USIIC team makes mark at Select USA 2016

CHICAGO, IL — The United States-India Importers Council (USIIC) was part of the recently-concluded Select USA Investment Summit.

The summit was addressed by US President Barack Obama. The 17- member strong trade and investment delegation from Gujarat to the US during June 18-23 was headed by USIIC vice chairman Jagat Shah.

The delegation was in Washington D.C. from June 18 to 21, New York on June 22, and New Jersey on June 23 to attend the Summit and meet with top governmental and business delegations to promote technology transfer, joint ventures, investment, franchising and trade between the USA and India, which is the basic genesis of USIIC.

USIIC is headquartered in Mumbai with chapters in New Jersey, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad.

The investment exhibition and summit is the highest-profile event that promotes foreign direct investment and trade in the US. It provides an unparalleled opportunity to bring together companies from all over the world, economic development organizations from every corner of the nation, others working to facilitate trade and investment in the US, and high-level government officials.

The sectors represented by the USIIC delegation were from infrastructure, mining, logistics, agri business, plastics and rubber, industrial and medical gases, pharmaceuticals, automotive, food processing, jewellery, water tanks, PVC doors, moulded furniture, textiles, PCB manufacturing, information technology, digital technologies, financial services, management consulting and IPR services.

The following were some of the highlights of the delegation:

–2400 participants from 70 countries. Largest delegation was from India.

–President Obama in his speech at Select USA acknowledged an Indian company from Surat : He mentioned about the Surat-based agricultural tech company, which participated in the Select USA program and has established its HQ in Missouri US within a year. The company referred in this speech is BlueOrb Solutions LLC (BOSs)/Lacgene (global headquarters).

–MOU signed by USIIC with Asia North America Business Council (ANABC) at Washington DC (June 21) for exchange of business information & trade and investment delegation exchange between the US & India. Will also work on best practices in skill development.

–Meeting with president of United States India Business Council (USIBC) & discussed ideas & steps to work together in synergy to build stronger trade, investment & security relations between India & the US.

–USIIC delegation with Minister (commerce) at Embassy of India in Washington DC. All delegates explained their businesses & expectations from Embassy and the embassy extended full support in information & networking contacts to make them successful in the US.

–USIIC business delegation had a great interaction on intelligent transport, smart cities, disaster management system, homeland security, 911-112, waste to energy project, Air Force & defense offsets business opportunities with businesses at OST Inc. in Washington. A few of those projects will be taken forward by our delegate companies for implementation in India.

–Delegation had an interactive session with VinaiThummalapalli, US Department of Commerce. He praised the work of USIIC & appreciated that it was the largest delegation to the summit.

–USIIC delegation meet top-level panel discussing innovation with Economic advisor to president, ABB president, TEVA Pharma MD, MD Lockheed Martin, MD McKinsey & co.

–Meeting with Rick Rossow, Wadhwani Chair in US India Policy Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) for an exhilarating discussion of US-India business, trade & investment interests. The delegation was glad that the areas of conflict & cooperation are well understood and accepted by both sides. Both countries should work to resolve the conflicts by trust building through give-and-take and build stronger foundations on areas of co-operation. American small & medium enterprises (SMEs) need to start looking at India.

–Attended the USIBC evening reception hosted by baker & Mckenzie where President of USIBC, Ambassador of India to USA, Assistant Secretary of State of US department of commerce, USCS officials from India & 100+ companies exchanged business introductions for next steps.