A graceful persona with an industrial mind, Nita Ambani has time and again surprised the world and earned admiration from people she knows and those she doesn’t for her generous deeds. Nita Ambani has been tirelessly working as a part of Dhirubhai Ambani Foundation and her efforts have all paid off in the form of many institutions and groups that she has stood for. Be it earning a place for the physically challenged in call centers, running schools for the needy and deprived classes or upgrading overall education standards for children, Nita Ambani is one woman who believes in doing the right thing and never shies away from taking a stand wherever and whenever necessary.

Nita Ambani plays the role of the Chairperson to Dhirubhai Ambani International School (DAIS). DAIS which was built in 2003 by Reliance Group is located in Mumbai. The school has been crowned as the best in whole of Mumbai by both critics and general public alike. DAIS owes the credit of being regarded so, to its dynamic Chairperson Nita Ambani, who went the extra step to recruit world-class teachers from around the globe. DAIS also holds the credit of being one of the 37 schools in India which offer the prestigious International Baccalaureate Program to its students which renders them an opportunity to get placed in top class universities including Oxford, Cambridge and Princeton. Recently Nita Ambani opened the gates of DAIS for slum kids to use the school facilities. The program is called Akanksha-DAIS. The force that drives Nita Ambani to devote her efforts to the cause of upgrading educational standards in the country is the quest to bring out the best and imbibe a sense of responsibility towards society and environment in students. In addition, students of DAIS are also encouraged to work with several NGOs including Aditya, Akanksha, Goonj and Ishara.

Nita Ambani has an acute business sense and with a heart of gold that beats for making others lives productive, she restlessly works to give a better meaning to people’s lives and to make it worth living. Nita Ambani spearheads the development of villages around Reliance projects and takes keen interest in the upliftment of the lives of the people residing there.

Another major development that is in the pipeline and part of Reliance’s responsible engagement with society is the Reliance University. Reliance Foundation is planning to come up with a world-class university. As told by Nita Ambani herself, Reliance University which she is all geared up to head will be built in either Delhi or Mumbai. Reliance is on the lookout for a suitable land for the proposed university.

The University will apparently promote education and research in the disciplines ranging from liberal arts to technology at undergraduate level and will gradually incorporate Post graduate and Doctoral courses. Reliance University will follow on the lines of American Universities and will tie-up with other foreign universities. It will be international in approach with the best practices but will possess an Indian soul.

Nita Ambani is all set to up to take up the new venture and turn it into another big success.

The Dutch Government’s Nodal Investment Agency says that they will support RIL’s for LyondellBasell if the deal goes through. The Netherlands, which is supporting Mukesh Ambani’s $12 billion plus bid for the Rotterdam based pet-chem giant, is the parent country of LyondellBasell.

Bass Pulles, Commissioner of the Dutch Foreign Investment Agency, which facilitates investments in an exclusive interview with ET Now’s Sumit Chaturvedi, in Hague, Netherlands said the government will support RIL’s bid for LyondellBasell. “Since RIL is a foreign company, and so is LyondellBasell, we do offer assistance in the process which surrounds the take over, for instance speeding up immigration procedures or giving a warm shoulder from the ministry”, he said.

Reliance Industries Limited submitted an all-cash non-binding bid to buy a controlling stake in LyondellBasell in 21st of November, 2009. The bid came after LyondellBasell, the third largest petrochemical company in the world, filed for bankruptcy in January, 2009. The deal, if consummated, would facilitate growth of Reliance’s core business. As LyondellBasell has large petrochemical capacities coupled with a good tech portfolio as well as joint ventures in the Middle East, it would help Reliance Industries grow and reach the Western markets.

In December, 2009 Reliance Industries stated that it had no intentions of buying any of the debt from LyondellBasell. The month of January, 2010 witnessed Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries stepping up its offer for the acquisition by offering $13.5 billion instead of the earlier $12 billion.

