Welcome Reception in Honour of Consul General David J. Ranz, U.S. Consulate General Mumbai 30th September 2019

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

Welcome Reception in Honour of Consul General David J. Ranz, U.S. Consulate General Mumbai – 30th September 2019

On September 30th, AMCHAM’s Western Region welcomed the new U.S. Consul General to Mumbai, Mr. David J. Ranz, at a roundtable with distinguished members of the region. The event commenced with a round of introductions by all participants showcasing the wide array of industry representation. This was immediately followed by welcome remarks and a presentation showcasing AMCHAM India and Western Region membership, objectives, vision, past present and future roadmap by Ms. Ursula Thakkar, Chairperson – Western Region, AMCHAM and Managing Director, Lubrizol Advanced Materials India. Ms. Kaku Nakhate, Vice Chairperson, AMCHAM and President & Country Head, India, Bank of America N.A., made an address and introduced Consul General Ranz.

Consul General Ranz began his remarks by stating the critical importance of partnership between AMCHAM India and the U.S. Consulate. He briefly shared his experiences from his previous postings and the perspectives he brings vis-a-vis U.S.-India trade relations because of them. He also stated that he is optimistic about the U.S.-India relationship without brushing under the rug the real challenges in the system. Through his address he touched upon the effects of volatile tariff rates and tax structures, liberalization of economic policies and the need for better consultation between the government and the private sector. The Consul General expressed his strong advocacy for diversity and inclusion and stated his intent to support and partner with AMCHAM’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee. He also highlighted that one of his main focus points during his tenure, apart from building U.S.-India trade relations, is to promote education and women empowerment at the workplace.

In the interactive discussion with Consul General Ranz, members shared their organization’s efforts in encouraging gender diversity at technology centres and in manufacturing units. Members also shared an overview of successes and challenges with regard to reforms by the state government. The welcome reception concluded with a vote of thanks and concluding remarks by Mr. Sudhir Shenoy, Co-Chairman – Western Region, AMCHAM and CEO, Dow Chemical International.

 

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.

Hyderabad Chapter Sports 2019 September – November 2019

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

Hyderabad Chapter Sports 2019 – September – December 2019

AMCHAM’s Hyderabad Chapter Sports 2019 began on September 21st with cricket, followed by basketball. This is an opportunity for the employees of member companies to have some healthy competition. Badminton was held in on November 2nd and 3rd and table tennis on November 9th and 10th. Volleyball was scheduled for October but has been postponed to December due to ground conditions. This year a total of 28 companies have participated in this sports edition.

 

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.

Breakfast Meeting on Investing in Tamil Nadu – New Government Policy on Industry 26th September 2019

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

Breakfast Meeting on Investing in Tamil Nadu – New Government Policy on Industr – 26th September 2019

AMCHAM’s Tamil Nadu Chapter held a breakfast meeting on September 26th in Chennai with guest speaker Dr. K.P. Karthikeyan IAS, Executive Director, Guidance Bureau, Government of Tamil Nadu. Dr. Karthikeyan began his presentation by describing the state of Tamil Nadu – its strategic location and climate conducive to year-round port operations with three modern ports and 16 minor ports; two of those — Chennai and Thoothukudi which have container handling facilities. He said that the state was well connected with an extensive road and rail network, besides modern telecommunications infrastructure.

The other points made in the presentation included: Tamil Nadu has the third largest economy among the Indian states. Currently, the state’s official gross domestic product (GDP) exceeds US$ 23 billion; the average growth rate in Tamil Nadu has remained around 6-7%, which is much higher than the average growth rate of Indian states.

In the 2018 NCAER (National Council of Applied Economic Research) – State Investment Potential Index Overall Rankings report, Tamil Nadu was ranked the second most attractive state in India for investments. Tamil Nadu has become a popular investment destination on the basis of its unique economic structure. The state is home to more than 100 industrial parks, including developed land, for those who want to start a new business. Unlike many other states in India, where all economic resources are concentrated in one or two regions, Tamil Nadu’s economic resources are well distributed across the state.

The state has a large number of windmills that it relies on to generate electricity. It is one of the few states in India that sells electricity to others. Tamil Nadu generates more than half of India’s wind energy. The state government operates many large public sector companies in diverse fields like watch-making and paper mills.

Tamil Nadu has a high per capita income and is one of the most stable and urbanized regions in the country. It is India’s second largest software exporter, in terms of value. The state has the potential to become a preferred international destination for investments and manufacturing. Through a combination of talent, technology and incentives, the state has all the ingredients to achieve its global ambitions of delivering world class products and services. Tamil Nadu’s growth is driven by the automotive, automotive components, textile, manufacturing, defense and aerospace, biotechnology, health, energy, pharmaceutical, animation and the visual effects industries, as well as other areas of IT.

Dr. Karthikeyan said that the Business Facilitation Act provides for an online single window clearances in a time bound manner, online tracking of approvals, deemed approvals for clearances upon reaching the given timelines, prompt grievance redressal mechanism, state level committee for large industries and district level committee for SME’s and covers pre-establishment clearances, pre operational clearances, renewals and incentives. The presentation concluded with a very interesting interactive session.

