New Delhi, Jan.9 (ANI): The Indian Government has reportedly sought a clarification from the Malaysian Government on reports that it has banned further recruitment of Indian workers.

India's High Commissioner to Malaysia has got in touch with the Malaysian Foreign Office to seek a formal communication on the issue.

Reports quoting a government circular in Kuala Lumpur have been denied by Malaysian minister Sami Vellu who is visiting Delhi.

On Tuesday, a report said that the Malaysian Government has suspended the recruitment of workers from India amid growing domestic ethnic tensions.

The report quoted an official as saying that the ban came into effect a fortnight ago and applied to all categories of workers, including professionals.

Indian workers already in Malaysia will not have their work visas renewed, the official said.

Vellu, the Malaysian Minister of Indian origin, shrugged off the allegations of racism and discrimination.

"They have discrimination in their heads, that's why they talk about discrimination. To me I was born in this country, living there for 71 years. I have never faced any discrimination," said Vellu.

Meanwhile, Sashi Tharoor, novelist and career United Nations diplomat exhorted that the Centre must practise utmost restraint and not take intrusive, but constructive role towards finding a solution to the plight of people of Indian origin in Malaysia.

"The government with which we have friendly relations must understand that we are not challenging their sovereignty and their sovereign responsibilities for the well being of their citizens," Tharoor said.

"It actually arises from marginalisation of Indians in Malaysia. There has been a lot of discrimination taking place in job opportunities and socio-economic discrimination against Indians," said S.Natarajan , a Malaysian of Indian origin.

Ethnic Indians held a series of protests late last year over alleged social and economic discrimination.

In an article in the website littleindia.com , Zafar Anjum writes that Malaysia's 1.8 million Indian population, represents almost eight percent of the country's total population of 22 million.

Until it was displaced by Indian Americans a few years ago, the Malaysian Indian community was the largest Indian community in the world. Nearly 90 percent of Malaysian Indians are of South Indian origin, principally Tamilians, Malayalis and Telugus.

Today, the Indian community in Malaysia, once largely a community of plantation workers, has become diversified with a sprinkling of entrepreneurs, intellectuals and technical professionals. Though the vast majority of Indians in Malaysia still lag behind Malays and Chinese in socio-economic terms, the new immigrants are slowly affecting change.

The new Indian immigrants, mostly technology professionals, and the strides made by the tiny Malaysian Indian middle class have given Indians in Malaysia a facelift.

The migration of Indians, mainly Tamils and Telugus, to Malaysia started in the second half of the 19th century, primarily as indentured laborers, who were brought by the British to work on plantations, roads, railway lines and ports.

The second wave of Indians came as auxiliaries, mostly from North India, as part of the police force and security services. About the same time also came Indians from Kerala and Sri Lankan Tamils from Jaffna to work as clerks and subordinate civil servants. The third stream of immigrants came as traders, most predominant among these were the Chettiars, a South Indian moneylending caste.

The latest wave of Indian immigration started toward the end of the last century when Malaysia, like its neighbour Singapore, began looking at India as a source for knowledge economy professionals.

Some of the poorest labourers in Malaysia are Indians, living a hand to mouth existence.

In 2000, TimeAsia reported that Indians have the lowest share of the nation's corporate wealth: 1.5 percent compared to 19.4 percent for the Malays and 38.5 percent for the Chinese. The highest rate of suicide of any community is among Indians.

Gangsterism and violent crime is largely associated with Indians. In 1994, 128 of the 377 murders committed in Malaysia were by Indians. Some 15 percent of the Indians in the capital are squatters. (ANI)
--
-AA

Labels: NRI

New Delhi, Jan 9 (ANI): Expatriate students who are here to participate in an annual conference of people of Indian origin have been actively exploring their roots.

Over one thousand Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) from more than 43 countries are taking part in this three-day Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas conference (PBD) that began on Tuesday.

"I came here to take part in the "Know India Programme'. This programme has given me chance to see India. I have heard India from my family back home but to see the villages and to know some more people and see lot of educated people has been quite an experience for me," said Kareen Shirky, an expatriate Indian student.

The brainstorming session will focus on how to leverage Indian expatriates' contribution to their country of origin.