The Netherlands government support comes as a shot in the arm for Mr. Mukesh Ambani as he prepares to bid for the Rotterdam based LyondellBasell. When asked why the vote of confidence, Pulles said, “They might consider to reinvest again, they might send out positive message to other companies back home or they might inform us on any other strategic developments in their industry.”

The Netherlands is home to global brands like Philips, ING Bank and wants to attract more talent and capital from India. They already have big investments from over 120 odd companies in India such as Infosys and TCS. If Mukesh Ambani does tide over the resistance from some lenders of LyondellBasell, he can be rest assured about support from Dutch Authorities.

Source: http://reliance-news.blogspot.com/2010/02/mukesh-ambanis-ril-gets-dutch-govt.html

Check out the Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDRan0kps6k

Mukesh Ambani, the CMD of Reliance Industries Ltd., received the Penn Engineering Dean’s Medal here in Mumbai, India, on Friday, 8th January 2010. In a ceremony at the Trident Hotel he was honoured with the Dean’s Medal by Eduardo Glandt, Dean of Penn Engineering. The University of Pennsylvania has conferred this award on Mukesh Ambani for his visionary leadership in the application of engineering and technology for the betterment of society and mankind. The award is a testimony to this global visionary; who runs India’s biggest corporate house, Reliance Industries Ltd.

The keynote address for the event was made by Dean Glandt who introduced Mukesh Ambani warmly, in a well attended gathering in the Regal Room of the Trident Hotel. Amidst the attendees were industrialists, celebrities and the Indian media including Kumaramangalam Birla, Anand Mahindra and Sachin Tendulkar. In his speech Mr. Ambani announced the newest project of the Reliance Foundation – a university in India, to be headed by Mrs. Nita Ambani. He also expressed with much passion the requirement for a global paradigm shift to include a focus on real engineering instead of financial engineering in light of the recent economic crisis.

Mr. Mukesh Ambani has come a long way having started his corporate journey in 1981 when he joined his father, late Mr. Dhirubhai Ambani, the founding chairman of Reliance. He initiated Reliance’s vertical integration journey from textiles into polyester fibres and further into petrochemicals, petroleum refining and eventually oil and gas exploration and production. He then led the creation of 51 new, world-class manufacturing facilities encompassing diverse technologies that increased Reliance’s manufacturing capacities manifold.

The Jamnagar Refinery in Gujarat which is now the world’s largest grassroots petroleum refinery was the brainchild of Mukesh Ambani. Dhirubhai’s dream project Reliance Infocomm, which is now one of the largest telecommunications companies in India and has emerged as Reliance Communications Limited was also set up by Mukesh Ambani. He is currently steering Reliance’s development of a pan-India retail network, a transformational initiative connecting, rural and urban India.

In a recent study by the Harvard Business Review, Mukesh Ambani has been recognized as the fifth best CEO of the world in a review, which surveyed a total of 1,999 CEOs of large public traded companies across the globe. In the course of his career he has been conferred as many as 5 awards by NDTV, a leading news channel in India. He has also featured in the survey of ‘Top 50 Most Respected Business Leaders of the World’ conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2002 as well as 2004. At the global level Mukesh Ambani has been felicitated twice by the United States India Business Council. He is also the only Indian CEO to be invited thus far to become a Council Member of World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) in July 2007.

The news channel TV5 made direct allegations upon RIL and its Chairman, Mukesh Ambani being involved in the helicopter crash that took place on September 2. The report stated that RIL was involved in the helicopter crash that resulted in the death of YS Rajasekharan Reddy. The report was based on the claims of a less known website named “The exile”.

Following the report, violence gripped Andhra Pradesh wherein RIL properties and personnel were attacked. The Andhra police have filed a sou moto case against the Telugu news channel for inciting violence.

According to the article on TOI ,

The TV report referred to an article written by one Mark Ames, a California-born American journalist and writer, on a website, exiledonline.com titled ‘Enemy of Larry Summers Ex-Boss Dies in Mysterious Helicopter Crash.’ Summers is currently director of the White House’s National Economic Council for President Barack Obama. According to Ames, Summers worked for Mukesh Ambani, head of Reliance Industries Limited, right until he took the White House job.

