The 6^th India Manufacturing Show, IMS 2023, a flagship event organized by Laghu Udyog Bharati -Karnataka under the IMS Foundation banner was organised on November 2, 3, 4, 2023 at Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre, Bengaluru, supported by the Department of Defence Production & Ministry of Defence, Government of India. A one-day conference was jointly organised by India Foundation, Laghu Udhyog Bharti & IMS Foundation in Bengaluru, Karnataka on “Emerging Indian Economy”, on November 03, 2023.  There were 3 panel discussions on “Outlook on Indian Economy & Potential”, “India Emerging as a Global Manufacturing Hub” & “India: The Next Global Investment Destination”. All three panel discussions were addressed by the area experts. A select group of 250 MSME owners participated in the conference.

Panel Discussion I on “Outlook on Indian Economy & Potential” was moderated by Shri Rajat Sethi, Entrepreneur. Ms Ila Paitnaik, Chief Economist, Aditya Birla Group, Shri Pradeep S Mehta, Secretary General, CUTS & Dr Devarajan, President, Bangalore Chamber of Industry & Commerce addressed the session. The panel discussed the journey of Indian economy from being in fragile five in 2013 to now becoming the growth engine of the world.

Panel Discussion II on “India Emerging as A Global Manufacturing Hub” was moderated by Shri Apurv Mishra, Consultant EAC-PM. Shri Soumitra Bhattacharya, CEO and Director IFQM (Indian Foundation for Quality Management), Shri T.K Ramesh, MD, Ace Designers & Dr Devarajan, President, Bangalore Chamber of Industry & Commerce addressed the session. The panel discussed on how in last 9 years, India from being the 10th largest economy in 2014 became the 5th largest economy in the world. Acc to EY & PWC reports on what Indian Economy will look like in 2047, it is predicted that India will grow between 6 times to thirteen times.

Panel Discussion III on “India: The Next Global Investment Destination” was moderated by Shri Raj Kumar Jain, Head- Business Development, Adani Green Energy Ltd. Shri Mahesh Nandurkar, Managing Director, Jefferies India, Shri Chandrashekar HG, Founder-CMD Sasmos HET Technologies, Shri Rajashekar Venkat, Director & GM, Asia-Pacific Region Machining Solutions Group (MSG), Kennametal Inc & Shri Manish Kumar Singh Deputy General Manager (SME), State Bank of India addressed the session.

 

 

 

On October 20, 2023, India Foundation hosted a Roundtable Discussion on “Corporate Insolvency Regime in India under the IBC 2016: The Way Forward”. Prof. (Dr.) M. S. Sahoo, Distinguished Professor, National Law University, Delhi, & Former Chairperson, Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI), presided over the session as the Chief Guest. Shri Sumant Batra, Founder & President, Insolvency Law Academy, was the Guest of Honour for the session. The session was chaired by Shri Shaurya Doval, Member, Governing Council, India Foundation. The discussions witnessed an engagement with various stakeholders including senior academicians, research scholars, lawyers and industry experts. The discussions revolved around a broad assessment of the current framework of insolvency and bankruptcy laws in India, and the reforms required to improvise ease of doing business in the country while balancing it with our regulatory legal structures.

India Foundation hosted its second session of the Round-Table Discussions in the ongoing “Tibet Talks” series. The topic was ‘Colonial Boarding Schools in Tibet,’ and the session was delivered by Mr. Ngawang Lungtok, Researcher at the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy. The Round-Table Discussion took place on October 19, 2023, at the India Foundation office, with the session being chaired by Ms. Rami Niranjan Desai, Distinguished Fellow, India Foundation. During his presentation, Mr. Ngawang Lungtok provided valuable insights into the history and operations of these schools in Tibet, along with background information on various other challenges Tibet faces. The Round-Table Discussion was attended by the young Tibetan diaspora in India, Indian scholars, and the India Foundation team.