"I am thoroughly enjoying my exposure to India. I visited many places in south India especially Tamil Nadu and realized that India is growing very fast and rapidly. This is one of the points that I have got from the trip," said Anish Taila, another expatriate Indian student.

Some of them said they hoped to come back and do humanitarian service in India.
Ria Sehgal, another expatriate Indian student, said: "I am actually studying international development studies. I am really interested in working in India and doing development work here."

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has said that the Central Government was constantly working towards creating a framework to enable expatriate Indians to invest in India's development.

Dr. Singh announced the setting up of a Prime Minister's Global Advisory Council of People of Indian Origin, who are recognised as leaders in their respective fields, that would help him to draw upon the experience and knowledge of the best Indian minds.

Referring to India fast emerging as an education hub, Dr. Singh said that his government has approved a policy framework to establish a PIO university in India for the benefit of children of overseas Indians.

The conclave serves as a platform to engage the non-resident Indians in fields of social development, rural health, education, investment, infrastructure, knowledge, economy and women empowerment.(ANI)--
-AA

Labels: NRI

Kuala Lumpur, Jan 8 (ANI): Malaysia has suspended the recruitment of workers from India amid growing domestic ethnic tensions.

An official said that the ban came into effect a fortnight ago and applied to all categories of workers, including professionals.

Indian workers already in Malaysia will not have their work visas renewed, the official said.

Sami Vellu, the Malaysian Minister of Indian origin shrugged off the allegations of racism and discrimination.

"They have discrimination in their heads, that's why they talk about discrimination. To me I was born in this country, living there for 71 years. I have never faced any discrimination," said Vellu.

Meanwhile, Sashi Tharoor, novelist and career United Nations diplomat exhorted that the Centre must practise utmost restraint and not take intrusive, but constructive role towards finding a solution to the plight of people of Indian origin in Malaysia.

"The government with which we have friendly relations must understand that we are not challenging their sovereignty and their sovereign responsibilities for the well being of their citizens," Tharoor said.

"It actually arises from marginalisation of Indians in Malaysia. There has been a lot of discrimination taking place in job opportunities and socio-economic discrimination against Indians," said S.Natarajan , a Malaysian of Indian origin.

Ethnic Indians held a series of protests late last year over alleged social and economic discrimination.

In an article in the website littleindia.com , Zafar Anjum writes that Malaysia's 1.8 million Indian population, represents almost eight percent of the country's total population of 22 million.

Until it was displaced by Indian Americans a few years ago, the Malaysian Indian community was the largest Indian community in the world. Nearly 90 percent of Malaysian Indians are of South Indian origin, principally Tamilians, Malayalis and Telugus.

Today, the Indian community in Malaysia, once largely a community of plantation workers, has become diversified with a sprinkling of entrepreneurs, intellectuals and technical professionals. Though the vast majority of Indians in Malaysia still lag behind Malays and Chinese in socio-economic terms, the new immigrants are slowly affecting change.

The new Indian immigrants, mostly technology professionals, and the strides made by the tiny Malaysian Indian middle class have given Indians in Malaysia a facelift.

The migration of Indians, mainly Tamils and Telugus, to Malaysia started in the second half of the 19th century, primarily as indentured laborers, who were brought by the British to work on plantations, roads, railway lines and ports.

The second wave of Indians came as auxiliaries, mostly from North India, as part of the police force and security services. About the same time also came Indians from Kerala and Sri Lankan Tamils from Jaffna to work as clerks and subordinate civil servants. The third stream of immigrants came as traders, most predominant among these were the Chettiars, a South Indian moneylending caste.

The latest wave of Indian immigration started toward the end of the last century when Malaysia, like its neighbour Singapore, began looking at India as a source for knowledge economy professionals.

Some of the poorest labourers in Malaysia are Indians, living a hand to mouth existence.

In 2000, TimeAsia reported that Indians have the lowest share of the nation's corporate wealth: 1.5 percent compared to 19.4 percent for the Malays and 38.5 percent for the Chinese. The highest rate of suicide of any community is among Indians.

Gangsterism and violent crime is largely associated with Indians. In 1994, 128 of the 377 murders committed in Malaysia were by Indians. Some 15 percent of the Indians in the capital are squatters. (ANI)
--
-AA

Labels: NRI

New Delhi/Ahmedabad, Jan 2 (ANI): Union Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma today said that the Indian community in Kenya is not being targeted in particular.

