and innovative work showcasing pioneering productions made in Scotland. Standard Life chooses sponsorships and partners that reflect its commitment to excellence and to helping people achieve their ambitions. By supporting the International Festival through this new sponsorship, the company continues to build its investment in its home city and its people, and to advance its global brand.
Standard Life
- Standard Life was established in Edinburgh in 1825. Today it is a global investment company helping people to invest and manage their money.
- Around 4.5 million customers and clients across 45 countries trust Standard Life with their financial future and Standard Life is responsible for the administration of over £360 billion of their assets. Standard Life also supports over 25 million customers through Indian and Chinese associate and joint venture businesses.
- Standard Life Investments actively manages £278billion worldwide, offering global asset management expertise with strong investment capabilities and performance.
- Standard Life employs around 6300 people internationally – through businesses in the UK, Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.
- Standard Life plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange with around 1.2 million individual shareholders.
- Standard Life chooses sponsorships and partners who reflect its commitment to excellence and its collaborative approach to helping people achieve their ambitions. Wherever Standard Life operates in the world, it is motivated by a sense of responsibility. That is what has helped it be a sustainable business over the long term. Standard Life is proud to be listed as a leader for corporate sustainability in its industry in the Dow Jones Sustainability™ Indices (DJSI World and DJSI Europe) and proud to partner with the Edinburgh International Festival and to be sponsoring this exciting Opening Event.
- You can follow Standard Life on www.twitter.com/StandardLifeplc
59 Productions
59 Productions is the multi award-winning company of artists behind the video design of the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 London Olympic Games, the Tony Award-winning An American in Paris currently running in London, globe-trotting smash hit War Horse, and record-breaking David Bowie is exhibition. 59 Productions combines technology and art to tell amazing stories. Led by directors Leo Warner, Mark Grimmer, Lysander Ashton and Richard Slaney, they are world leaders specialising in design for stage and live events. Since 2006, 59 Productions has mounted more than 120 productions across the world at venues including the National Theatre, Royal Court, Young Vic, the Royal Opera House, English National Opera, and New York’s Metropolitan Opera as well as at theatre festivals in Salzburg, Berlin and Avignon. 59 Productions is an Associate Artist of the Edinburgh International Festival for a three-year tenure from 2016-2018.
EventScotland
EventScotland is working to make Scotland the perfect stage for events. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors. For further information about EventScotland, its funding programmes and latest event news visitwww.EventScotland.org. Follow EventScotland on Twitter @EventScotNews.
EventScotland is a team within VisitScotland’s Events Directorate, the national tourism organisation which markets Scotland as a tourism destination across the world, gives support to the tourism industry and brings sustainable tourism growth to Scotland. For more information about VisitScotland see www.visitscotland.org or for consumer information on Scotland as a visitor destination see www.visitscotland.com.
2017 Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology
- The Standard Life Opening Event: Bloom forms part of Visit Scotland’s Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology.
- 2017 is the year to delve into the past and discover Scotland’s fascinating stories through a wide-ranging variety of new and existing activity to drive the nation’s tourism and events sector, boosting tourism across Scotland.
- The Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology begins on 1 January 2017 and will end on 31 December 2017. It will build on the momentum generated by previous themed years in Scotland including the 2015 Year of Food and Drink, Homecoming Scotland 2014, the Year of Creative and the Year of Natural.
- The Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology is a Scottish Government initiative being led by VisitScotland, and supported by a variety of partners including Creative Scotland, Scottish Tourism Alliance, Scottish Enterprise, The National Trust for Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Built Environment Forum Scotland, Heritage Lottery Fund, Museums Galleries Scotland and Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland.
- The Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology is supported by £570,000 of Scottish Government funding.
- The Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology events fund is managed by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate.
- For more information visit visitscotland.com/HHA2017 or join the conversation at #HHA2017
University of Edinburgh
Established in 1583, the University of Edinburgh is one of the UK’s leading research-intensive universities and regularly ranks among the top 50 universities in the world. The University is an Edinburgh International Festival partner and proudly provides cutting-edge expertise and knowledge to help create one of the world’s greatest celebrations of the arts.
Scottish Government
Edinburgh’s Festivals have been defining, and promoting, Scotland’s identity as a confident, creative, welcoming nation for 70 years. The Edinburgh International Festival was formed to heal the wounds of war and bring European partners together through culture, focusing on our similarities rather than our differences. The Scottish Government greatly values the contribution our fellow Europeans bring to our society, culture and economy and this is particularly evident in the make-up of our festivals. We believe this should continue and that Scotland remains an open, outward-looking nation, with its cultural and creative sector at its heart.
