Annual Christmas Ball

AMCHAM’s Annual Christmas Ball was held on December 10th at the Hyatt Regency, New Delhi. Honorary President of AMCHAM, Charge d’Affaires, Ambassador Elizabeth Jones, was the guest of honor. Mr. Atul Dhawan, Chairman, AMCHAM and Chairperson / Partner, Deloitte South Asia, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP and Mr. Salil Gupte, Immediate Past Chairman, AMCHAM and President, Boeing India, were present. Approximately 190 members and guests participated in the fun filled evening. The event was made possible with the following partners: (Gold Partners) Boeing India Pvt. Ltd., Lockheed Martin India Pvt. Ltd., Metlife Global Operations Support Center Pvt. Ltd., Optum, S&P Capital IQ (India) Pvt. Ltd. (Silver Partners) Corning Technologies India Pvt. Ltd., Rossell Techsys Inc (Bronze Partners) Applied Materials India Pvt. Ltd., Bausch & Lomb, Becton Dickinson India Pvt. Ltd., Goodyear India Limited and (Supporting Partners) Coca-Cola India Pvt. Ltd., Hershey India Pvt. Ltd., Kellogg India Pvt. Ltd., PepsiCo India Holdings Pvt. Ltd. and VLCC.

 

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.

Session on DEI

AMCHAM’s Hyderabad Chapter, in association with EY, organized a session on DEI at the office of Carrier Technologies on December 7th in Hyderabad. Mr. Prakash Bodla, Chairman – Hyderabad Chapter, AMCHAM opened the session by welcoming participants and the Consul General. Ms. Jennifer Larson, Consul General, U.S. Consulate General Hyderabad, in her opening address mentioned the importance and relevance of DEI today. Ms. Alpana Dutta, Partner, Workforce Advisory EY & EMEIA Leader – Purpose, Culture and Leadership and Ms. Priyanka Gupta, Director, Workforce Advisory EY, Global Business Services Talent Leader, shared their views. A poll was conducted to check the top three challenges to an inclusive culture that each organization was actively addressing. Ms. Dutta discussed DEI opportunities and challenges that have cropped up with hybrid/remote work systems.

This was followed by a panel discussion with Mr. Deshant Kali, MD, Pepsico, Ms. Sharmila Khan, Director – Country HRBP, Micron Technology, Ms. Vasudha Bommireddy, VP Engineering, Providence India and Mr. Prakash Bodla, MD and VP Engineering, Carrier Technologies India Ltd. Panelists shared how the DEI strategy shifted to adapt to new ways of working and strategies beyond gender but extending to cultural and language barriers. Panelists discussed the unconscious bias that exists and how it needs to be consciously addressed. The key objectives aligned to business, how DEI has become a business imperative more than something that is regulatory or mandatory and how to leverage allyship to build a sustainable culture of DEI were highlighted.

 

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.

Exclusive Interaction with Charge d’Affaires, Ambassador Elizabeth Jones, U.S. Embassy and Mr. Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister, Government of Maharashtra and U.S. Industry Leadership

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

Exclusive Interaction with Charge d’Affaires, Ambassador Elizabeth Jones, U.S. Embassy and Mr. Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister, Government of Maharashtra and U.S. Industry Leadership – 06 December 2022

On December 6th, National Executive Board Members of AMCHAM and U.S. industry leadership participated in a closed-door interaction with Charge d’Affaires, Ambassador Elizabeth Jones, U.S. Embassy and Honorary President, AMCHAM and Mr. Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister, Government of Maharashtra. Ms. Ranjana Khanna, Director General CEO, AMCHAM and Mr. Sanjay Koul, Vice Chair, AMCHAM and President – India & South East Asia & Managing Director – India, Timken India Limited made opening remarks. U.S. industry leadership shared about their successes and challenges in Maharashtra. Charge d’Affaires Ambassador Jones made comments about the growing economic partnership between the U.S. and India. Deputy Chief Minister Fadnavis shared candidly about infrastructure upgradation, securing land for setting up of an airport and logistics park at Pune, working to shift the entire agriculture sector to solar energy and utilize drone technology in the sector, investment opportunities in the thriving state and plans for setting up a Skilling University with the Work Bank for enriching skill development to keep pace with technology.

 

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.

National Executive Board Meeting

The fourth meeting of AMCHAM’s National Executive Board for 2022-2023 was held on December 6th in Mumbai in hybrid mode. Mr. Atul Dhawan, Chairman, AMCHAM and Chairperson / Partner, Deloitte South Asia chaired the meeting. Mr. Sanjay Koul, Vice Chair, AMCHAM, Chairman – Manufacturing Committee, AMCHAM and President – India & South East Asia & Managing Director – India, Timken India Limited gave an overview of the National Logistics Policy. Mr. Deepak Shrivastava, Managing Director – Indian Subcontinent, UPS addressed the board on ‘National Logistics Policy and its Impact on U.S. Industry.’

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.

