Western Region Committee Meeting 31st October 2017

American Chamber of Commerce in India
Apex Chamber of US Industry in India

Western Region Committee Meeting – 31st October 2017

AMCHAM’s Western Region Committee meeting was held on Tuesday, 31st October 2017. Mr. Mahesh Krishnamurti, Chairman – Western Region, AMCHAM and Managing Director, RGP India, welcomed all participants. Committee members actively discussed, ideated and contributed towards the developments and next steps leading to the Western Region’s signature event scheduled on 6th December 2017 in Mumbai. The discussion was followed by a brief overview by Mr. Matt Timmons, Managing Director – South Asia, Lubrizol Advanced Materials India Pvt. Ltd. on AMCHAM’s ‘Western Region: Impact Statement’ sharing insights on the project’s key objective, progress and next steps.

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.

Anti-Corruption & FCPA Compliance Committee’s Breakfast Meeting 31st October 2017

American Chamber of Commerce in India
Apex Chamber of US Industry in India

Anti-Corruption & FCPA Compliance Committee’s Breakfast Meeting – 31st October 2017

On 31st October 2017, the Anti-Corruption & FCPA Compliance Committee met for a breakfast meeting at the Amazon office, New Delhi. The opening remarks were given by Ms. Ritika Ratti, Chairperson – Anti-Corruption & FCPA Compliance Committee, AMCHAM and Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer & Head of Anti-Corruption, Walmart India.

Since dealing with a third party usually means policing a tangled web of risks which require a lot of care and discipline on the part of the company, the committee held an interactive discussion on ‘Third Party Risk Management and Mitigation.’ A key challenge for most companies operating in India today is finding competent business partners with an understanding, acceptance of ethics and compliant to best practices. Members shared their process of screening third parties and their experiences. Members were requested to share their suggestions on potential topics for upcoming meetings. It was also decided that the 2018 Anti-Corruption & FCPA Compliance Masterclass would be held in Mumbai.

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.

CSR Committee Roundtable with USAID and WaterHealth 31st October 2017

American Chamber of Commerce in India
Apex Chamber of US Industry in India

CSR Committee Roundtable with USAID and WaterHealth – 31st October 2017

The CSR Committee organized a roundtable with USAID and WaterHealth on 31st October 2017 at the Cicso Systems (India) office in Gurgaon. Ms. Ranjana Khanna, Director General CEO, AMCHAM, welcomed members and introduced the speakers. She commended USAID for their fantastic work in India, specifically in health, education, sanitation and innovation.

Mr. Mark White, Mission Director, USAID/India, in his opening remarks mentioned that USAID was created by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 to be the U.S. government’s branch for international developmental and humanitarian assistance. In India, they work to promote health, education, agriculture and environment, among others, through bilateral agreements between the U.S. and Indian governments. Mr. Nehal Sanghavi, Senior Advisor for Innovation and Partnership, USAID/India, gave an overview of USAID’s work in India emphasizing that they work in true partnership mode due to the vibrant private sector. He discussed various projects in the realm of health, food security, WASH, education, clean energy and environment.

Mr. Harish Krishnan, Chairman – CSR Committee, AMCHAM and Managing Director, Public Affairs & Strategic Engagements, Cisco India & SAARC, Cisco Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd., provided an overview of AMCHAM’s CSR Committee and all participants introduced themselves and highlighted their company’s CSR focus areas.

Ms. Jacqueline Lundquist, Chief Serendipity Officer, WaterHealth International, talked about her endearing history with India, successful partnership with USAID/India and how WaterHealth is transforming the way people get water in underserved areas of India. Ms. Nandini Dasgupta, Head – Funding India, WaterHealth India, gave a presentation outlining the way their centers have improved family health, household savings and WASH awareness.

Mr. Tushar Kalia, Senior Director, Goodera, shared an analysis of CSR trends for 2016-2017. Goodera is the largest global CSR and volunteering management technology platform currently being used by over 150 companies to channelize and manage CSR projects.

There was an engaging and enthusiastic Q&A session in which the speakers answered questions on a range of topics including how companies begin the partnership process with USAID, monitoring and evaluations, the water distribution process of a WaterHealth station and the CSR trends of the largest MNCs in India. In closing, Ms. Ranjana Khanna thanked the speakers and thanked Cisco for hosting the meeting.

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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.