After moving to Moscow in 1993, Ames started a magazine titled The Exile. In June 2008, he fled the Russian capital to Panama after being pursued by the authorities and continues to run The Exile online. The said article appeared on the website on December 31, 2009, and was flashed by the TV channel on Thursday evening.

In the article, Ames states that even as the Ambani brothers were feuding, the Andhra Pradesh government sought its due share of the hydrocarbon asset. He said YSR also attacked their mother, Kokilaben, who brokered the deal dividing up the business empire between her feuding sons. According to Ames, after saying that the gas dispute cannot be left to the mother and seeking the Centre’s intervention, YSR died in a mysterious helicopter crash.”

RIL released a statement wherein it condemned, rebutted and rejected the allegations. RIL also expressed its shock and outrage stating that the news was “false, malicious, motivated and libelous”. The statement further read, “It is the dirty handiwork of our business rivals in cohoots with TV5. However, we cannot and will not let this criminal attempt by TV5 to besmirch our reputation. We will file a criminal complaint against the channel. We also demand that the central and state governments initiate an immediate investigation into these despicable acts and bring the culprits to justice.”

Read More>> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Congmen-attack-Reliance-outlets-across-Andhra/articleshow/5422034.cms

A news report on TV5 scandalously linked RIL to the helicopter crash of the former Chief Minister YS Rajasekharan Reddy. YSR, as the Chief Minister was fondly referred to by his supporters, was killed in a helicopter crash on September 2, 2009. The report accused RIL citing the minister’s interference in RIL’s gas interests from the KG basin.

RIL released a statement wherein it condemned, rebutted and rejected the allegations. RIL also expressed its shock and outrage stating that the news was “false, malicious, motivated and libelous”. The statement further read, “It is the dirty handiwork of our business rivals in cohoots with TV5. However, we cannot and will not let this criminal attempt by TV5 to besmirch our reputation. We will file a criminal complaint against the channel. We also demand that the central and state governments initiate an immediate investigation into these despicable acts and bring the culprits to justice.”

Moneycontrol quoted, “RIL said it would file a criminal complaint against the channel and demanded the central and state government to order an investigation against the acts of violence against its properties.”

Read More>> http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/current-affairs/ysr-report-case-against-tv5-for-inciting-violence_434547.html

Following the accusations by a Telugu news channel, the RIL properties and personnel have come under the wrath of the irate Congress workers. While the Andhra Pradesh police have already registered a sou moto case against the news channel for instigating violence, RIL too has filed a criminal complaint against the channel.

An article on Rediff quoted, “Mukesh-led Reliance Industries on Friday denied the allegations and called them ‘malicious’ and ‘motivated’ and said that it was the ‘dirty handiwork of our business rivals in cahoots with TV5.”

The damage to the Retail properties of Reliance Industries followed the allegations that claimed Mukesh Ambani to be the perpetrator of the recent death of YS Rajasekhara Reddy. The former chief minister was killed in a helicopter crash on September 2, 2009 in the Nallamalai Hills of Andhra Pradesh.

Today a RIL spokesperson said, “We are shocked and outraged at the false, malicious, motivated and libelous news on TV5 channel. We condemn, rebut and reject the allegation with the contempt it deserves. It is the dirty handiwork of our business rivals in cohoots with TV5. This is also evident from the well coordinated attacks on RIL’s personnel and establishments in Andhra Pradesh within minutes of the telecast by TV5.”

Read More>> http://business.rediff.com/report/2010/jan/08/reliance-junks-tv-reports-on-ysr-reddys-death.htm

An RIL spokesperson released a press statement today citing the allegations by the Telugu news channel as “baseless and malicious”. RIL released the statement following the accusation of TV5 that instigated violence in Andhra Pradesh against RIL’s personnel and establishments.

