Chairman OIA Ambassador V.B.Soni presides over the joint business luncheon meeting with Hon'ble President of MALI

Associated Chambers of Commerce (ASSOCHAM), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and FICCI organised a joint business session with Hon'ble President of MALI, H.E. Mr. Amadou Tumani Toure' on January 14, 2012 in New Delhi. OIA Chairman, Ambassador V.B. Soni presided over the function. It may be mentioned Chairman OIA served as India's Ambadsador of India to Mali during early 1990s, as a concurrent charge.

After greeting the Hon'ble President, Ambassador Soni welcomed the large business delegation that accompanied the President on behalf of the large Indian business community. President Mr. Toure' appealed to Indian investors to utilise the opportunities that are coming up in Mali in its path towards moderninisation. Relations with India which have been excellent throughout must now be given economic content to make them more robust. He offered to render any help needed in the process. The President took pains to answer questions posed to him.

At the luncheon table Chairman OIA got an opportunity to interact closely with President Toure' for over an hour and provided information on India, its economy and related issues.

Ambassador Soni had the rare honour of being invited at the President of India's State Banquet hosted in honour of the Mali President at Rashtrapati Bhavan the same evening.