AmCham Eastern Region organized a Farewell interactive breakfast session for the U.S. Consul General Ms. Helen LaFave on Friday July 10, 2015.Ms. LaFave spoke on “Reflections on U.S.-India Relations”. Ms. Amada Kidwai, Regional Director gave the introductions and mentioned Ms. LaFave had during her tenure truly integrated with all segments of the Kolkata society. She also welcomed and introduced Mr. Jonathan Ward the newly arrived Principal Commercial Officer to Kolkata and Mr. Andrew Posner the Public Affairs Officer and Director of the American Center.

The welcome address was given by Mr. Dinesh Agarwal, Chairman AmChamEastern Region. Mr. Agarwal said that during the tenure of Ms. LaFave she supported and participated in all major AmCham Easter Chapter’s initiativesand she very aptlyhighlighted the significance of North-East as a gateway that connects India with its neighborsin the east. He said thatMs.LaFave has reiterated US’s support to the vision of an Indo-Pacific economic corridor that would help bridge South and Southeast Asia. He said that she had demonstratedthe United States government’s support for universal education. During her tenure, she had visited many academic institutions and interacted with students.As a result of her initiative, the US Regional English Language office in India supported two English language specialists to train 120 secondary school teachers cum Master trainers in Shillong over three weeks. She has also worked towards the social front by stressing the need to curb the child labor and human trafficking and provided solutions towards the same. In her farewell addresson “Reflections on U.S.-India Relations” she spoke about her decision to choose India as the place of work mentioning that “She is privilege to be a partner with India in India”.She elaborated further on the work that she had undertaken over the last two years, talking about the political and the bilateral ties between India and US and also about the good bilateral investment opportunities in India and the Eastern Region. Mr. Suranjan Bhanja, past chairman of AmCham Eastern Chapter, Ms Poonam Burman, HR Country Head of Lexmark International and Mr. Rinkish Satyajit, Vice President of PepsiCo spoke about their personal interactions with Ms. LaFave and spoke about the contributions of Ms.LaFave in AmCham and Eastern India over the past two years.

Mr. Joydeep Dutta Gupta in his concluding remarks and vote of thanks also spoke about the support Ms. LaFave had provided to AmCham and its members and wished her well in her new assignment.
http://epaper.telegraphindia.com/paper/20-16-15@07@2015-1001.html.