R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, DEC 5
The Republic of Somaliland, a fast developing and politically-stable East African nation has appointed Chennai-based healthcare specialist Dr Annamalai Pandian as its Special Advisor – Healthcare and ‘Green Man of India’ Abdul Ghani as Special Advisor- Economic and Trade here on Saturday.
Announcing the appointments at a media conference, Vice President of Republic of Somaliland, Abdirahman Abdilaahi Ismail said that the Country Trade Centre in India would be established in Chennai soon. Though, India yet to recognize Somaliland as trade partner, already Indian businessmen had invested around $ 600 million (Rs 4,890 cr) and hope that it would grow multi-fold with the opening of India Country Trade Centre in Chennai.
Deepam Hospitals signs MoU with Republic of Somaliland
A memorandum of understanding was signed by Dr Annamalai Pandian of Deepam Hospitals and Dr. Zakaria Dahir -Senior Adviser to the President and Minister of Health Head of Scaling Up Nutrition in the presence of Vice President of Somaliland.
The MoU will attract in investment of $100 million to undertake primary and secondary health care facilities across Somaliland. Under this MoU, international development agencies would also take part in this initiative.
Opening up of Trade Office in Chennai would further increase the medical tourism to Tamil Nadu, the medical hub of the nation.
Commenting on this, Dr Annamalai Pandian said, “Nearly 60,000 Somaliland citizens are travelling to India every year, it would further be scaled up with the signing of the MoU. With the rich experience of over 30 years in medical care, the Deepam Hospital will give its best to improve mal-nutrition among children, primary and secondary medical care on Hub-and-Spoke model in Somaliland.”
The Vice President expressed hope that the `Green Man of India ‘ Abdul Ghani’s close association with United Nations and global nations would help attract huge investments in the field of mining, education, textiles, healthcare, IT and Fisheries etc.
The Somaliland delegates led by Vice President had already met industry veterans in the neighbouring Karnataka at Bengaluru. The team met the Tamil Nadu School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, who came forward to help knowledge sharing between the two nations.
The delegation also planned to meet the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin before embarking to New Delhi to meet national leaders.
Abdul Ghani will head the Official trade office of the Republic of Somaliland in India, which aims to coordinate with potential investors across the world.
Houssein Moussa Al-Ishaqi – Senior Communication Advisor to the Vice President,
Kavin Kumar Kandasamy, MD and CEO, Mangalam Groups were also present on this occasion.
