AMCHAM’s Tamil Nadu Chapter organized a breakfast meeting on energy neutral buildings and smart corporate offices on 30th March, 2017 at Hotel Westin Velachery in Chennai. The meeting was chaired by Mr. R. Ramkumar with guest speakers Dr. Prof. Benny Raphael, IIT – Madras and Dr. Chidambaranathan Velan, CEO, Tata Realty Infrastructure Limited and moderated by Mr. Ravi Bhattaram, Director-Engineering, CBRE South Asia Pvt. Ltd. Both guest speakers made presentations on the given topic. The following is a summary of the presentation:

Amid growing concerns about rising energy prices, energy independence, and the impact of climate change, statistics show buildings to be the primary energy consumer. This fact underscores the importance of targeting building energy use as a key to decreasing the nation’s energy consumption. The building sector can significantly reduce energy use by incorporating energy-efficient strategies into the design, construction, and operation of new buildings and undertaking retrofits to improve the efficiency of existing buildings. It can further reduce dependence on fossil fuel derived energy by increasing use of on-site and off-site renewable energy sources.

The concept of a net zero energy building, one which produces as much energy as it uses over the course of a year, recently has been evolving from research to reality. Currently, there are only a small number of highly efficient buildings that meet the criteria to be called “net zero.” As a result of advances in construction technologies, renewable energy systems, and academic research, creating net zero energy buildings is becoming more and more feasible. While the exact definitions of metrics for “net zero energy” vary, most agree that net zero energy buildings combine:

Exemplary building design to minimize energy requirements
Renewable energy systems that meet these reduced energy needs

Both speakers emphasized that regardless of the definition or metric used for a net zero energy building, minimizing the energy used through efficient building design should be a fundamental design criterion and the highest priority of all net zero energy building projects. Energy efficiency is generally the most cost-effective strategy with the highest return on investment, and maximizing efficiency opportunities before developing renewable energy plans will minimize the cost of the renewable energy projects needed. Using advanced energy analysis tools, design teams can optimize efficient designs and technologies.

Energy efficiency measures include design strategies and features that reduce the demand-side loads such as high-performance envelopes, air barrier systems, daylighting, sun control and shading devices, careful selection of windows and glazing, passive solar heating, natural ventilation, and water conservation. Once building loads are reduced, the loads should be met with efficient equipment and systems. This may include energy efficient lighting, electric lighting controls, high-performance HVAC, and geothermal heat pumps. Energy conversion devices such as combined heat and power systems, fuel cells, and micro turbines do not generate renewable energy. Instead, they convert fossils fuel energy into heat and electricity and are can be considered energy efficiency strategies.

In summation, it was stated that the largest energy reductions can be achieved through design, including on-site renewable energy systems, building maintenance software systems and energy management systems. A peer review of the design for new projects is advisable. The payback on CAPEX is about 12 – 15 months if the right installations are done in the project state. For retro fitted buildings, payback would be 2-3 years. A building is considered a ‘smart building’ when all its equipment is on the ‘hi-performance mode.’

A meeting of AMCHAM’s National Executive Board was held on 22nd March 2017 in Kolkata under the chairmanship of Mr. Pratyush Kumar, President, Boeing India. The meeting was hosted by Mr. K. P. Sengupta, Chairman – Eastern Region, AMCHAM and Chairman, Data Core (India) Pvt. Limited.

This was followed by a meeting with Dr. Amit Mitra, Minister for Departments of Finance and Industry, Commerce and Enterprises, Government of West Bengal, followed by a networking reception hosted by U.S. Consul General, Mr. Craig Hall, for AMCHAM members as well as other American companies.

AMCHAM’s National Executive Board, led by Pratyush Kumar, Chairman, AMCHAM, had a closed-door meeting with Dr. Amit Mitra, Minister for Departments of Finance and Industry, Commerce and Enterprises, Government of West Bengal on 22nd March in Kolkata. Mr. Rajiva Sinha IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Industry, Commerce and Enterprises, GoWB and Mr. Surendra Gupta IAS, Managing Director, WBIDC were also present. The AMCHAM delegation also included Mr. George Sibley, Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs and Environment, Science and Technology and Acting Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy and Mr. Craig Hall, Consul General, U.S. Consulate, Kolkata, along with members of AMCHAM’s secretariat.

The Minister spoke about investment opportunities in the state, he discussed the different verticals where the state would like to have further investments in partnership with U.S. companies. He said that the government was very keen to work with a business body like AMCHAM and appreciated the work that was being done by the chamber. U.S. companies present who had concerns/problems/suggestions or were looking at expanding their foot print in the state were given a hearing and Dr. Mitra addressed some of their queries. He requested companies send their concerns officially to the Additional Chief Secretary through the AMCHAM Secretariat to enable getting issues resolved in a timely manner. He also said that he was looking forward to having AMCHM lead a global delegation for the next West Bengal Global summit salted for 17-18 January, 2018.

AMCHAM, in partnership with Habitat For Humanity India, organized ‘ImPact 50-50 India: CSR Enabling Socio-Economic Transformation in 100 Districts in India’ in Mumbai on Wednesday, 22nd March 2017.

The event began with opening remarks by Ms. Surabhi Wahal, Regional Director – Western Region, AMCHAM India, followed by a special address by Consul General Thomas Vajda, U.S. Consulate General, Mumbai. A short audio-visual film sharing an overview on the journey and milestones of Habitat For Humanity was played.

