Interactive Session on Mental Health in COVID Times

AMCHAM’s HR Committee organized an interactive session on ‘Mental Health in COVID Times’ on July 28th. The guest speakers were Ms. Niharika Thakkar, Founder, PsychLine and Ms. Saachi Arora, Consultant Therapist, PsychLine. Ms. Ranjana Khanna, Director General CEO, AMCHAM introduced the speakers and welcomed participants. In her opening remarks, she gave an overview of the challenges people have been struggling with, such as the absence of a structured work day, no informal communication amongst colleagues and work-life balance distortion. Ms. Niharika Thakkar, in her presentation, shared some common myths, problems and consequences around the topic of mental health. She highlighted the major challenges at work due to COVID, which includes disturbed schedule, inability to request leave, the never-ending work day, technical and logistic challenges, “water-cooler” chats, broken feedback loops and appreciation, communication difficulties, decline in team work, loneliness, frustration, anxiety, demotivation, burnout evidenced as procrastination, fatigue and seriously disturbed work-life balance. Some of the prescriptions included seeking a sense of normalcy, maintaining a routine, online open-door hours, positive affirmations and self-motivation, setting incentives at short intervals, scheduling pleasurable activities and digital detox. Ms. Saachi Arora covered more difficult challenges faced during the pandemic which includes family and adjustment problems, parenting challenges, anxiety (panic attacks), OCD (health anxiety), obesity and overweight, PTSD, grief and bereavement, loneliness and depression, domestic violence, pain disorders, sleep disorders, substance abuse and suicide. She stressed on the importance of recognizing warning signs which can be emotional, physical, cognitive and behavioral. She ended her presentation with a 2 minute mindfulness exercise with participants. It was followed by Q&A with the audience. Mr. Chaitanya N. Sreenivas, Chairman – HR Committee, AMCHAM and VP HR & HR Head India South Asia, IBM, thanked the speakers and summarized the session.

Membership

By joining AMCHAM India, you become part of an active and dynamic Apex Chamber of U.S. Industry in India with a membership base of more than 400 American companies in India. AMCHAM is an important voice for policy advocacy, a critical source for business intelligence, a vibrant platform for networking and expanding your business.

Introductory Meeting with CAPT Michael Farmer, Chief, Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC), U.S. Embassy

American Chamber of Commerce in India
Apex Chamber of U.S. Industry in India

American Chamber of Commerce in India
Apex Chamber of U.S. Industry in India

Introductory Meeting with CAPT Michael Farmer, Chief, Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC), U.S. Embassy– 27 July 2021

AMCHAM had an introductory meeting with CAPT Michael Farmer, Chief, Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC), U.S. Embassy on July 27th. CAPT Farmer was briefed about AMCHAM and activities in the aerospace and defense sector by Ms. Ranjana Khanna, Director General CEO, AMCHAM. He was welcomed to the Defense Committee in his position as the Honorary USG Chairman. He shared insights on the upcoming U.S. government visits, as well as his vision on how members could support in expanding the scope of the U.S. India defense relationship.

Membership

By joining AMCHAM India, you become part of an active and dynamic Apex Chamber of U.S. Industry in India with a membership base of more than 400 American companies in India. AMCHAM is an important voice for policy advocacy, a critical source for business intelligence, a vibrant platform for networking and expanding your business.

Electronics Manufacturing Committee Meeting

AMCHAM’s Electronics Manufacturing Committee met virtually on July 22nd under the leadership of Mr. Ketan Patel, Chairman – Electronics Manufacturing Committee, AMCHAM and Managing Director, Hewlett – Packard Enterprise India Pvt. Ltd. and Mr. Naveen Tandon, Co-Chairman – Electronics Manufacturing Committee, AMCHAM and Head- Policy and Strategy, Apple Inc. The committee discussed, amongst other issues, concerns with Trusted Electronics Value Chain (TEVC), standards of STQC and TEVC for telecom, delay in BIS Certification and approvals, a host of representations that are proposed to be made to the government, as well as policy stability issues in ease of doing business. The need for a stake in higher opportunities to industries in electronics manufacturing sectors in India and U.S.-India High Tech Corridor was also discussed. Requirements to prepare a document for presentation to the Government of India on end-to-end manufacturing, capturing the current business and trade scenario and the U.S. industry’s complete engagement in R&D emanating from long term plans were some of the main points of discussion at the meeting.

Membership

By joining AMCHAM India, you become part of an active and dynamic Apex Chamber of U.S. Industry in India with a membership base of more than 400 American companies in India. AMCHAM is an important voice for policy advocacy, a critical source for business intelligence, a vibrant platform for networking and expanding your business.