"I admit there has been damage to property in Kenya, but I must add here that Indians are not being targeted specifically," Sharma said.

"Violence is taking place there and Indians living out there are also suffering. But the people living in Mombasa and other such places are being provided with aid," he added.

Meanwhile, priests in Ahmedabad held mass prayers for the restoration of peace in Kenya, which witnessed post election violence and has a large India diaspora.

Expressing concern over the grim situation faced by the Gujarati community in Kenya, Swami Prashant Swaroop Das said, "Ever since the post election riots broke out rival groups have got a chance to attack Gujaratis once again. Our temple authorities are providing food shelter and other basic facilities as well as proper safety measures. We have also arranged a special vehicle to shift the riot-hit to our temple."

Ever since post-election riots broke out in Kenya, the Gujarati diaspora has been living in fear. Hundreds of Gujarati businessmen have taken shelter in a temple in the Kenyan town of Kisumu. Offices and factories belonging to Gujaratis had been looted and their houses attacked by residents.

With defeated Kenyan presidential challenger Raila Odinga sticking to his guns after an allegedly rigged election and freshly re-elected President Mwai Kibaki vowing to assert his authority, the east African nation is locked in a crippling crisis.

Scores of people were killed and several thousand have fled after President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner in a disputed election. The estimated death toll has risen to about 250 till today.

There are about 43,000 Gujaratis in Nairobi and about 3,000 in Kisumu. (ANI)

Labels: NRI

Chandigarh, Nov 19 (ANI): A number of non-resident Indians (NRIs), looking for best investment opportunities, are keenly looking at India's growing economy.

Desiring to be a part of the India's growth story, many non-resident Punjabis are now ploughing back redemption proceeds from various NRI deposit schemes and investing them in India's stock markets.

Growing liberalisation and the opening up of India's economy is luring NRI investors, who are directly or indirectly pouring money into the Indian capital markets.

G S Chahal has already invested nearly 20,000 dollars in the past two years. The money has been sent by his Canada-based son-in-law and two brothers-in-law based in the United States.

Chahal, 61, regularly consults investment companies specialising in capital markets and investment banking.

"My advisors on investment, Allegro, advise me on how to invest in mutual funds and direct us if any insurance or taxation is required. They even guide us on the stock market scrips in which one can invest; so that you get better profits and your investments are divided properly," said Chahal.

Investment service providers are flourishing across Punjab and cashing in on the stock market boom.

Options are now wide open for NRIs to invest in the Indian capital market with maximum returns, be it equities, property or mutual funds.

By picking up equity stakes in Indian companies they form a major component of the country's Foreign Direct Investment.

"The stock exchange is a secondary market. Then there is a primary market with many companies floating their shares. The stock market may not have much of a ripple effect, but will have a very positive effect in the primary market because the people's confidence builds and grows with the growth of the stock market. So even the primary market succeeds," said Romesh Pande, a stock market expert.

The Portfolio Investment Scheme allows NRIs to acquire shares/ debentures of Indian companies or units of domestic mutual funds through the stock exchanges in India.

At the Ludhiana Stock Exchange, queries by NRI investors are growing manifold for the best investment opportunities.

The rupee appreciation and the market being at a new high have buoyed NRI investors on the lookout to enter the market.

"If the US economy has not slowed down, it has become a bit static. And the Federal Bank of the US has cut the rate of interest. Now it is somewhere around 4.5 percent. So there is a lot of attraction if they come to India and they can make lot of profit by investing in the Indian capital market. So the number is increasing day by day," said Prof Arvind Malhotra, Director, LSG Securities Ltd.

NRI investment in Indian capital markets will benefit them immensely, as it is monetarily rewarding and emotionally gratifying and helps them in maintaining their bond with their homeland. So it's a double-bonanza for NRIs. (ANI)
--MP

Labels: Indo-Pak, NRI

AA: New York, Nov. 8 (ANI): An Indonesian maid who was allegedly kept enslaved in a Long Island mansion by her Indian American employers managed to smuggle out a desperate letter to her kids begging them to save her by hiring a "witch doctor" to curse her tormentor.