A round table discussion on the ongoing Israel Hamas Conflict was organised by India Foundation in its office on 19 October 2023. The round table was attended by  former ambassadors, retired armed forces officers and scholars specialising in the area. The discussions were focused on the nature of the unfolding events and their implication on a geopolitical scale. The discussions also addressed India’s response to the conflict and the best way to navigate the impact of the further continuance of this conflict keeping in mind India’s interests in the region.

Jyot organised a conclave titled “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam Ki Oar 2.0” at Manilaxmi Tirth Temple Complex in Gujarat on 18-19 October 2023. The conference’s theme, ‘Future of the Western World and the Global South,’ holds special significance in the current global context. Consequently, India is emerging as a major player towards promoting a free, fair, and just global system to address the global challenges. The Government of India, under the leadership of the Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, has demonstrated a deep commitment to the theme of India’s G20 Presidency, ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ emphasizing that it is not just a slogan but a comprehensive philosophy deeply rooted in India’s cultural heritage. The panellists deliberated on the trajectory towards the new world order and the necessary adjustments, nuances, tweaks and shifts required to move toward a free, fair, and just order.

Jyot, Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF), India Foundation (IF) and Gitarth Ganga, came together in a Conclave to deliberate over the concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and discuss how it can contribute to the evolution of an inclusive, fair and just new world order.  The new World Order is evolving, transitioning from a Western-dominated post-World War 2 structure to a multipolar world order. The current global structure steered by Western interests has numerous flashpoints, which has created a pervasive sense of insecurity. Given the current atmosphere of conflicts and instability, there’s a pressing need for a holistic universal philosophy to guide the emerging New World Order.

This was echoed in the words of the Honorable PM during the opening remarks of  the G-20 Summit, “The 21st century is a time that has the potential to give a new direction to the entire world. It’s a time when years-old challenges demand new solutions from us. Therefore, we must move forward by fulfilling all our responsibilities with a human-centric approach.”

Embracing the ancient wisdom of India, the conclave highlighted the Indian joint family system, inspired by the principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family). Under the guidance of Spiritual Sovereign His Holiness Jainacharya Yugbhushansuriswarji, twelve pivotal ethics were proposed, to be considered at the global level for establishing Global Order based on Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam:

1. Guarantee of Security.
2. Guarantee of Basic Necessities.
3. Guarantee of Health and Education of Choice.
4. Guarantee of Free Growth and Development.
5. Guarantee of Support and Guidance.
6. Guarantee of Equal Access to Common Resources.
7. Guarantee of Material and Spiritual Development of the Individual.
8. Guarantee of Family String.
9. Guarantee of Protection to Weak and Vulnerable.
10. Guarantee of Grievance Redressal, Punishment and Justice System.
11. Equal but differential duty according to capability.
12. A Strong, Mature, Neutral and Visionary leadership.

 

October 11, 2023

India Foundation hosted a lunch reception on October 11, 2023, in the honor of the Australian parliamentary delegation led by H.E Sue Lines, Hon. President, Australian Senate, and H.E Milton Dick, Hon Speaker, House of Representatives, Australia. Shri Harivansh Narayan Singh, Hon Deputy Speaker, Rajya Sabha, India, graced the reception as the Chief Guest. Dr Ram Madhav, President, India Foundation, delivered the Welcome Address. The Concluding Remarks were delivered by Vice Admiral (Retd.) Shekhar Sinha, Chairman, Board of Trustees, India Foundation.

Dr Ram Madhav, President, India Foundation, initiated the lunch reception by welcoming the Australian parliamentary delegation to Bharat. He began his remarks by paying condolence to the people of Israel, the victims of Hamas terror. He spoke on the India-Australia relations since the last few years charting a new course being partners in bilaterals and multilaterals like in the Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue). He spoke about the strategic location of Australia and its reach both in the Indian and Pacific Ocean, allocating a free and inclusive region for all the neighbouring stakeholder countries. He stated about the historical India-Australia friendship which has been existential since we attained independence. He also spoke about strong bilateral trade and defense relations and the shift amongst the Indian students preferring  Australia (which was exclusively westwards earlier) for their academics.

