Anand Sharma, Minister of Commerce and Industry will address the CII-India Conference on Managing the Global Crisis.
Strengthening Partnerships for Tackling Global Economic Challenges Top of Agenda.
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is undertaking a new venture by forming the CII India Business Forum, UK, during its annual CEOs’ mission to that country from 21-23 June 2009. Hon’ble Mr Anand Sharma, Minister of Commerce and Industry, will address the CII-India Conference on Managing the Global Crisis, along with Lord Adair Turner, Chairman, Financial Services Authority, UK.
Mr Venu Srinivasan, President, Confederation of Indian Industry, and Chairman, TVS Motor Company, is leading the mission which this year assumes added significance in light of the global economic slowdown.
The annual CII CEOs’ mission to UK has over the years succeeded in building and strengthening engagement with top leadership, business heads, civil society and academia to give impetus to bilateral economic links. Apart from the economic crisis, the delegation will focus on taking India-UK ties in a strategic direction, uncovering new avenues of collaboration, and addressing issues of global concern such as regulation of the global financial system, climate change, and security. The CII-IBF UK, in partnership with the High Commission of India, UK, will work on forging a new strategic economic engagement between the two countries.
Other top items on the mission agenda include forging partnerships for promoting trade and investments, joint efforts towards skill development and higher education, highlighting cooperation in advanced manufacturing, and exploring emerging business areas such as clean products, nanotechnology, life sciences, etc. The emphasis will be on taking the robust India-UK economic partnership to new sectors, new regions and new enterprise levels.
Bilateral merchandise trade crossed $12 billion in 2008-09, with services trade at $ 5 billion. A CII paper proposes a target for merchandise trade at $40 billion by 2015 and special emphasis on expanding services trade to $12 billion. It also suggests that UK can have greater investment position in the Indian economy through keynote projects. Higher frequency of missions and trade events and identification of new areas for collaboration, especially high-end technology, is envisaged.
The packed program for the 16-member delegation includes meetings with senior political leaders, top administration officials, and business heads. The Indian CEOs will call on Lord Peter Mandelson, Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and Mr Andrew Cahn, Chief Executive, UK Trade & Investment. The delegation will also be meeting Mr David Cameron, Leader of the Conservative Party, Mr Ken Clarke, MP & Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, and Mr George Osborne, MP & Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer.
A wide range of topics are covered through conferences and seminars with leading industry associations, Confederation of British Industry, Commonwealth Business Council, UK-India Business Council, and JCB.
Members of the CII delegation include: Mr Hari S Bhartia, Vice President, Confederation of Indian Industry and Co-Chairman and Managing Director, Jubilant Organosys Ltd.; Dr Anand C Burman, Chairman, Dabur India Ltd.; Mr Tarun Das, Chief Mentor, CII; Ms Bhairavi Jani, Director, SCA Group of Companies; Mr Rajive Kaul, Chairman, Nicco Corporation Ltd; Ms Naina Lal Kidwai, Group General Manager and Country Head (India), HSBC; Mr Pawan Munjal, CEO & Managing Director, Hero Honda Motors Ltd; Mr Rajendra S Pawar, Chairman, NIIT; Mr Atul Punj, Chairman, Punj Lloyd Ltd; Mr Dhruv M Sawhney, Chairman & Managing Director, Triveni Engineering & Industries Ltd; Mr Suhel Seth, Managing Partner, Counselage India; Mr Malvinder Mohan Singh, Group Chairman, Religare & Fortis Healthcare Ltd; Mr Vipin Sondhi, Managing Director & CEO, JCB India Ltd; Mr Phiroz Vandrevala, Executive Director & Head, Global Corporate Affairs, Tata Consultancy Services and Mr Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII. The members of this delegation are India’s leading entrepreneurs in fields such as manufacturing, financial services, life sciences, infrastructure and IT etc.