"Please look for a witch doctor to cast a spell. The spell must not be directed at me. This spell is to be cast to the employer. I need help. Please help a thousand times," The New York Daily News quoted Samirah, 51, as saying in her letter.

Samirah's July 2006 letter was read out in court on Wednesday at the trial of Varsha Sabhnani and her husband, Mahender, millionaires who are charged with holding two Indonesian servants against their will for years.

Samirah, who says she was desperate to escape beatings, starvation and torture, slipped her letter to a sympathetic employee of the Sabhnanis' perfume business, which they run out of their exclusive Muttontown home.

The woman, who was not identified, stamped the letter and mailed it for the frail and battered maid.

"I'm not allowed to sleep or eat. In the cold season, I'm not allowed to wear two layers of clothes," Samirah wrote to her children, who were receiving her 100-dollar-a-month salary.

"You must do midnight prayer if you want your mother to live. You are my only hope. Things were so bad that "if I didn't have my children, I would have ended my life by taking poison," she added.

The Sabhnanis say her own dabbling in black magic caused Samirah's terrible wounds. Samirah testified that she believed Varsha Sabhnani killed one of her sons with an evil spell.

On the stand, the woman who has calmly recounted being scalded, frozen, made to eat chili peppers until she vomited - and then forced to eat the vomit - broke down as she recounted being knifed in the face and bashed in the mouth with a rolling pin.

She also cried when she testified about the dramatic day this May when she fled the house of horrors, sure that she was about to be murdered for forgetting to vacuum.

Lost in the suburbs, confused and frightened in the rain and ducking into bushes when cars passed, she finally stumbled into a Dunkin' Donuts, where the smell of food and coffee overwhelmed her.

She bought a bagel with a five-dollar bill.

Varsha and her perfume-magnate hubby, Mahender, are on trial in Central Islip for allegedly illegally keeping and torturing Samirah and another employee Enung.

The sensational case on Long Island's Gold Coast, in the ultra-tony enclave of Muttontown, surfaced in May after Samirah escaped the couple's mansion and was found disoriented and wandering local streets muttering, "Master."

Samirah, speaking through an interpreter in court yesterday, recounted how she was allegedly forced to walk around the house naked. At one point in court, she got down on her hands and knees to demonstrate how she scrubbed the floors three times a day. (ANI)

Labels: NRI

New Delhi, Nov.7 (ANI): Vayalar Ravi, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs said today that healthcare, education and empowerment of rural women will the focus of Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas 2008, and added that Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, Prime Minister of Mauritius will be the Chief Guest at the event. This is especially fortuitous since he is of Indian Origin", said Ravi.The Prime Minister of India will inaugurate Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on January 8, 2008. The forthcoming PBD is being organised by the Ministry of Overseas Affairs (MOIA) between January7 and 9, 2008. It will include a two day convention featuring diverse themes with eminent speakers; trade and Industry exhibition, business networking and cultural evenings. The theme of the sixth edition of PBD is 'Engaging the Diaspora: The Way Forward' with the objective to encourage Overseas Indians to be part of the socio-economic development of India. The focus will be on social areas and issues with special emphasis on rural women.Talking on the issue of Indian women subjected to fraudulent marriages, Ravi said that India has moved an application to different countries to adopt International Private Laws to bring the non-resident Indians under Indian jurisdiction. The Netherlands has already put forward the draft for legislative approval, he informed.
Appreciating Indian Industry's contribution, Ravi said that 48,000 of 50,000 Indians, who faced the problem of deportation due to issues with sponsors, were re-employed by Indian companies.
He added that India's development initiatives can reach the district level through small contributions of the large Indian Diaspora. The ambitious 'Health Mission' of the government can also be a key area of contribution by NRIs.