H.E Sue Lines, Hon President, Australian Senate, shared her remarks by mentioning about the amazing hospitality, generosity and warmth she received on her first visit to India. She spoke about the importance of the bilateral relation that India and Australia share and shared about her native land being from the Indian Ocean side of Australia. She was pleased to be in the “largest and the best democracy in the world”. She spoke on the establishment of Centre for Australia-India Relations as a part of Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Government, underpinned by the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” announced by the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and the then Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in 2020 acting as center of gravity for close engagements between India and Australia. She also stated on pushing for greater business engagements and how India’s focus on the Pacific region has been rewarding to Australia. She concluded by mentioning the importance of think tanks in improving the democracy of the nation.

H.E Milton Dick, Hon Speaker, House of Representatives, Australia, initiated his speech displaying his affection towards India by using the phrase “either you love India or love India”. He spoke at the reception signifying the deep and enduring relationship between the two countries and the Australian pride with respect to camaraderie, shared values and mutual respect with India being the binding force between the two. He stated that India has been the most important Pacific partner and the only Asian country to be Australia’s oldest diplomatic partner and Australia was the first country to establish its High Commission in New Delhi in 1944. Speaking about Queensland, he said that the place represents the most diversified community in Australia where around one million Australians consider India as their homeland and Australia having a rich Indian diaspora mainly students and academicians who consider Australia as their home. He called India a superpower of the 21st century. He also jokingly mentioned that Australia had let India win in the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 due to deep friendship that both the nations share. He expressed Australia’s enthusiasm for hosting the 7th Indian Ocean Conference in 2024, a flagship event of India Foundation. He concluded his remarks by saying that both the countries are not partners but friends and have a shared history of values and aspirations that bind both of them towards a brighter future. He concluded by introducing the Australian parliamentary delegation.

Shri Harivansh Narayan Singh, Hon Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha, India, appreciated the efforts of India Foundation to organise the lunch reception in honour of the Australian parliamentary delegation and he was honoured to be a part of the same. He spoke about working closely on capacity building in legislatures and cyber security with Hon. Milton Dick as a part of the Inter Parliamentary Union. He specially mentioned the Australian government’s approach towards the indigenous population of Australia. He also spoke on emerging democratic relations in security and trade relations and also the passion for cricket. He encouraged the delegation to travel more around the country and familiarize themselves with the diversity of the country.

Vice Admiral (Retd) Shekhar Sinha, Chairman, Board of Trustees, India Foundation, concluded the lunch reception by showing gratitude on behalf of India Foundation to the Australian parliamentary delegation led by H.E Sue Lines, Hon. President, Australian Senate, and H.E Milton Dick, Hon Speaker, House of Representatives, Australia and Shri Harivansh Narayan Singh, Hon Deputy Speaker, Rajya Sabha, India. He specifically emphasised on military and naval maritime relations which are stronger than ever. He said that there are more similarities in equipments and platforms that India and Australia use in fighting war and it should move beyond being inter-operable to inter-changeable.

The 2nd Silchar-Sylhet Festival 2023 was organised by India Foundation and Bangladesh Foundation for Regional Studies in association with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India & supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh & Coordinated by Friends of Bangladesh on October 6-8, 2023 in the city of Sylhet, Bangladesh.

The cities of Sylhet in Bangladesh and Silchar in Assam share common bonds of history, language, culture, and a multitude of other commonalities, which is reflected in the excellent bilateral ties of an all-encompassing partnership based on sovereignty, equality, trust, and understanding that goes far beyond a strategic partnership. The popularity of the festival and the sentiment shared on both sides of the border were reflected in the eminent speakers and audience in attendance. The festival was addressed by 28 Speakers from both India & Bangladesh. This 2-day festival witnessed cultural, historical, literary, & business Interactions.

