Independence Day: Indian expats reveal wish list

Dubai: While Indian citizens were invited to upload their suggestions for the Indian Prime Minister’s ceremonial speech from the Red Fort in New Delhi for India’s 70th Independence Day celebrations, Indian expats in the UAE shared their thoughts with Gulf News.

Leading NRIs spelt out their wish list for the progress they expect in India in 2017.

Vishal Tikku, president, Meals, EEMEA for Mondeleez International, hopes for grass-root development to get better in the country.

“I hope low oil prices translate directly to a step up in infrastructural investment. We skipped land lines, managed to reach planet Mars. yet … we need to catch up on toilets, highways, industries, ports and logistic systems.”

Tikku added that every Indian ought to feel proud of what has been achieved in these six decades and more but it also made the very same people impatient for more.

“We have a fundamentally sound administrative machinery — a good balance of politics, police, judiciary and media and, above everything, an effective education system helped by a parental obsession with learning and rapid adoption of technology. For 2017, my wish is that we build on our strengths, we leverage education to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship, we create opportunities for our youth by enabling Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and improving ease of doing business in the country,” said Tikku.

The passing of the Goods and Service Tax bill in the monsoon session of Parliament has raised hopes for streamlining the taxation system in the country.
B.R. Shetty, founder chairman of UAE Exchange, expressed the hope this would play a direct role in moving towards a more robust economy.

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