'Opportunities and Challenges' theme of 4th GCC-India forum in Jeddah

The 4th GCC-India Forum will be held in Jedddah Nov 18-19, an event that is expected to take business and commercial ties between India and Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region to a new level.

It is expected be attended by India's Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and a host of officials and business leaders from India, Saudi Arabia and representatives of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Among the topics listed for discussion are investment opportunities in GCC and India, the role of sovereign funds, trade, healthcare, cooperation between the GCC and Indian businesswomen communities, energy security', food security and agriculture and IT.

"The GCC as a collective entity holds tremendous economic as well as geo-political significance for India. The GCC countries are moving ahead rapidly with their economic integration efforts," says the concept note for the session on 'Promising investment opportunities in GCC and India'.

"The GCC has emerged as a major trading partner for India; it has vast potential as India's investment partner for the future. This session will seek to identify the most promising sectors for investment between India and the GCC and suggest a roadmap to facilitate this process," the concept note says.

Sitharaman will be one of the speakers at the inaugural plenary, which will also be addressed, among others by Saudi Minister of Commerce & Industry Tawfiq F. Al-Rabiah, GCC secretary general Abdullatif R. Al-Zyane, Sheikh Kalifa J. Al-Thani, president of Chambers of GCC (FGCCC) and CII president Sumit Mazumder.

Among the prominent Indian officials and business leaders expected to attend the summit are Tamil Nadu Health Minister C. Vijaya Baskar; Ravneet Kaur, joint secretary in the commerce and industry ministry; Rashesh Shah, chairman and CEO, Edelweiss Financial Services; Satish Reddy, chairman, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories; Atul Punj, chairman, Punj Lloyd; Rakesh Bharti Mittal, chairman, Bharti Infratel Limited; Piruz Khambatta, chairman & managing director, Rasna International; C.P. Gurnani, managing director and CEO, Tech Mahindra Limited; and O.P. Hisaria, senior vice president, Reliance Industries Ltd.