Honorary Consul for India

A member of the University's Council will help develop links between Wales and India after being appointed as the first Honorary Consul for India in Wales.

Raj Aggarwal will act on behalf of the Indian High Commission, looking after the needs of Indian nationals living and working in Wales.

In his role as Honorary Consul, he will also help to create links between Welsh and Indian business, educational institutions and cultural organisations.

Speaking about his appointment, Mr Aggarwal said: "This is a special privilege that I and my family will always cherish. Wales is a dynamic small country and stronger links with the rising superpower that is India will be vital to its future prosperity. I will work tirelessly to build a deeper engagement between the two countries to which I and many Welsh people owe their allegiance. Educational institutions like the world class Cardiff University will be crucial in providing the skills necessary."

Mr Aggarwal, is managing director of the Aggarwal Group which runs a number of successful businesses based in South Wales. Along with his role at the University he is also a board member of the Wales International Business Council, chairman of Community Pharmacy and deputy lieutenant for South Glamorgan.

Cardiff has a strong history of attracting students from India and a wide range of links with both academic institutions as well as the commercial and industrial sector.

These include:

• A strategic partnership between the School of Engineering and Tata, which has led to the establishment of a 'Tata Centre of Excellence' within the School
• A progression agreement between the School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies and the Asian College of Journalism in Chennai whereby students who study the Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism in Chennai are eligible to complete the dissertation stage of the MA in Journalism offered by Cardiff in order to gain a Cardiff Masters degree
• A memorandum of Understanding between Cardiff Business School and the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta which commits both parties to explore opportunities for the exchange of academic information and materials, joint research programmes and conferences and guest lectures by staff members, among others.

The University is also a key partner in the India/Welsh Government science and technology research programme.