Nikki Haley to attend business forum at IIFA 2017

Indian-American Nikki Haley, US Ambassador to the United Nations, and US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard will be among key speakers at the Ficci-IIFA Global Business Forum 2017 in New York later this week.

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci), in partnership with the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA), is organising the business networking platform on July 14 at Asia Society Auditorium in New York.

"Our business forum is pretty heavyweight this time. Nikki Haley will be attending it," Andre Timmins, Director, Wizcraft International, the producers and creator of IIFA, told IANS.

According to the official IIFA website, Indian envoy to the US Navtej Sarna, Ficci President Pankaj R Patel, Vedanta Resources Executive Chairman Anil Agarwal, Essar Capital Limited President and CEO Madhu Vuppuluri, Renault India Managing Director Sumit Sawhney and Lycamobile Group of Companies Group Chairman and Founder Allirajah Subaskaran will be among the key speakers too.

The Forum was launched in 2005 as part of the IIFA extravaganza which, apart from promoting Indian films and music, also works towards strengthening ties between India and its significant trade and investment partners.

With the theme "India and United States: Partners in Progress for the World", the platform will bring together business leaders from India and the US, as well as the Indian Diaspora, to explore new commercial opportunities.

Some of the focus areas will be: The future of India-US economic partnership, defence and security, manufacturing, innovation and entrepreneurship and media and entertainment.

The 18th edition of the IIFA Weekend and Awards embarks on Thursday. The main awards event, which will feature Bollywood's glitz and glamour, will take place at the MetLife Stadium on Saturday night.

--IANS

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