The Scottish Government EXPO Fund enhances Scotland’s creative capacity and international reputation, and since 2008, the fund has provided over £19m in funding, supporting Edinburgh’s Festivals to create and showcase a legacy of important new work that is seen by audiences from around the world.
An additional £300,000 was provided to mark Edinburgh’s 70th anniversary as a festival city in 2017. The 2017/18 EXPO Fund has a budget of £2.1m for Edinburgh’s Festivals and £200,000 is provided to Festivals Edinburgh to promote and position Edinburgh as the world’s leading Festival City.
The Scottish Government places huge importance on the value of the arts and culture in our society. This week, we are commencing a national conversation exploring what culture means to everyone who lives here. These conversations will inform the development of a culture strategy for Scotland. The strategy will position culture as fundamental to a contemporary, diverse, democratic and innovative society with an open and international outlook – values which we know are shared by Edinburgh’s Festivals.
The Edinburgh Festivals Expo Fund assessment process and funding is administered by Creative Scotland, with input from Event Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, Festivals Edinburgh and City of Edinburgh Council.
Blue-i Theatre Technology & mclcreate
Blue-i Theatre Technology, the latest division of Blue-i Event Technology, is a leading supplier in video equipment rental to theatre and the arts across the UK and Worldwide. Teaming up with mclcreate Blue-i will be supplying the d3 media Server Package, video distribution and, in conjunction with mclcreate, 42 Panasonic PT-DZ21K projectors.
Ed Cooper of blue-I Theatre Technology said: ‘We are delighted to be able to support both the Edinburgh International Festival’s and close friends 59 Productions Deep Time for what promises to be a spectacular event’.
The Edinburgh International Festival receives core grant support from The City of Edinburgh Council and Creative Scotland. Scottish Charity Number SC004694.
‘LIGHTING UP BIHAR: IMPROVING ELECTRICITY SUPPLY
|
RETURN THE NATIONAL MINORITY RIGHTS AWARD
MEDIA INVITE
PRESS CONFERENCE
Dear Sir/ Madam,
I will be going to the National Commission for Minorities, Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market, New Delhi-110013 today at 2.30pm to return the National Minority Rights Award, in protest against consistent attacks and killings of the members of the minority communities and total inaction, apathy and tacit support to the violent mobs by the government.
I will release a statement at a press conference at 3.30pm today 27 June, 2017 at IWPC, 5 Windsor Place, New Delhi-110001
Kindly depute a reporter to cover the press conference.
Yours sincerely
Shabnam Hashmi
9811807558
RESCUE AND RECOVERY OF DROWNED NAVAL OFFICERS
ON 24 JUN 17, INDIAN COAST GUARD STATION FRAZERGANJ RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM WIFE OF A RETIRED NAVAL OFFICER REGARDING DROWNING OF THREE PERSON INCLUDING HER HUSBAND AND DAUGHTER AT HENRY ISLAND BEACH AT 1605 HRS ON 24 JUN 17.
ON RECEIPT OF INFORMATION, ICGS FRAZERGANJ IMMEDIATELY COMMENCED SAR EFFORTS ALONGWITH LOCAL FISHERMEN AND MARINE POLICE, FRAZERGANJ. COAST GUARD AIR CUSHION VESSEL (ACV) H-182 WAS ALSO PRESSED INTO SEARCH OPERATION AND ALL THE THREE BODIES WERE RECOVERED BY 0800 HRS ON 25 JUN 17.
IN ANOTHER INCIDENT, COAST GUARD DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS NO.11, GOA RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM INS VIKRAMADITYA AND BETUL COASTAL POLICE STATION REGARDING DROWNING OF ONE NAVAL OFFICER OFF CABO DE RAMA FORT AT 1450 HRS ON 26 JUN 17. COAST GUARD HELO WAS IMMEDIATELY LAUNCHED AND WAS SUCCESSFUL IN LOCATING AND RECOVERING THE OFFICER. HOWEVER, THE OFFICER WAS DECLARED DEAD BY THE NAVAL MEDICAL TEAM, GOA.
