By IANS,
Astana: India’s 63rd Independence Day was celebrated in this Kazakhstan capital Saturday with a flag hoisting by Ambassador Ashok Sajjanhar and the singing of the national anthem and patriotic songs.
Indian nationals living in Astana and cities like Karaganda (250 km), Atyrau (3,000 km), Pavlodar (500 km), officials of the embassy along with their families and children participated enthusiastically in the celebrations.
Friends and well-wishers of India in Kazakhstan including representatives of several companies like Arcelor-Mittal, Punj Lloyd, Tata Consultancy Services and others also attended the celebrations, the embassy said in a statement.
In his remarks to the guests before a recording of President Pratibha Patil’s Independence Day-eve telecast to the nation was played, Sajjanhar acknowledged the significant contribution of the Indian community in Kazakhstan in promoting and strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.
Referring to the April-May general elections that saw the United Progressive Alliance government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh returning to power, the ambassador said the results signified continuity with change.
The new government had taken far reaching decisions for India’s economic development and growth. The government was determined to bring the economy back to the growth path of 9 percent in the shortest possible time, Sajjanhar added.
Sajjanhar also gave interviews to three leading newspapers and journals in Kazakhstan – Astana, Vechernyaya Astana and Fokus – on the occasion of Independence Day. The interviews focused on the achievements and strong march of India towards progress, growth and development.
Information about India’s Independence Day was also carried in several Kazakh newspapers as well as on radio channels, the embassy statement said.
President Nursultan Nazarbayev has invited several Indian companies including NTPC, ONGC, GAIL and NPCIL to positively consider collaborating with Kazakhstan in renovation, modernization and construction of coal-based power plants; construction of a petrochemical complex in Atyrau; establishment of joint ventures to manufacture pharmaceuticals for Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries.
Several business delegations have visited Kazakhstan from India over the last few months.