Belgium Ambassador H.E Mr. Pierre Vaesen visited XIM Bhubaneswar

Belgium Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Pierre Vaesen visited Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar and met Fr.Paul Fernandes, Director, XIM Bhubaneswar and explored avenues for increasing student exchange programmes and industry-academia linkages between India and Belgium, especially in the state of Odisha.

The Belgian Ambassador was accompanied by his wife Mrs. Vaesen and the Trade Commissioner of Wallonia Region in Belgium Mr. Christophe Vanoverstraten.

During the Ambassador's visit, he delivered a talk to 26 international students at XIMB who are undergoing the one year Global Management programme known as 3Continent-Master of Global Management, a partnership programme between XIMB, Antwerp Management School in Belgium and Fordham University, USA.

The Talk was coordinated by Prof. Sasmit Patra, coordinator of the Global Management programme of XIMB. The Ambassador also met Fr. P. D.Thomas, Dean (Administration), Prof. Biswa Swarup Mishra, Dean (Academics) and Fr. Donald D'Silva, Faculty and MDP Coordinator of XIMB.

The Ambassador along with his wife and the Belgian Trade Commissioner also undertook a Plantation Drive in collaboration with the international students of the 3C-MGM programme led by the class representative Mr. Arnaud Surmount, which was aimed at reducing carbon footprint generated due to international travel by the foreign students.

This drive of building environmental sustainability apart from conservation of natural resources is one of the primary CSR activities of XIMB as well with the global students of the 3C-MGM programme at XIMB.

Since XIMB and Belgium already have a working partnership, the Belgian Ambassador hoped that XIMB would continue to build bridges of mutual cooperation and strengthen this ongoing relationship further.

The Director, XIMB thanked the Ambassador, his wife and Belgian Trade Commissioner visiting XIMB. The Ambassador wished XIMB the very best for the new Xavier University before winding up his half a day visit to the XIMB campus.