Western Region Signature Event: U.S.-India Economic Partnership: Enhanced Cooperation – Committed Together for Greater Good

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

Western Region Signature Event: U.S.-India Economic Partnership: Enhanced Cooperation – Committed Together for Greater Good – 06 December 2022

AMCHAM’s Western Region Signature Event was held in Mumbai on December 6th under the overarching theme ‘U.S.-India Economic Partnership: Enhanced Cooperation – Committed Together for Greater Good.’ The evening commenced with welcome remarks by Ms. Ranjana Khanna, Director General CEO, AMCHAM. Mr. Sarthak Ranade, Chairman – Western Region, AMCHAM and Managing Director – Janssen India, Johnson & Johnson Pvt. Ltd., through his opening remarks, welcomed the distinguished speakers and members for joining the event. He reinforced AMCHAM’s endeavour to support the Government of Maharashtra to reach its goal of becoming a $1 trillion economy by making the state the economic powerhouse of India. He then went on to introduce Ambassador Elizabeth Jones, Honorary President, AMCHAM and Charge D’Affaires, U.S. Embassy.

In her address Charge D’Affaires Ambassador Jones spoke of the strong, growing economic relationship between the U.S. and India, the unparalleled opportunity for bilateral relations in the current geopolitical scenario and scope for increased investments. She highlighted the need to build equitable societies that promote resilience and competitiveness as well as boost inclusion and participation of women in the workplace. Ms. Kaku Nakhate, National Executive Board Member, AMCHAM and President & Country Head, (India), Bank of America, N.A. set the scene for the Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister’s address by acknowledging the state government’s efforts to foster a rich business culture and the forward-looking policies that encourage investments from MNCs in critical sectors that contribute overall to the state and nation. She highlighted Maharashtra’s friendly regulations, safe working environment, infrastructure, roads, transport, connectivity, electricity and a vibrant talent pool that will be a driving force enabling the state’s goal of achieving a $1 trillion economy by 2027.

Mr. Sanjay Koul, Vice Chair, AMCHAM and President – India and South East Asia & Managing Director- India, Timken India Limited introduced the keynote speaker Mr. Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister, Government of Maharashtra. Mr. Devendra Fadnavis gave a riveting keynote address on Maharashtra’s economy achieving $1 trillion and how U.S. Industry can support it. The Deputy Chief Minister stated that Maharashtra is the growth engine of India with infrastructure, industries, information and technology as it’s pillars. He stated that the upcoming infrastructure, metro lines, trans harbour links and airport will positively impact the ease of living and attract investments in the state. He spoke of the Government of Maharashtra’s focus on the agriculture sector and the ongoing projects that infuse agriculture with technology and projects in alternate, clean energy. He briefly touched upon the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of GatiShakti. An engaging Q&A segment followed. The Q&A was moderated by Mr. Shailendra Jagtap, Vice Chairman – Western Region, AMCHAM and Managing Director & Country Manager, John Deere India Pvt. Ltd.

Through a special address, Mr. Deepak Bagla, Managing Director and CEO, Invest India shared an economist’s perspective on India’s role in the global economy. Mr. Bagla highlighted the ease of doing business across a large number of Indian states. He mentioned that AI, geospatial systems and drones, semiconductors, genomics, green energy have been of major interest at bilateral corridors especially between the U.S. and India. He touched on G20 and Invest India’s working group with start-ups and engagement group for investment promotion with a focus on digitalization, supply chain and transitioning into a green economy. The segment featured a fireside chat with Ms. Kaku Nakhate in which she posed questions to Mr. Bagla on PLI schemes, acceleration of India signing FTAs and its impact on India’s export growth and green hydrogen as a game changer for India.

The last session was an insightful panel discussion on ‘The New CEO Imperatives: D&I, Wellness & Mental Health, ESG.’ The session was moderated by Mr. Shailendra Jagtap with featured speakers Mr. Ramkrishna Sinha, Co-Founder, Pride Circle and Ms. Usha Srikanth, Senior Partner, Client Services Leader, IBM Consulting. Ms. Srikanth spoke of the need to embrace gender diversity at the workplace, resistance and unconscious bias. She shared her advice on how society, offices and families can encourage women to thrive at the workplace. Mr. Sinha spoke on sensitization of LGBTQ inclusion at the workplace. With real life experiences, he spoke of Pride Circle’s efforts in providing LGBTQ individuals financial autonomy, skill building, systemic values, sensitizing sessions at companies to celebrate talent in all form. He urged people to learn about LGBTQ inclusion and stated that the onus of inclusivity should be on each individual in the larger society. The panel participated in Q&A with the audience.

The program concluded with closing remarks and vote of thanks by Mr. Sarthak Ranade who thanked the distinguished speakers, sponsors, participants and AMCHAM. This was followed by networking dinner and cocktails. The event was sponsored by John Deere India Pvt. Ltd., APCO Worldwide India Pvt. Ltd., CSI Leasing and Johnson & Johnson 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.