Lt. Gov. Rutherford to also speak at the event, which will honor 25 people from various fields.
By Raif Karerat
India’s Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman and Maryland Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford will deliver the keynote addresses at Maryland India Business Council’s 10th annual awards gala and the U.S.-India business summit, scheduled to be held in Greenbelt, MD, on June 9.
A number of prominent government, business and community leaders will attend the event, according to the group.
The Maryland India Business Council (MIBRT) was established in order to foster the growth of bilateral trade and commercial relations between Maryland and India while allowing its member companies access to leadership in both the public and private sector. Over the past decade, the organization has successfully commercialized potential technologies, promoted trade between the state of Maryland and India, and established a plethora of international business partnerships.
The event is set to kick off with a number of panel sessions designed to further discussion about how Maryland-based businesses can aid their Indian counterparts with innovation and technological progressivism.
The first panel deals specifically with the establishment of “smart cities” and the manner in which Maryland-based businesses are cooperating with Indian entities to modernize the digital infrastructure of various Indian cities.
“City wide Wi-Fi networks will be the back-bone for smart city services … the digital economy is critical for India and world, explained MIBRT Executive Director Elisha Pulivarti, while speaking to The American Bazaar. “Over the next 10 to 15 years these cities will emerge as the key [technological], economic, and social hubs for the country.”
Other panels are slated to delve into Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Make in India” initiative, startups in India, and the Digital India program, which was created to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.
“Economic reforms in India are moving in right direction, and Prime Minister Modi is doing a wonderful job,” Pulivarti remarked.
Following the panel sessions — which will be moderated by Maryland Delegate Aruna Miller — and a business networking reception, keynote addresses will be delivered by Sitharaman and Rutherford.
The MIBRT will also honor a plethora of individuals who have made significant strides toward increasing bilateral business partnerships between entities in Maryland and India. Here is the full list of award recipients:
Congressman Elijah E. Cummings – “Outstanding Leadership Legacy”
Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. – “Outstanding Governor” of the year
Staff Sgt. Shejal Pulivarti – “Outstanding Media, Public Affairs, NC Officer at United States Army”
Walter Harris (Chief Operating Officer, FDA) – “Outstanding Global Executive Leader” of the year
Adam Prasad – “Outstanding Computer Programmer” of the year
Prashant Pandhre {social scientist) – “Outstanding Emerging Leader” of the year
Dr. Mukesh Aghi (President, U.S. India Business Council)- “Outstanding Global Emerging Leader” of the year
K V Kumar – “Outstanding Indian American Community Advocate”
Harsh Sanghavai – “Outstanding Emerging Political Leader” of the year
Dr. Richard Samuel – “Best Physician” of the year
Dr. Ramesh Mittal – “Outstanding Business Development” of the year
Dr. Russell V. Isaac (Pastor, Christian National Church) – “Outstanding Financial Development” of the year
Singh Taneja (Chief Operating Officer, Prince George’s Hospital Center) – “Outstanding Healthcare leader” of the year
Richard Christian (Senior Partner, Devlin Consulting Group) – “Best Innovation” of the year
Dr. Terry Ford (President, Adventist Healthcare) – “Outstanding Healthcare Administrator” of the year
Dr. Weymouth Spence – “Outstanding Education Administrator”
Garlapati Sukumar Reddy – “Best Entrepreneur” of the year
Dr. Sarita Koride – “Outstanding Young Scientist” of the year
John Giannetti Jr. – “Best Attorney at Law” of the year
Joel David – “Outstanding Community Service”
Sudhakar Gande (Vice-Chair, AxisCades Engineering Technology Limited) – “Outstanding Innovation” of the year
Doug F. Gansler – “Extraordinary Leadership” of the year
Srihari Kotela – “Emerging Ag Technology Award of the year”
Rajasekhar Basavaraju – “Best Media of the Year”
Appala Padmavathi – “Outstanding TV Media” of the year