India in a Global Perspective – Current Economic Challenges and Prospects

A session on ‘India in a Global Perspective – Current Economic Challenges and Prospects’ was organized by AMCHAM, in association with EY India, on July 21st with Dr. D. K. Srivastava, a noted economist, an Honorary Professor at Madras School of Economics and a Member of the Advisory Council to the 15th Finance Commission. He is also the Chief Policy Advisor for EY India. The session began with Mr. Prakash Bodla, Chairman – Hyderabad Chapter, AMCHAM and Executive Head, Carrier Technologies International, who welcomed participants. Mr. Jayesh Sanghvi, Vice Chair – Hyderabad Chapter, AMCHAM and Partner, EY India introduced the speaker.

Dr. Srivastava spoke at length on the recovery of the fiscal year in India (FY 22) and GDP growth. He explained that India’s economic damage was mostly from the first wave of COVID and that the second wave of the pandemic did not adversely affect the economy as much as the first wave. The gross fixed capital formation and capacity utilization did fall but is recovering and new investments would help raise the capacity utilization to 75%. Through a detailed presentation, he also showed that industries and services were recovering. Dr. Srivastava also touched on inflation, monetary policy, implementation of additional liquidity into the system, taxation, restructuring expenditure and borrowings, fiscal stimulus and stability of direct investments.

Membership

By joining AMCHAM India, you become part of an active and dynamic Apex Chamber of U.S. Industry in India with a membership base of more than 400 American companies in India. AMCHAM is an important voice for policy advocacy, a critical source for business intelligence, a vibrant platform for networking and expanding your business.

Biotech and Pharma Sector Interaction with Government of Karnataka

AMCHAM, in partnership with the Government of Karnataka, organized an interaction with member companies in the bio technology, pharmaceuticals and medical technology sector on July 20th. The objective of the interaction was for senior leaders from the Government of Karnataka to hear from U.S. industry on the ease of doing business in Karnataka, challenges faced and if any assistance was required to support their operations in the state. The Department of IT BT & Electronics was represented by Dr. E.V. Ramana Reddy, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka, Ms. Meena Nagaraj, IAS, Director Electronics, Information Technology and Biotechnology, Government of Karnataka and other leaders from the department. Members companies in attendance included: Edwards Lifesciences, Optum, Stryker and United Healthcare, among others.

Membership

By joining AMCHAM India, you become part of an active and dynamic Apex Chamber of U.S. Industry in India with a membership base of more than 400 American companies in India. AMCHAM is an important voice for policy advocacy, a critical source for business intelligence, a vibrant platform for networking and expanding your business.

Welcome Chargé d’Affaires and AMCHAM’s Honorary President, Ambassador Atul Keshap and Interaction with National Executive Board

American Chamber of Commerce in India
Apex Chamber of U.S. Industry in India

American Chamber of Commerce in India
Apex Chamber of U.S. Industry in India

Welcome Chargé d’Affaires and AMCHAM’s Honorary President, Ambassador Atul Keshap and Interaction with National Executive Board – 20 July 2021

AMCHAM’s National Executive Board welcomed Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy and AMCHAM’s Honorary President, Ambassador Atul Keshap and interacted with him virtually on July 20th. The session began with welcome remarks and an introduction of CDA Ambassador Keshap by Ms. Ranjana Khanna, Director General CEO, AMCHAM. Mr. Salil Gupte, Chairman, AMCHAM and President, Boeing India, provided an overview of AMCHAM, the voice of U.S. industry on the ground in India. CDA Ambassador Keshap shared his global experience, highlighted the U.S. government aid contributions to India during the pandemic, discussed trade figures and the Indo Pacific, among other topics.

AMCHAM’s Office Bearers, Ms. Kaku Nakhate, Vice Chair, AMCHAM and President & Country Head (India), Bank of America N.A., Mr. Sanjay Koul, Vice Chair, AMCHAM and Chairman & Managing Director, Timken India Limited and Mr. Atul Dhawan, Honorary Secretary & Treasurer, AMCHAM and Chairperson, Deloitte South Asia, shared their thoughts, then all National Executive Board members introduced themselves, mentioned their company’s CSR initiatives and voiced sector specific updates and challenges. Some of the topics discussed included supply chain resilience, climate action, geopolitical scenario, renewable financing, G2G interactions with President Biden’s administration, growing U.S.-India defense ties and some ease of doing business challenges. Members acknowledged the phenomenal support of the U.S. Embassy during this time, especially Honorary National Executive Board Members, Ms. Aileen Nandi, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs and Mr. Thomas Carnegie, Minister Counselor for Economics, Trade, and Information Technology, Acting. The insightful interaction concluded with a vote of thanks from AMCHAM.

Membership

By joining AMCHAM India, you become part of an active and dynamic Apex Chamber of U.S. Industry in India with a membership base of more than 400 American companies in India. AMCHAM is an important voice for policy advocacy, a critical source for business intelligence, a vibrant platform for networking and expanding your business.