The Inaugural session was graced by  H.E. Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen, Member of Parliament, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh, Shri Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs and Education, Government of India, Mr. Ashim Kumar Ukil, Member of Parliament, Cultural Affairs Secretary, Bangladesh Awami League, Mr. Ram Prosad Paul, Hon’ble Deputy Speaker, Tripura, India, Shri Swapan Dasgupta, Former MP, Rajya Sabha; Member, Board of Governors, India Foundation, Shri Vincent H Pala, Member of Parliament, Shillong Meghalaya and Shri Shaurya Doval, Member, Governing Council, India Foundation.

The Panel emphasised the importance of people-to-people ties as the region of Silchar-Sylhet shares the same historical & cultural background. Silchar-Sylhet Festival is a small initiative that aims to bring people together from both regions to celebrate commonalities. India and Bangladesh share ties forged by the liberation war of Bangladesh and the shared history of struggle. The bond is strengthened by festivals such as the Silchar-Sylhet Festival. The Inaugural session was followed by a cultural evening.

Day -2

Panel Discussion – Ion “Trade & Business” was chaired by Shri Ranjit Barthakur
Chairman, Globally Managed Services (GMS) & Chairman, FICCI Northeast and the keynote address was delivered by Amb Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa, Member, Governing Council, Asian Confluence, Shillong. The panellists of this session were Mr Ram Prosad Paul, Hon’ble Deputy Speaker, Tripura, India, MrAhasanul Islam (Titu), Member of Parliament, Bangladesh, Dr Shah Mohammad Tanvir Monsur, Director General (Consular & Welfare) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh, Shri Ravi Patwa, National Advisor – Institute of Internal Auditors – India; Immediate Past Chairman, Eastern India Regional Council, The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, Shri PVSLN Murthy, Chairman & Managing Director NEDFi; Member, Board of Governors, India Foundation, Ms Manjeet Kriplani, Executive Director, Gateway House, and Lt Gen Arun Kumar Sahni, Member, Governing Council, India Foundation.

The panelists discussed the importance of multilateral engagements among the countries of South-East Asia not to only get involved but to be a part of the eco-system. Countries such as Japan, are working towards the development of economic infrastructure and connectivity to improve the investment environment to make Bangladesh a gateway for South and Southeast Asia. To increase trade between the regions, the Governments of both countries should improve air connectivity by making both the Sylhet airport &Silchar airport an international airport. They suggested both regions should start trading using Indian Rupee and Taka.

Panel Discussion – IIon “Langauge& Literature” was chaired by Shri. Jishnu Dev Barman, Former Deputy Chief Minister of Tripura, India.  The panellists of this session were Shri S Prasannarajan, Editor, of OPEN Magazine, Shri Guru Prakash, National Spokesperson, BJP, Mr. Taimur Raja Choudhary, Editor, DainikSamayikPrasanga, S. M Shahjada, Honorable Member of Parliament, Bangladesh, Abdul Wadud Dara, Former Member of Parliament, Bangladesh.

The panellistsemphasised the importance of Language and Literature. Literature is a liberating force that influences the cultural capacities of communities. Literature is the ultimate expression of language. Nowadays, everything is a dispute but literature creates, liberates and unites. Language can be a unifying force in defining our cultural identities across the border. It’s a bridge without any barriers. There’s a common goal & objective to protect the mother language and to promote multi-culturalism and multilingualism. Both countries must recognise the shared responsibilities in preserving and promoting linguistic and literary heritage, the path forward lies in collaboration, cultural exchanges and a fast commitment to nurturing the rich tapestry of Bengali language & literature.

