Bangalore, Jan 17
The 13th edition of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
partnership summit got underway here Wednesday in the presence of
Portuguse President Anibal Antonio Cavaco Silva, Britain's prime
minister-to-be Gordon Brown and ministers
from France, Canada and the Gulf countries.
Being held for the second time in India's silicon hub, the focus of
the three-day summit is "Emergent India - New Roles and
Responsibilities" and has brought together 750 delegates from 26
countries.
Besides the high-profile Portuguese delegation, the summit has also
attracted a 150-strong business delegation from Great Britain,
headed by Chancellor of Exchequer Gordon Brown and Secretary of
State for Trade and Industry Alistair Darling.
The Portuguese delegation, which has evinced keen interest in
networking with its Indian counterpart businesses, is focusing on
tying up commercial and investment partnerships for Indian and EU
markets. Portuguese minister of economy and innovation Manuel Pinho
and Minister of Culture Joao Gomes are accompanying their president
at the summit.
The international business delegations represent an array of
industries from sectors such as pharmaceuticals, IT, manufacturing,
food and beverages, banking and financial services, healthcare and
infrastructure.
The high-profile French delegation, led by Minister for Industry
Fancois Loos, will focus on the untapped areas in the Indo-French
trade like defence, aviation, nuclear energy and food processing.
The Canadian delegation is led by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty
and accompanied by Deputy Minister Alastair Glass.
With the Gulf region showing great interest in doing business in the
sub-continent, ministerial delegations from Kuwait and Syria are
participating in the summit in a big way. Crown Prince and Deputy
Ruler of Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah Saud Bin Saqr Al Quasimi is
heading the Kuwaiti delegation.
"The summit is set to give a boost to economic and industrial trade
and co-operation between India and participating countries, thus
making India the centre of international economic activity," CII
President R.Seshasayee said in his inaugural address.
Referring to the theme of the summit, Seshasayee said India's
external engagement was taking place at a time when geo-economics
was overwhelming geo-politics. Unlike geo-economies, with
geo-politics becoming a zero-sum game, the loss of territory by a
country results in gain for another country.
"When countries engage and leverage each other's economies, there is
incremental gain to both. This spirit guides the partnership summit.
Geo-economies should set the goal of equitable and sustainable
development, inclusive growth and improved well-being of the people
the world over," said Seshasayee, managing director of Ashok
Leyland.
Advocating partnerships as the only way to address and resolve risks
and challenges on an economically intertwined world, Seshasayee said
India had the potential to impart global equation, thanks to the
country's emergence as the fourth largest economy in terms of
purchasing power parity.
"It is time for India to take stock of global challenges and issues
and craft a new role in the global arena. The summit will address
some of these issues and shape the discourse of how India can play a
part in the future of the globalized world," he added.
(c) Boloji.com :
1999–2008 : All
Rights Reserved Boloji.com is owned and managed by Boloji Media Inc Privacy Policy |
Disclaimer
No part of this Internet site may
be reproduced without prior written permission of the copyright holder.