The Hindu quoted,

“RIL is a law-abiding corporate citizen. We mourned the untimely and tragic death of Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy as much as anyone else. However, we cannot and will not let this criminal attempt by TV5 to besmirch our reputation”.

The Reliance Industries Limited spokesperson said, “We condemn, rebut and reject the allegation with the contempt it deserves. It is the dirty handiwork of our business rivals in cohoots with TV5. This is also evident from the well coordinated attacks on RIL’s personnel and establishments in Andhra Pradesh within minutes of the telecast by TV5.”

Read More >> http://beta.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/article77492.ece

A news report on the Telugu news channel TV5 alleged that Mukesh Ambani, Chairman Reliance Industries Limited, was involved in the helicopter crash of erstwhile Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy. The news report has sparked violence in the state of Andhra, where Congress workers damaged several Reliance Retail properties and went on a rampage Thursday night.

The report that was based on the claims of a little known website, The Exile, has outraged RIL. RIL got back with a statement wherein the spokesperson said, “We are shocked and outraged at the false, malicious, motivated and libelous news.” The spokesperson further stated, “It is the dirty handiwork of our business rivals in cohoots with TV5. The channel has thrown all journalistic norms to the winds to malign the reputation of RIL, which has made significant investments in Andhra Pradesh to promote the development of the state and the nation. RIL is a law abiding corporate citizen”

IBNLive quoted,

“Police chief Girish Kumar warned that stern action would be taken against those indulging in violence. Prohibitory orders against assembly of people have been imposed in the state in view of the shutdown called by loyalists of the late chief minister in some districts.”

“Kumar said investigations into the September 2 helicopter crash were continuing and appealed to people not to believe rumours.”

“YSR’s son and Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy appealed to people not to resort to violence.”

RIL shall file a criminal complaint against the channel, while the Andhra police have already filed a suo moto case against the channel for inciting violence.

Read more>> http://ibnlive.in.com/news/channel-cooks-up-story-on-ysr-death-booked/108433-3.html?from=tn

Reliance Industries Ltd., today in a statement said, “We are shocked and outraged at the false, malicious, motivated and libelous news on TV5 channel concerning the fatal mishap of Shri Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s helicopter. We condemn, rebut and reject the allegation with the contempt it deserves. It is the dirty handiwork of our business rivals in cohoots with TV5.”

Business standard quoted, “Reliance Industries (RIL) today rejected as “false” and “malicious” news report on some Telugu TV channels alleging it may have had a hand in the helicopter crash that killed former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.”

The statement followed the accusations made by TV5 that allege RIL’s involvement with the helicopter crash of Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy. The accusations were made by the channel citing an unsubstantiated news report from a little known website.

Following the allegations by TV5, a couple of other Telugu news channels aired the same report. The repercussion of the allegations were seen when irate Congress workers went on a rampage of damaging retail outlets of Reliance in Andhra Pradesh.

Source: http://www.business-standard.com/india/storypage.php?autono=82550&tp=on

In the most controversial accusations ever, RIL and Mukesh Ambani were linked to the helicopter crash that caused the demise of former Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy or YSR (as fondly referred to by his followers). TV5 based its claims on the information contained in the less known website “The Exile”. The reason cited by the report was that YSR was eliminated due to his interference in RIL’s interests in the gas from the KG basin.

The Hindu quotes, “The channel has thrown all journalistic norms to the winds to malign the reputation of RIL, which has made significant investments in Andhra Pradesh to promote the development of the State and the nation”

RIL retaliated with a statement by its spokesperson which stated, “We are shocked and outraged at the false, malicious, motivated and libelous news on TV5 channel. We condemn, rebut and reject the allegation with the contempt it deserves. The channel has thrown all journalistic norms to the winds to malign the reputation of RIL, which has made significant investments in Andhra Pradesh to promote the development of the state and the nation.” The spokesperson further stated, “RIL is a law abiding corporate citizen. We will file a criminal complaint against the channel.”

Read More>> http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/businessline/blnus/14081001.htm