Learning and Sharing Session on 100 Days of GST: Gains & Pains 30th October 2017

American Chamber of Commerce in India
Apex Chamber of US Industry in India

Learning and Sharing Session on 100 Days of GST: Gains & Pains – 30th October 2017

AMCHAM’s Supply Chain and Logistics Committee organized a learning and sharing session on ‘100 Days of GST: Gains & Pains’ on Monday, 30th October 2017, in Mumbai. Ms. Surabhi Wahal, Regional Director – Western Region, AMCHAM, began the event with her opening remarks. This was followed by Mr. Milind Tailor, Co-Chairman – Supply Chain and Logistics Committee, AMCHAM and Head of Indirect Procurement & Electronic Security Asia Pacific, Diebold Nixdorf Private Limited, who through his address welcomed the participants, introduced the esteemed speakers and set the stage for this important topic.

The speakers at the session were tax experts: Mr. Prashant Deshpande, Indirect Tax Leader, Deloitte India and Mr. Nishit Shah, Manager, Deloitte India. The interactive discussion, along with the presentation, focused on the impact, gains and pains that GST has had in its first 100 days. The expert speakers highlighted the overall impact of GST, section wise gains and pains of GST implementation, supply chain management and practical issues faced by the logistics and transport sector and the way forward.

The event was well attended by supply chain leaders as well as tax leaders of AMCHAM member companies who actively engaged in a productive session resulting in a wonderful platform of learning. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr. Milind Tailor. The event was hosted by Diebold Nixdorf Pvt. Ltd.

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.

AMCHAM-Timken Invitational Golf Tournament 2017 28th October 2017

American Chamber of Commerce in India
Apex Chamber of US Industry in India

AMCHAM-Timken Invitational Golf Tournament 2017 – 28th October 2017

 

The AMCHAM-Timken Invitational Golf Tournament 2017 was held on October 28th, 2017 at Prestige Golfshire with participation of 108 golfers. CEOs of U.S. companies, senior bureaucrats from the Government of Karnataka and senior management of Indian corporates participated. Timken India Ltd. was the co-host along with AMCHAM while Saggezza Inc was the platinum sponsor. The gold sponsors were Dell EMC and Britannia. The silver sponsors included Bren Corporation, Netapp India, Jubiliant Motorworks (Audi), Sandisk India, M. Moser Design Associates, Hinduja Global Solutions, Altair, Decatholon, Scarborough Law, KPMG, Trufit and Hill. The hospitality partner was Courtyard by Marriott and Fairfield Marriott.The tournament ended with a lunch and prize distribution. The winners included:

  • Mr. Gopi S. for (0-15 handicap)
  • Mr. Putta Raju for (16 and above handicap
  • Mr. Thimmaiah Napanda for the AMCHAM category (0-15 handicap)
  • Mr. Naresh Shah for the AMCHAM category (16 and above handicap)

In addition to the giveaways, there were lucky draws sponsored by the Marriott and Alila group of hotels.

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.

Interaction with Secretary Rex Tillerson, U.S. Department of State 25th October 2017

American Chamber of Commerce in India
Apex Chamber of US Industry in India

Interaction with Secretary Rex Tillerson, U.S. Department of State – 25th October 2017

On 25th October 2017, Secretary Rex Tillerson, U.S. Department of State, met with AMCHAM leadership at the Roosevelt House, U.S. Embassy in New Delhi. AMCHAM leadership including, Mr. Pratyush Kumar, Chairman, AMCHAM and President, Boeing India, Mr. Atul Dhawan, Honorary Secretary and Treasurer, AMCHAM and Partner, Deloitte, Mr. Arun Jain, NEB Member, AMCHAM and Managing Director, Fluor Daniel India, Mr. Phil Shaw, Chairman – Defense Committee and NEB Member, AMCHAM and Chief Executive, Lockheed Martin India, Mr. Prabal Chakraborty, Chairman – Medical Devices Committee, AMCHAM and Vice President & Managing Director, Boston Scientific India, Mr. Siraj Chaudhry, Co-Chairman – Agriculture and Food Processing Committee, AMCHAM and Chairman, Cargill India, Mr. Manish Agarwal, Country Manager, H-D Motor Company India, and Ms. Ranjana Khanna, Director General CEO, AMCHAM, interacted with Secretary Tillerson on issues and concerns of U.S. companies in India. The Secretary was joined by Ambassador Alice Wells, Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, U.S. Department of State and Chargé d’Affaires MaryKay Carlson, U.S. Embassy, who discussed how to further enhance the economic partnership between both countries.

Details of the Secretary’s visit to India can be viewed HERE

U.S. Department of State official photos can be viewed HERE 

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.