IACCGH Concludes Trade Delegation to India Led by Mayor Annise Parker
At the reception at the Taj Hotel in Delhi, IACCGH Executive Director Jagdip Ahluwalia (left) and President Ashok Garg and past-President Sanjay Ram (right)
flank US Ambassador Richard Rahul Verma.
HOUSTON: The Indo American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston concluded a week-long investment and trade delegation to India with meetings and seminars held in New Delhi and Mumbai. The mission was led by the Greater Houston Partnership and by Houston Mayor Annise Parker as well as Houston Airport System Director Mario Diaz and IACCGH President Ashok Garg, Past-President Sanjay Ram and Executive Director Jagdip Ahluwalia.
Other delegates included representatives of the Texas Medical Center, Isani Consultants, KBR, Universal Weather and Aviation, Gunda Corp, Asset Management Consultants, Strategic Infrastructure, Emediscript/Vishal Consultancy, Telco Intercontinental, Geotest Engineering and Ascendon Group.
The delegation hosted a “Doing Business with Houston” seminar for Indian businesses and investors and also met with high-level government officials and corporate decision makers.
On the second day of the mission, the delegation met with the Asia Society where Mayor Annise Parker made a presentation on sustainable urban development and Houston’s green initiatives. She also gave a speech before the World Trade Center, a briefing by the U.S. consul general in Mumbai, networked with IACC Mumbai and visited the Mumbai mayor’s home, extending a formal invitation to him to visit Houston and asked about a sister city relationship with Mumbai.
At the Cricket Club of India in Bombay, an event hosted by the Indo American Chmaber of Commerce India; Sanjay Ram makes a point as Houston Mayor Annise Parker and IACCGH President Ashok Garg (second from right) listen.
The GHP Chief Economic Development Officer Bob Pertierra and the IACCGH President Ashok Garg signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce India National President Asoke Laha in New Delhi acknowledging a mutual interest in the areas of imports and exports, investment climate, business information and other commercially oriented activities.
The three parties have agreed to exchange trade, market and economic information; promote trade and industrial missions; organize meetings and seminars and organize visits of investment experts, with the IACCI agreeing to send a trade delegation to Houston in June.
“We will continue to reap the benefits of the hard work well into the future as the relationships initiated this week develop further,” said Mayor Parker.
“The timing of a Houston business delegation traveling to India aligns well with that country’s efforts to open trade and investment opportunities with the U.S. and to establish greater economic ties between the two nations,” said Bob Pertierra.
IACCGH President Garg added, “Recent estimates indicate that the Indian GDP will grow at a rate of eight to nine percent in the coming years. This makes it an ideal place for businesses to grow, especially those that already have operations in India.”