Italy knights Indian wine expert Subhash Arora

New Delhi, March 19 (IANS) Indian wine expert Subhash Arora and seven others, including a lawyer and an Odissi dancer, have been knighted by the Italian government for their exemplary services in promoting ties between India and Italy.

At a solemn ceremony here Wednesday, Ambassador Roberto Toscano conferred the Order of the Star of the Italian Solidarity on the eight awardees on behalf of Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.

The award comprises a medal and a certificate.

Arora was honoured for his efforts in 'promoting wine culture in India as the president of the Delhi Wine Club and the Indian Wine Academy and helping Italian wineries in doing business with India', the envoy noted,

He was also commended for 'bringing out a special publication regarding the Italian wines being sold in India'.

Arora has also co-authored the Italian Wine Guide, the first such publication in India.

Among the others honoured were Diljeet Titus, founder of law firm Titus & Co and chairman of Indo-Italian Chamber of Commerce for the northern region; Ghyananedra Nath Bajpai, chairman of Future Generali; Darlie Koshy, director general of the Apparel Export Promotion Council; and Roney Simon, director, FICCI Italy.

Three Italian nationals were also honoured. They were Odissi dancer Ileana Citaristi; Loredana Angeli, president of New Delhi's Ente Gestore Lingua e Cultura Italiana; and Daniele Piatto, representative in India of the fashion retail COIN group.

The Order of the Star of the Italian Solidarity was originally instituted in 1947 to recognize the achievements of those Italians and foreigners who had played a distinguished role in the reconstruction of Italy after World War II.