London:
Britain's national postal service Royal Mail is issuing a first class postal stamp to commemorate the achievements of Sahara Group chief Subrata Roy.
Speaking on the occasion, Roy said, "I don't have voice to express my heartfelt gratitude to Royal Mail for issuing the special stamp. I don't think I deserve it. I will try to come up to the expectation of such a great honour".
Describing the UK as his second home country, Roy said the Group was currently working in eight countries outside India, mainly in oil, gas, minerals and other areas and it would soon spread to 45 countries.
"The Headquarters for our international activities will always be London," Roy said adding," in due course we will be able to generate 1000s of quality employment for the people of this country".
He also announced the setting up of a Forum consisting of intellectual thinkers and and smart minded executors to develop high quality employment opportunities.
Answering questions, Roy said Sahara Group not only supported the Indian cricket team, but was also supporting Indian Hockey, Wrestling, Boxing, Volleyball and Shooting teams.
Referring to India's World Cup victory, Speaker John Bercow Bercow said, "We don't grudge your triumph. We need to learn from it."
Lauding the achievements of Sahara India Pariwar, the Speaker said, "We salute your accomplishments."
He welcomed the Group's decision to have its international headquarters in London and commended the work done by Sahara India Pariwar in the fields of housing, education, sports and adult literacy.
Asked whether he planned to acquire any other hotels in the UK, Roy said "acquisition talks are there but nothing has been concluded".
In India, he said, "We are planning one lakh retail outlets and building 20 lakh houses for weaker sections."
Sahara India acquired the iconic Grosvenor House hotel from the Royal Bank of Scotland Group for 470 million pounds.
The acquisition of the landmark hotel marks the entry of the group into the international luxury hotel market after having successfully proved its expertise in hospitality sector in India through Hotel Sahara Star and its luxurious 10,600 acres Aamby Valley City.
The stamp designs were unveiled at a function here yesterday in the presence of the Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow, leading NRI industrialist, Lord Swraj Paul, Lord Navnit Dholakia, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords, Cherie Blair, wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Lord Raj Loomba, founder-chairman of the Loomba foundation for welfare of Children of Widows, Labour MP Keith Vaz and Baroness Shriela Flather.
Sahara India Pariwar, a major entity on the corporate scene is having diversified business interests in finance, infrastructure and housing in India and abroad and has emerged as one of India's largest conglomerates with assets having a market value of 15 billion pounds and more than a million workers.