The 1st keynote address of the event, Mr. Rajan Samuel, Managing Director, Habitat for Humanity India, shared insight into the CSR impact in housing and sanitation while focussing on the strategy impact 50-50: multi-sector, multi-year and multi-donor approach to make ‘Housing for All’ and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan a reality, district by district in India. Mr. Rick Hathaway, Area Vice-President, Habitat for Humanity International, Asia-Pac made the keynote address on ‘Impact Asia- Habitat’s Strategic Direction in the Asia-Pac Region.’

A photo essay on beneficiary testimonials and impact achieved was highlighted by Ms. Lara Shankar, Director, Strategic Management Unit, Habitat for Humanity India. This was immediately followed by an interactive session with donors and partners of Habitat for Humanity India moderated by Mr. Sanjay Daswani, Sr. Director, Resource Development & Communications, Habitat for Humanity India. An engaging Q&A session answered several queries that were posed by the participants.

The event concluded with closing remarks by Mr. Sanjay Daswani and a vote of thanks by Ms. Shalini Raizada, HR Leader – Shared Services, Dow Chemical International Pvt. Ltd.

AMCHAM India, in partnership with the Consulate General of the United States, Mumbai, organized a site visit to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and interactive sessions with Chairman JNPT and Commissioners of Customs JNPT on Tuesday, 21st March 2017.

The site visit commenced with a briefing on the history and functions of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port and SEZ by Mr. Sittarasu, CEO-JNPT SEZ. The briefing was followed by a roundtable meeting with Mr. Anil Diggikar (IAS), Chairman, JNPT and senior members of JNPT SEZ. The meeting began with a brief presentation titled ‘JNPT- Anchor the Global Trade Together.’ Mr. Gregory Taevs, Principal Commercial Officer, U.S. Commercial Service and Ms. Surabhi Wahal, Regional Director Western Region, AMCHAM, thanked Mr. Diggikar, Mr. Sitarrasu and the JNPT team for the wonderful opportunity for the delegation to visit. Mr. Diggikar shared insights on the JNPT SEZ and port which is one of the most important priorities for the Ministry of Shipping, with a special focus on ‘port led industrialization.’ He shared that JNPT has notified multi-product Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and Free Trade Warehousing Zone (FTWZ), just outside of the port boundaries, for which the foundation stone was laid by Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mr. Diggikar believed that the visit to the SEZ will help American companies get acquainted with their objective of making JNPT SEZ a successful project as well as would be instrumental in learning of the views of the participants that will help create a truly customer focused SEZ.

Some of the key highlights of JNPT SEZ include:

Location advantage – part of the greater Mumbai area, with established road and rail network
Minimal regulatory risks – SEZ is being setup in port owned land, no R&R issues for investors
Execution Certainty – master planning and engineering completed, utility and infrastructure development currently in advanced stage
Complete utility support – JNPT is providing uninterrupted power supply, water and road network right at the allotment stage itself
SEZ incentives – SEZ and FTWZ notifications received and tenants will be eligible for duty exemptions, tax exemptions and FDI norm relaxation
Dedicated SEZ cell – JNPT has created a dedicated SEZ cell to provide environmental and other SEZ clearances on the port and invited AMCHAM members to share their queries and suggestions in the ease of doing business at JNPT

The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr. Mark Martyn-Fisher, Director- Special Projects, UPS Jetair Express Pvt. Ltd. Excitement buzzed on a breezy ferry ride showcasing a sea side view of JNPT.

The delegation went on to meet with senior members of the Customs Department at the JNPT Customs House. The roundtable meeting with Mr. Subhash Agarwal (Commissioner of Customs – General), Mr. Mohanty (Commissioner of Customs – NS II), Mr. Shrawan Kumar (Commissioner of Customs – NS III) along with senior members of the department, had members sharing challenges as well as benefits of the ease of doing business at the JNPT port, over a candid interaction. As a follow up of the meeting, officials welcomed the idea of a consolidated note on challenges faced by companies to enable swifter and smoother operational ease wherever permissible. The meeting and events of the day concluded with closing remarks by Mr. Gregory Taevs and Ms. Surabhi Wahal who urged AMCHAM members to reach out to the U.S. Consulate and AMCHAM as a platform for support on the ease of doing business in India.

AMCHAM’s Manufacturing Committee met with Mr. Ramesh Abhishek, Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, GOI, on 16th March in New Delhi. Ms. Ranjana Khanna, Director General CEO, AMCHAM, welcomed members. The Secretary acceded to AMCHAM’s request to make ongoing interactions on a quarterly basis. Secretary Abhishek was accompanied by Mr. Rajiv Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, DIPP and Invest India.

Mr. Rampraveen Swaminathan, Chairman – Manufacturing Committee, AMCHAM and Managing Director, International Paper India, made opening remarks on the overall challenges to the manufacturing industry in India, such as, the need to have a modernized integrated port system, lack of GST clarity, consistent government polices without retrospective changes, delays caused by multiplicity of government agencies, labor laws, and the manufacturing skills gap, among others.

Mr. Rampraveen Swaminathan also moderated a sector-wise dialogue that covered manufacturing challenges in agriculture and food processing, automotive, defense, electronics and ICT and forest-based industries. Some of the companies represented at the meeting included BAE Sytems, Boeing, Carrier Midea, Corning Technologies, Deloitte, Dow Chemical, Edgewood Networks, Emerson Electric, Ford, HP, IBM, International Paper, IPM India Wholesale Trading, John Deere, KPMG, Lockheed Martin, PepsiCo and UTC. AMCHAM submitted a detailed document with company specific challenges and proposed solutions. To ensure future appropriate deliverables, all members are requested to send inputs on their issues to valerie@amchamindia.com.