Two-day meet will take place on April 24-25.
By The American Bazaar Staff
NEW DELHI/WASHINGTON, DC: The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and the organizers of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards in Tampa Bay, Florida, have announced that a joint initiative conference, entitled the FICCI-IIFA Global Business Forum, will take place on April 24-25, as part of the festivities leading up to the IIFA Awards ceremony on Saturday, April 26.
The forum will feature over 100 business and industry leaders from both the US and India, as well as various policy makers from both nations, all of whom will “share their precious insights on and examine the copious benefits of a partnership between the two economies,” according to a statement released by IIFA.
Among those who will be present are: Dr. R.K. Pachauri, the renowned, Nobel Prize-winning environmentalist who sits on the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; Ron Somers, the outgoing president of the US-India Business Council; actress and activist Shabana Azmi, University of South Florida president Judy Genshaft, and University of Houston president Renu Khator.
From the business sector, the forum will feature inputs from Syntel chairman Bharat Desai, Tata Motors president Ranjit Yadav, and Reliance Industries president and CEO Vivek Lall, among several others. From the political sphere, Indian Consul General Ajit Kumar will make an appearance, as will US Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL).
Several pressing issues and key trade topics will be discussed at the FICCI-IIFA Global Business Forum, with the overlying theme being “Indo-U.S. Partnership: A Catalyst for Economic Growth.” By hosting this forum, and bringing together such a staggering list of US and India-based leaders, the two organizations hope to continue fostering business ties between the two democracies, which are as high now as they’ve ever been.
“Today, the Indian-American community has been at the forefront of innovation, knowledge-based services, and entrepreneurship, creating jobs and contributing to the U.S. economy,” said FICCI-IIFA, in a press release. “Two-way trade in goods between India and the U.S. crossed the $60 billion mark in 2012, but there is potential for reaching the $100 billion mark. The Indian economy has grown to be the 10th largest in the world, and experts project India will become one of the top five economic powers by 2050.”
The University of South Florida College of Business, Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt Ltd, and the Tampa Bay Trade and Protocol Council have all been crucial partners in bringing this forum to fruition. Additionally, Enterprise Florida, Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation, Visit Tampa BayVisit Florida, USIBC and The Indus Entrepreneurs (TIE) played a part in allowing this forum to happen, said the organizers.