Sunil Bharti Mittal, President, CII said that CII and government has been working together on several issues to connect the Indian diaspora across the world. The success of the Mini PBD at New York with more than 400 significant participants will be reflected in the forthcoming PBD, Mittal added.The PBD showcases the best opportunities for Indian Diaspora and each PBD raises hopes of NRIs, said Mr. Mittal. The involvement of Indian  diaspora should contribute to the  Government's focus  on inclusive growth, he said. The high transfer charge  of sending money home is a major issue for NRIs who remit $26 billion to India annually, he added.Nirmal Singh, Secretary, MOIA said that over 2000 delegates are expected to attend the forthcoming PBD and the ministry is in the process of promoting the event to get further support from NRIs.Chief Ministers of different states would present the opportunities in their respective states to garner investment for the development projects, Singh added.PBD 2008 will have sessions on social development challenges in India, health and education, knowledge economy, culture, investment and infrastructure. The other sessions will include trade and business opportunities, development challenges of Indian states and empowerment of rural women. It will also focus on regional sessions for Gulf, Asia - Pacific, Africa, Americas and Europe. (ANI) -AJ

Labels: NRI

New York, Nov.6 (ANI): Millionaire Indian American couple Mahender and Varsha Sabhani have been accused by their former Indonesian maid of using hot water to scald her, beating her and once forcing her to eat her own vomit when she choked on a punishment meal of 100 chili peppers.

 

"I said, 'Missus, just send me home to Indonesia,' " Samirah, the diminutive housekeeper said.

 

Samirah, also claimed she was repeatedly poked with a knife and that her ears were twisted until they bled. She said the fear of being abused caused her to involuntarily urinate, for which she was punished further.

 

Varsha and her perfume-magnate hubby, Mahender, are on trial in Central Islip for allegedly illegally keeping and torturing Samirah and another employee Enung.

 

The sensational case on Long Island's Gold Coast, in the ultra-tony enclave of Muttontown, surfaced in May after Samirah escaped the couple's mansion and was found disoriented and wandering local streets muttering, "Master."

 

Samirah, speaking through an interpreter in court yesterday, recounted how she was allegedly forced to walk around the house naked. At one point in court, she got down on her hands and knees to demonstrate how she scrubbed the floors three times a day.

 

According tothe New York Post, the Sabhnanis' lawyers have said that the maids were involved in witchcraft and suggested that they self-mutilated themselves as part of a ritual. (ANI)

Labels: NRI

MP: London, Oct.25 (ANI): A Derbyshire-based British Indian has said
that her sister committed suicide because their parents forced her
into a violent marriage.

Jasvinder Sanghera said her sister Robina was driven to suicide after
she was told that she could not leave her husband because her family
would be ashamed.

When her sister killed herself, Sanghera was on the run from home
because she had refused to marry a man her parents had lined up for
her from the age of eight.

She told the EU Forced Marriages Conference in central London that she
still held her parents accountable for the death of Robina.

She was taken out of school at the age of 15, forced to marry, and
then had to move to Germany with her husband.

But at the age of 24 she sought help, Ms Sanghera said. She told
delegates at Lancaster House: "She suffered horrific abuse in her
marriage — physical, mental abuse.

"I begged her to leave her partner, but she said to me: 'It's OK for
you to say that but you don't have the authority because you are
disowned," The Telegraph quoted Jasvinder, as saying.

"She was right. The people who could make the difference were my
parents, family and community leaders. That's where she went and they
sent her back, saying she should make the marriage work.

"Was she driven to commit suicide? I would say so. She set herself on
fire and suffered 80 per cent burns. I still hold people accountable
for her death."

Ms Sanghera, 42, whose family is originally from the Punjab in India,
told the conference that South Asian women in Britain had a suicide
rate two to three times above average.

She said statistics showed there were now 12 so-called "honour
killings" every year.

Her own family disowned her after she refused to marry the man they
chose and she ran away from home.

She said: "I rang my mother and the response I never expected to hear
is the response hundreds of girls are hearing today. That was to tell
me that I was the perpetrator. In their eyes I was dead."

Her younger sister then had to marry the man chosen for her so the
agreement was honoured, Sanghera said.

She has since married and divorced twice and has three children. But
her family still crosses the road to avoid her.

Sanghera now directs the Karma Nirvana support group, which helps
young men and women in similar situations. (ANI)

Labels: NRI

MP: New Delhi, Oct 24 (ANI): No Indian national is reported to have injured in the fires in Southern California so far, the External Affairs Ministry said on Wednesday.

 

The MEA said that the Government of India regrets the loss of life and damage to property in the fires.

 

"It is hoped that the blaze will soon be contained and the affected people enabled to resume their normal life," the Ministry said in a press statement.

