I was jolted by the Editor of Meininger Wine Business International, Germany, for whom I am the India correspondent, more than a couple of weeks ago. Was something new happening in this area? Nothing to my knowledge except there was a spate of news reporting pretty much a similar language, I thought. The news seemed an Encore of the last year's announcement.
So I contacted my friend Ranjit Chougule, Managing Director of Indage, who stayed on in London after the London Wine Show, trying to work on the internationalization of their products-they had just launched Tiger Hills brand wine and he was making sure his company clawed into the proper share.
'I am here for a month. To my knowledge nothing new has happened. The papers are being studied and readied for the formal agreement to be signed,' he said asking me to contact Mr. Arun Shah, the Vice Chairman of the company.
'We are on track and will have the agreement papers ready for signing within a couple of weeks ,' Shah informed me when I talked to him in Mumbai.
About 25 hAs of land has been already allotted to them on the basis of being an academic institution. However, the construction work has not been started yet. 'We shall start the work only after the agreement has been signed,' commented Shah.
According to Shah, the university will in all likeness start admitting students from 2010 although they would like to target 2009. The first batch will admit 600 students. Details of curriculum etc are being worked out by the Australian university.
Champagne Indage founder and Chairman Shamrao Chougule (Ranjit Chougule's father) has promoted this concept, which will see the institute offer a diploma, degree and post-graduate degree programme. The certificates will be given by the University of Adelaide enabling its alumni find job anywhere. The institute will have a total investment of Rs 1 billion (A$25 million)
According to a news report the Indian wine industry will require approximately 10,000 viticulturists, 5000 winery operators, 1000 wine makers, 2500 wine marketing executives and 500 wine experts over next five years.
Adelaide is the vibrant capital of South Australia and is becoming a very popular destination for Indian students pursuing higher education in Australia. According to the South Australian Premier Mike Rann the number of Indian students choosing Adelaide, for higher studies has increased by more than 70 per cent in the past two years.
Subhash Arora |