Mr. Pankaj Nath, Honorable Member of Parliament, Bangladesh, chaired the valedictory session. H.E. Mr. Imran Ahmad, M.P., Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Bangladesh graced the event as a chief guest. Shri Jishnu Dev Barman, Former Deputy Chief Minister of Tripura, India, Ashim Kumar Ukil, MP, Cultural Affairs Secretary, Bangladesh Awami League, Dr Radha Tamal Goswami, Pro Vice Chancellor, Adamas University, Working President, Friends of Bangladesh, India Chapter, MsRami N Desai, Distinguished Fellow, India Foundation. The Valedictory session was followed by a cultural evening.

Coffee Table Booklet

October 5-6, 2023

The 11^th India-Bangladesh Friendship Dialoguewas held in Sylhet, Bangladesh from05-06 October 2023 at Hotel Grand Sylhet. It was organized by India Foundationin partnership with the Bangladesh Foundation for Regional Studies, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh coordinated by the Friend’s of Bangladesh. In the past decade the Track 1.5 Bangladesh-India Friendship Dialoguehas emerged as one of the core platforms for fostering strong bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries.

The Inaugural Session of the Bilateral was graced by H.E. Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Honourable Speaker of Bangladesh Parliament; H.E.Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen MP, Hon’ble Minister for Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh; H.E. Mr. Pranay Verma, Hon’ble High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh; Mr. Vincent Pala, Member of Parliament, India; Mr. Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Former Minister, Presidium Member Awami League; Mr. Swapan Dasgupta, Former Member of Parliament and Member, Governing Council, India Foundation. The dignitaries emphasised upon the importance of Bilateral ties between the two countries and shared their remarks on the contributions and success of the previous rounds of this Dialogue.

The first working session of the Bilateral Dialogue on ‘Fostering a Comprehensive and Mutually Beneficial Partnership’ was chaired by H.E. Amb Tariq A. Karim, Former Ambassador of Bangladesh to India. It was addressed by Capt. Alok Bansal Director, India Foundation; Adv Tarana Halim, Former State Minister, Bangladesh; Mr. AB Mathur Former Member, National Security Advisory Board, India; Prof. Sreeradha Dutta OP Jindal Global University, New Delhi, India. The speakers discussed the historic ties that bind India and Bangladesh quoting the Hon’ble FM of Bangladesh hailing them as ‘blood ties’ in reference to the War of 1971.

This was followed by cultural performances by dance and music troops from both India and Bangladesh which showcased the shared cultural ties between the two countries. Local artists also performed the traditional art forms of the region of Sylhet, Bangladesh.

The second working session of the dialogueheld on 06 October was on the theme ‘Connectivity for Trade and People-to-People Connections’ and was chaired by Mr. Vincent Pala, Member of Parliament & Former Minister, India. The speakers of this session were Prof Sadeka Halim, Professor & Chairperson, Department of Sociology, DhakaUniversity; Mr. Swapan Dasgupta, Former Member of Parliament, India; Mr. Tanvir Shakil Joy, Member of Parliament & Member, Parliament Standing Committee forEnvironment and Climate Change; Mr. Guru Prakash, National Spokesperson, BJP; Prof. Delwar Hossain, Member, Bangladesh Public Service Commission; and Ms. Rami Desai, Distinguished Fellow, India Foundation. The discussants emphasised on the mutual trust and understanding between the two countries and its reflection in their trade relationship. They highlighted the need to connect the youth of the two countries to ensure greater goodwill among the people.

The third working session was chaired by Mr. Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury, Hon’ble Deputy Minister, Ministry of Education, Bangladesh.The subject of discussion was ‘Technology Collaboration and Innovation’ and the speakers included Mr. Joydeep Gupta, Director, BMG Informatics; Mr. Russell T. Ahmed, President, BASIS; Dr.Sanjay Bhardwaj, Professor, JNU, India; Dr. Muntasir Mamun DG (ICT), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh; andDr.Smruti Pattanaik, Research Fellow, MP-IDSA, India. The speakers discussed the growth of technology in the two nations and the new opportunities and avenues they open for development.