PRESS CONFERENCE FILM’EK HASEENA THI EK DEEWANA THA’
PRESS INVITATION
Shree Krishna International cordially invites you to attend the Press Conference & to share with you the uniqueness of their latest film
‘Ek Haseena Thi Ek Deewana Tha‘
To be addressed by:
- Suneel Darshan (Director)
- Shiv Darshan (“Karle Pyaar Karle” fame)
- Natasha Fernandez
Time: 1:00 pm
Date: 28th June 2017 (Wednesday)
Venue: Le Meridien, Windsor Place, New Delhi
You are requested to send correspondents/ photographers/ camera crew for the Press Conference.
R.S.V.P
Shailesh Giri
9811222325(M)
9213022325
कैलाश मानसरोवर यात्रा को लौटाने वाले चीन की वस्तुओं का करें बहिस्कार : विहिप
नई दिल्ली। जून 27, 2017. कैलाश मानसरोवर यात्रा को चीन द्वारा रोके जाने पर विश्व हिन्दू परिषद ने तीखी प्रतिक्रिया दी है. उसका कहना है कि नाथू ला बोर्डर से जाने वाली कैलाश मानसरोवर यात्रा को चीन द्वारा रोके जाने से सभी स्तब्ध थे. अभी तक लगता था कि इसके पीछे शायद प्राकृतिक विपदा ही मुख्य कारण रही होगी. परन्तु चीनी अधिकारियों द्वारा किए गए पत्र व्यवहार तथा जारी बयानों से अब यह स्पष्ट हो गया है कि इस महत्वपूर्ण यात्रा के रोकने का एक मात्र कारण क्षेत्रीय विस्तार की अमिट भूख व दादागिरी ही है. विश्व हिन्दू परिषद के अंतर्राष्ट्रीय संयुक्त महामंत्री डा सुरेन्द्र जैन ने चीन की इस दादागिरी की कठोर शब्दों में भर्त्सना करते हुए जहां देश की जनता से चीनी वस्तुओं के बहिस्कार की अपील की है वहीँ भारत सरकार से जमीन के भूखे चीन के साथ इस मामले को गंभीरता से उठाने को भी कहा है. उन्होंने कहा कि तिब्बत पर अबैध कब्जा जमाने के बाद ड्रेगन की भूख और बढ़ गई. इसलिए, उसने न सिर्फ भारत के अरुणाचल प्रदेश समेत कई क्षेत्रों पर दावा कर रखा है बल्कि उन क्षेत्रों के विकास में टांग भी अड़ाता रहता है. वह इन क्षेत्रों को विकसित होते नहीं देखना चाहता. भूपेन हजारिका पुल बनाने के बाद तो वह बुरी तरह बौखला गया. सिक्कम में दो भारतीय बंकर तोड़ना इसी बौखलाहट का प्रतीक है.
विहिप के संयुक्त महामंत्री ने कहा कि कैलाश मानसरोवर की यात्रा पर रोक लगा कर तो उसने सभी सीमाएं लांघ दी हैं. उसने अब यह स्पष्ट कर दिया है कि सिक्कम के कुछ स्थानों पर उसका अधिकार स्वीकार किए बिना वह इस यात्रा को प्रारम्भ नहीं होने देगा. विश्व हिन्दू परिषद चीन की इस दादागिरी की कठोर शब्दों में भर्त्सना करती है. चीन के मना करने पर बापस आए यात्री किस यन्त्रणा से गुजरे होंगे, सम्भवतया क्रूर मानसिकता वाला ड्रेगन इसे समझने की सम्वेदनशीलता नहीं रखता. विहिप भारत सरकार से अपील करती है कि मानसरोवर यात्रा के विषय को और अधिक गंभीरता से ले तथा चीन को चेताए कि वह जमीन की असीम भूख को इस यात्रा में बाधा न बनने दे.
विहिप के राष्ट्रीय प्रवक्ता श्री विनोद बंसल द्वारा जारी बयान में डा जैन ने यह भी कहा है कि चीन की निगाहें भारत के क्षेत्रों के साथ साथ भारतीय अर्थ व्यवस्था पर भी है. इसलिए वह हमारे बाजार पर भी कब्जा कर रहा है. उन्होंने भारत की जनता से अपील की है कि बहुत हो चुका, अब वह चीनी वस्तुओं का बहिस्कार कर उसे उसी की भाषा में जबाव दे.
जारी कर्ता:
विनोद बंसल
(राष्ट्रीय प्रवक्ता)
विश्व हिन्दू परिषद
