The City University of Hong Kong (CityU) Exhibition Gallery was named the “Indra and Harry Banga Gallery” on 5 November in appreciation of the support and generous donation made by Mr Harry Banga and Mrs Indra Banga, two of the most successful business figures in Hong Kong.
Mr Banga is the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Caravel Group; his wife is a Member of the Board of Directors of the Group, and the Co-founder and Member of the Board of Directors of The Caravel Foundation.
The naming ceremony was officiated by Mr and Mrs Banga, Mr Lester Garson Huang, Council Chairman of CityU; and Professor Way Kuo, President of CityU. It was attended by the Provost, Vice-Presidents, Court members and senior staff; and family members and friends of Mr and Mrs Banga.
Mr Banga is a world-renowned successful Indian-Hongkonger rooted in Hong Kong with a global vision. He has won an array of awards for his distinctive entrepreneurial achievements and contributions to the global community. He received the prestigious “Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award” from the former President of India in 2011 and was recognised as the “Most Influential Business Leader of Asia” by The Economic Times in 2019, to name just a few.
Mr Banga is also a staunch supporter of CityU. He is a member of the Court and the Steering Committee of the “United, We Soar” Campaign, Honorary Patron of the CityU Foundation and Honorary Fellow.
Married to Mr Banga for 42 years, Mrs Banga has also made significant contributions to society. As the Co-founder of The Caravel Foundation, she provides disadvantaged young people in Hong Kong, mainland China and India with care, education and transformational opportunities.
In his welcoming remarks, Mr Huang thanked Mr and Mrs Banga for their unwavering support for the University’s endeavours to promote the integration of art and science and the long-term development of the Gallery.
Mr Banga said the Caravel Foundation was delighted to support CityU in celebration of the University’s 25th anniversary since its inauguration as a university. He was impressed by CityU’s endeavours to promote art to the wider community and drive innovation by integrating art and technology. This was why he felt proud to be associated with the Gallery and CityU, adding that he hoped CityU would reach even greater heights in the near future.
In his vote of thanks, President Kuo said that the Indian community had contributed a great deal to Hong Kong, and it was his wish to welcome Indian leaders to CityU. He pointed out that Mr Banga was the first mega donor in the international community to support the University, representing a very good beginning for our advancement.
The “Indra and Harry Banga Gallery” located on the 18th floor of Lau Ming Wai Academic Building at CityU features a museum-grade design and state-of-the-art facilities for holding artistic, innovative, technology-rich, and cross-disciplinary exhibitions that engage the community and help to nurture the humanistic imagination and creativity of students and the public.