Consul General Robert Burgess addressed members giving them an update on the visa application process and wait times, U.S. – India business relations, the Howdy Modi event and the visit to the U.S. of a Tamil Nadu government delegation led by the Chief Minister.

 

 

 

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.

Changing Labour Laws in India by Khaitan & Co 25th September 2019

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

Changing Labour Laws in India by Khaitan & Co – 25th September 2019

AMCHAM’s Karnataka Chapter hosted a presentation and discussion over breakfast at Renaissance by Marriott in Bengaluru for member companies on ‘Changing Labour Laws in India’ with a focus on Karnataka. This session focussed on helping American company leaders by providing a brief overview on labour laws in India and its applicability to manufacturing sectors and IT/ITES establishments, proposed consolidation of laws, wage code and occupational safety, health and working conditions code and recent developments. The Supreme Court’s judgement on provident fund and how it affects companies, as well as what data can be sought from employees and how to safeguard employee data, were also covered. This was followed by a Q&A session. The speakers from Khaitan & Co were Mr. Rajiv Khaitan, Partner – Bengaluru and Mr. Vinay Joy, HR Partner – Bengaluru.

 

 

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.

Cyber Security Committee Meeting 20th September 2019

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

Cyber Security Committee Meeting – 20th September 2019

The 2nd meeting of AMCHAM’s Cyber Security Committee was held on September 20th, 2019 under the leadership of Mr. Deepak Maheshwari, Chairman – Cyber Security Committee, AMCHAM and Director – Government Affairs, India, ASEAN & China, Symantec Corporation and Mr. Kishore Balaji, Co-Chairman – Cyber Security Committee, AMCHAM and Director – Public Policy & Government Relations, Intel Technology India. Mr. Deepak Maheshwari, welcomed the new Honorary USG Chair, Mr. Rob Garverick, Counselor for Economic Affairs and Environment, Science and Technology and industry Co-Chair, Mr. Amrit Singh Deo, MD, FTI Consulting. Mr. Garverick shared the U.S. government perspective on cyber security issues. Mr. Amrit Singh Deo, along with colleague, Mr. Prasanto Roy, presented the whitepaper to the committee which is being co-authored by AMCHAM and FTI Consulting. After a comprehensive deliberation, the committee requested members to share inputs to be incorporated in the report.

 

 

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.

7th Annual Healthcare Conference 20th September 2019

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

7th Annual Healthcare Conference – 20th September 2019

AMCHAM’s 7th Annual Healthcare Conference with the theme ‘Evolving Models of Healthcare Delivery in the Digital Era’ was held on September 20th, 2019 at Westin Mindspace in Hyderabad.

The Inaugural session began with Mr. Shashi Reddy, Chairman – Hyderabad Chapter, AMCHAM giving an overview on the day’s program. Consul General Joel Reifman was the guest of honor and he said the theme of the conference was in line with the U.S-India partnership of providing accessibility and affordability healthcare both in the urban and rural areas. Mr. Kaivaan Movdawalla of Ernst & Young showcased the healthcare delivery landscape in India and the three key imperatives to provide universal healthcare to all. He spoke on the rising dual disease burden – communicable diseases and non-communicable diseases.

The first panel ‘Sustainable Healthcare Delivery Models to Ensure Inclusiveness’ had panellists from various walks of life with Mr. Movdawalla of EY as the moderator. The panellists were Mr. Sarang Deo, ISB, Mr. NS Vishwanath, Mfine, Mr. Hari Thalapalli, Call Health and Mr. Ambuj Chaturvedi, Medtronic. They discussed how technology would give more options and the qualitative factor was more important than the quantitative factor. It is not about price control only but also about process and quality control. Challenges include information asymmetry, quality of care and customer behaviour. Medical support and capability can be achieved only through technology. Technology is an important way to bridge access to rural areas and help in continuity of care.

 

In the second session ‘Patient Centric Models,’ Mr. Srikanth Potturi, EY, moderated. The panellists were Dr. Pramod Gaddam, Fernandez Foundation (dealt with challenges), Mr. Matruprasad P, Medtronic (dealt with the technology aspect) and Mr. Murali Rao, EY (dealt with privacy issues in a patient centric model). A patient centric model is about keeping the patient in the centre, lowering costs and getting the best medical outcomes. Technology enables us to connect all stakeholders. Technology has been an enabler but patient privacy is important. Empathy for the patients was stressed.

 

In the third panel ‘Make in India – A Case for Frugal Innovation,’ Dr. Ambuj Chaturvedi was the moderator with panellists Ms. Nita Sachan, Cyient, Mr. Arun Shankar, PAREXEL, Mr. Renu John, IIT Hyderabad and Mr. Kartikeya Misra, Government of Andhra Pradesh. The panel discussed how technology plays a role from a standpoint of Make in India. Technology should be made simple so that the last mile person could use it. The panel discussed how academia should come to the forefront to support technologies for medical innovations. Train the human resource base on the what industry requires so that talent for AI, ML would bring healthcare to a really different level. Government and industry could work together to bridge gap.

 

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.