USINPAC led its 3rd Annual Delegation to India in the first week of January 2006, and had a series of successful and productive meetings with governmental and corporate leaders of India. Lauding the efforts of USINPAC, the Indian Defense Minister, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, said, “USINPAC has demonstrated that motivation can directly lead to strong results, and I always look forward to meeting this group – we value your efforts greatly because you are making a positive contribution to improving US-India relations”.
The delegation had exclusive meetings with the Defense Minister, the Commerce Minister, the Health Minister, and several leading Members of Parliament, to get an overview of the Indian governmental and political scenario. Issues like cross-border terrorism; small business development; sanitation and drinking water; development and agriculture; role of Indian American community, etc., were discussed with the Indian leadership, and USINPAC delegates deliberated upon a roadmap for U.S. – Indian collaborative areas.
In addition to government and political meetings, the USINPAC delegation met with the captains of Indian industry – Mr. Deepak Parekh, Chairman, HDFC; Mr. Ramadorai, CEO, TCS; Mr. Hital Meswani, Executive Director, Reliance Industries; and Mr. Ajay Piramal, Chairman, Nicholas Piramal. Topics of discussion included business, corporate social responsibility, and strategies for linking small and medium enterprises (SME) between the U.S. and India. Several of USINPAC delegates found compelling opportunities which they are now exploring. The corporate meetings in Mumbai were rounded off by a superb brunch on a sunny Sunday afternoon, with the nominees of the Apsara Awards (India’s equivalent of the Oscars, for film and television) on the sprawling poolside lawns of the Taj Hotel at Landsend. The USINPAC delegation then participated in the Prawasi Bhartiya Diwas events at Hyderabad, met with the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, and participated in a panel on “Political Discourse & Leadership in the Indian Diasporas”.
The efforts of the Indian American community, and USINPAC, in promoting bilateral relations between the U.S. and India, are increasingly being noted by prominent electronic and print media in India. CNN, Aaj Tak, Sahara TV, Times of India, Hindustan Times, Navbharat Times, Hindu, Economic Times, Financial Express, Asian Age, etc. covered news about the activities of the delegation.
We are thankful to our delegates for making a great contribution towards U.S.-India relations, and look forward to working even harder in 2006, including on many of the above mentioned issues.
