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Ajay Goyal

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Ajay goyal

Ajay Goyal (born 12 July 1965) is a global entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist and writer. He is the founder, owner of Europe's first five star yoga themed sustainable resort hotel Zening Resorts[1] Goyal founded the Norasco Group in Cyprus in 1993 with branches in Switzerland, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Singapore and India . He is founder of over than 20 ventures. He is presently founder and CEO of AGV ( Ajay Goyal Ventures, a Norasco company), an E learning, E commerce, Travel, Reg Tech and Health Tech incubator investing in European startups. Goyal is author of book Uncovering Russia. Goyal was Publisher and Editor in Chief of The Russia Journal newspaper published from Moscow , Russia and Washington DC, United States group from 1998 until 2005.[2]

Early life and education

Goyal was born in Kurukshetra, India in a family of esteemed academics. His father J.B. Goyal, PhD, authored 30 published books on Hindi literature and Sikh culture and was the Dean of faculty of the arts and languages at Kurukshetra University in India. His mother, a doctorate in literature, was a university professor.

Goyal graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Engineering in mechanical engineering from National Institute of Technology in Kurukshetra, India in 1986.

Career

In 1987, Goyal began his career on the Indian national television network Doordarshan, where he was a quiz show host and an anchor for youth and cultural programs. He worked simultaneously for a year as an engineer and international business development executive at Indian export house Fortune International Ltd. He joined Mekaster India as an export executive to Eastern European markets in 1988.

In 1989, Goyal left India to explore business opportunities in Germany and Eastern Europe. He was founding partner of Comecon Overseas Ltd in 1989 and relocated to Moscow during perestroika years. He founded a historic first joint venture Indian-Russian software technology company Eurolink in 1990. He founded a private equity and counter-trade company Norasco Ltd. in 1993 that grew to 240 employees and offices in six countries.[3]

Goyal lived in Russia amidst political turmoil. In 1991, he spent days and nights in protest against the coup in human chains outside the Russian White House where Boris Yeltsin was taking a stand against the junta that ousted Mikhail Gorbachev.[4] In 1997, Goyal wound up or sold his business interests, citing high corruption, crime, and western investors' irrational exuberance over Russia, and took a sabbatical at the Harvard Institute of International Development (HIID). In 1998, the Russian economy collapsed in default, and the 1998 Russian financial crisis ensued.

In 1998, Goyal founded The Russia Journal, a newspaper published from Moscow, Russia and Washington D.C., United States that was distributed throughout Europe.[5] He served as Publisher and Chief Editor until the journal's last publication in 2005. The Russia Journal investigated Russian oligarchs and became known for its independence. The newspaper was known for its bold, uncompromising investigative coverage of Russia, where equal opportunity was given to reporters and columnists from the left and right.

In 2011, Goyal began the development of Zening Resorts, a spiritual, yoga , meditation wellness resort concept in Cyprus .[6] The eco-friendly resort opened in 2013 as sustainable and holistic holiday resort in Latchi, Paphos, Cyprus. Zening has 145 luxury cottages and offers yoga, meditation, detox, spa treatments, and a variety of workshops.[7] Zening is Europe’s first resort dedicated to yoga, meditation, and wellness,[8] and was named one of Europe’s leading wellness resorts by Condé Nast Traveller.[9] ZENING’s launch in July 2013 was considered a major triumph for sustainable tourism.

Political activity

In India’s 2009 General Elections, Goyal stood as an independent candidate for Indian parliament on an anti-corruption platform from Chandigarh.[10] He confronted national media on the use of "paid press."[11] In one of the first live election debates, he faced candidates from three major parties.[12] Goyal was noted for a transparent declaration of his wealth in election filings.[13] His campaign made many headlines for his door-to-door style which was unusual for Indian politics.[14]

Philanthropy

In 2007, Goyal founded Gandhi's London social group which launched during the Indian festival of London.[15] The organization provides London visitors a tour of London landmarks linked with Mahatma Gandhi.[16][17][18] Goyal actively writes on climate change and green initiatives, and advises a number of senior Indian leaders on development issues. He wrote from the Copenhagen Climate Change summit COP 15 for ABC Live, an online Indian news portal from.

Authorship

Goyal is the author of the book Uncovering Russia, which includes some of his own articles and analysis from The Russia Journal.[19] He has written over 100 analytical articles and reports on the Russian economic, business, and political conditions over the past several years.

References

  1. ^ Browne, Bejay. "Zening A Lifestyle Not A Holiday", Cyprus Mail, Nicosia, 29 September 2013.
  2. ^ Russia Journal, "Mondo Times, the worldwide media directory 2001-2009", Retrieved on 25 January 2014.
  3. ^ "Norasco’s Goyal Makes Way For Goel" Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine, The Russia Journal, Moscow, 8–14 June 2001.
  4. ^ Goyal, Ajay. "Introduction." Uncovering Russia. Moscow: Norasco Pub., 2003. 29. Print.
  5. ^ "The Russia Journal". Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  6. ^ Browne, Bejay. "Zening A Lifestyle Not A Holiday", Cyprus Mail, Nicosia, 29 September 2013.
  7. ^ "Zening.eu", Retrieved on 25 January 2014.
  8. ^ "Europe’s First Yoga Resort To Open In Cyprus" Archived 2014-06-06 at the Wayback Machine, "TravelBite.co.uk", London, 29 January 2013.
  9. ^ Cusack, Jenny. "Travel Deals of the Week" Archived 18 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine, Conde Nast Traveller, 12 July 2013.
  10. ^ "Ajay Goyal Appeals to EC Against C’garh Press Club", "News Track India", Chandigarh, 12 May 2009.
  11. ^ Beckett, Paul. "Want Press Coverage? Give Me Some Money", "The Wall Street Journal", New Delhi, 6 May 2009.
  12. ^ "At Public Debate, Words Are All They Have To Take Your Vote Away", "The Indian Express", Chandigarh, 10 May 2009.
  13. ^ "Different Strokes", "India Today", 14 May 2009.
  14. ^ Dasgupta, Debarshi. "The One Who Didn’t Fit", "Outlook India", New Delhi, 11 May 2009.
  15. ^ "Gandhi’s London", Retrieved on 25 January 2014.
  16. ^ "Gandhi’s London" Archived 2014-03-22 at the Wayback Machine, "Walks.com", London, 22 May 2010.
  17. ^ Amity. "Walking With Gandhi", "Londonist", London, 27 June 2007.
  18. ^ "Rousing Start To India Festival in London", "The Times of India", London, 17 July 2007.
  19. ^ "Uncovering Russia", "Amazon", Retrieved on 25 January 2014.
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