The final working session on ‘Investment for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth’ was chaired by Mr. Shaurya Doval, Member, Governing Council, India Foundation and was addressed by Mr. Nahim Razzaq, Member of Parliament, Member, Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministryof Foreign Affairs; Mr. PVSLN Murthy, Chairman & Managing Director, NEDFi, Member, Board of Governors, India Foundation; Ms. Waseqa Ayesha Khan, Member of Parliament & Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee onMinistry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources; Ms. Manjeet Kripalani Executive Director, Gateway House, India; Dr.Shammi Ahmed, International Affairs Secretary, Bangladesh Awami League; and Dr Shristi Pukhrem, Senior Research Fellow, India Foundation. The speakers talked about the long-standing trade and investment relations between India and Bangladesh and the growth of their economies in the past decade with immense future potential.

The 11^th India-Bangladesh Friendship Dialogue concluded with a Valedictory Session graced by H.E. Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs &Education, India; H.E. Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen, M.P.Hon’ble Foreign Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh; Mr. A.T.M. Rokebul Haque, Director General (SA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh; Mr. Jishnu Deb Barman, Former Deputy Chief Minister, Tripura, India; H.E. Mr. Pranay Verma, Hon’ble High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh; Mr. Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury, Hon’ble Deputy Minister, Ministry of Education; and Capt. Alok Bansal, Director, India Foundation.

The session was followed by a Cultural Session and a Dinner hosted by H.E. Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen, M.P.Hon’ble Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh.

Hudson Institute in association with India Foundation hosted a seminar on “India’s Role in a New Pacific Order” at the Hudson Institute in Washington DC, USA on September 29, 2023.

The first engagement of the seminar was a conversation steered by Walter Russell Mead, Ravenel B. Curry III Distinguished Fellow, Hudson Institute with Dr S Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India on “India’s Role in the World Today”.

The second panel of the day on “The Future of the US-India Relationship” was addressed by Stephen E. Biegun, Senior Vice President, Boeing; Vice Admiral (Ret.) Shekhar Sinha, Chairman, Board of Trustees, India Foundation; Jayant Sinha, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha, and Chair of the Standing Committee on Finance and Nadia Schadlow, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute. The panel was moderated by Kenneth R. Weinstein, Japan Chair, Hudson Institute.

India Foundation hosted a Farewell Dinner for H.E. Milinda Moragoda, High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India, on September 26, 2023. Shri Y. K. Sinha, Chief Information Commissioner of India, felicitated H.E. Milinda Moragoda on the occasion. Amb Ashok Kantha, Former Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, and Capt Alok Bansal, Director, India Foundation, shared their reflections on evolving India-Sri Lanka ties at the farewell. In his remarks, H.E. Milinda Moragoda spoke about friendly relations between India and Sri Lanka and the major economic assistance of India to Sri Lanka during the financial crisis which is an example of close bonhomie that exists between the two countries. He also mentioned about the proposal for reintroduction of Indian bison (gaur) in Sri Lanka, which has been extinct in the island nation for long, and talked about the cooperation received from authorities in India. He also said that the government authorities of both the countries should work on enhancing people-to-people connect and focus on retaining our common cultural values.

India Foundation organized its first installment of the “Tibet Talks” Round-Table Discussion series on the topic “Tibet’s environment crisis and its implications” and featured a presentation by Dr. Lobsang Yangtso, a Senior Environmental Researcher at the International Tibet Network. The Round-Table Discussion took place on September 18, 2023 at India Foundation office. The session was chaired by Capt Alok Bansal, Director, India Foundation and Dr. Lobsang Yangtso mainly focused on excessive damming of major rivers originating from Tibet and its implications on lower regions and displacement of nomadic life in Tibet. The Round-Table Discussion was attended by young Tibetan diaspora in India, young Indian scholars and the India foundation team.