 

"Our Consulate General in San Francisco has been in touch with members of the Indian community, many of whom have had to evacuate their properties. There has, so far, been no report of injury to any Indian national," it added.

 

The Consulate General of India is monitoring developments there and has advised the Indian community that the Consulate stands ready to help them in any way.

 

The wind-whipped wildfires have caused the largest evacuation in the state history, forcing more than 500,000 people to flee ahead of flames that destroyed more than 1,300 homes and continued to threaten tens of thousands more.

 

"This is the largest mass evacuation of a natural disaster in California history," said Daniel Berlant, spokesman for the state's Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

 

About 375,000 acres, or 585 square miles, were ablaze in Southern California. (ANI)

Labels: NRI

MP:Edinburgh, Oct.24 (ANI): An Indian-born supermarket worker in a Scottish town was told to start speaking in English or he would have his throat cut.

The 22-year-old, who was chatting in his native language on his mobile phone, was threatened with an eight-centimetre blade as he walked home at 2:30 a.m. from his shift.

At Selkirk Sheriff Court yesterday, Brian McCrindle, 38, was tagged for three months after he admitted making a racially aggravated threat and also being in possession of an offensive weapon. The incident happened in Melrose Road, Galashiels, on June 26.

Graham Fraser, prosecuting told the court: "It was a very frightening incident against someone who was just minding his own business."

Sheriff Kevin Drummond told McCrindle: "A man coming home from his work carrying messages getting accosted by a drunk uttering racist abuse and threats is utterly unacceptable.

"If it had not been for the fact you have not been in any trouble since 1993 you would be going straight to jail."

McCrindle of Walkerburn, Peeblesshire, was given a three-month restriction of liberty order. He must stay at his home address between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. (ANI)

Labels: NRI

Describing it as an "incredible honour", Bush told Jindal that it was an "excellent win" given that the race for the office was tougher than what the numbers showed.

Jindal, a Republican, decisively defeated 11 candidates to become the youngest governor of the once racially segregated state.

Jindal contested on the platform that pledged clean politics. He is the first Indian-American to lead a state.

On Sunday, Jindal's relatives celebrated by his victory in Malerkotla, the family's ancestral village.

The celebrations were marked by a rhythmic beating of drums, dancing and distribution of sweets among friends and visitors.

"Now since he has been elected the Governor, he will be in a much higher position and we feel very happy," said Kailash Devi, Jindal's paternal aunt.

Jindal had made history in 2004 by becoming the first Indian American to be elected to the US Congress in nearly 50 years. In 2006 he was re-elected to the US House of Representatives.

Jindal's cousin Tarseen Jindal, said his being elected Governor was a matter of pride for the entire nation.

"We are very proud of the fact that he has risen to this position from a very poor family. Hailing from such a small place he has made a big name for himself. The whole India is proud of this," he said.

Jindal, 36, the Oxford-educated son of Indian immigrants, won 53 per cent votes with his nearest competitor Democrat Walter Boasso who could procure only 18 per cent of votes. Independent John Georges received 14 per cent and Democrat Foster Campbell garnered 13 per cent of the votes.

Jindal has become the state's first non-white governor since Reconstruction and the nation's youngest governor in office upon taking oath in January.

"My mom and dad came to this country in pursuit of the American Dream, and guess what happened? They found the American Dream to be alive and well right here in Louisiana," a foreign news agency quoted Jindal as saying in his victory speech.

The race for the post of the Governor is said to be one of the highest spending in Louisiana's history.

Jindal alone raised 11 million dollars, and Georges poured about 10 million dollars of his personal wealth into his campaign, while Boasso spent around five million dollars.

Incidentally, in 2003, Jindal garnered 48 per cent of the vote, but still lost to Democrat Kathleen Blanco. Blanco ended her re-election bid earlier this year after being sharply criticised for sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. (ANI)

Labels: NRI

New Delhi, Oct.22 (ANI): Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath today called for increasing the pace of economic engagement between small and medium enterprises based in Minnesota and in India, and for establishing people-to-people contacts for achieving greater cooperation. India being a large importer and having a huge work force with an increasing manufacturing base offering vertical linkages offers an ideal platform for Minnesotan firms to establish business-to-business contacts in the country. He was speaking after welcoming Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and his business delegation.Nath highlighted the increasing opportunities for business contacts available in various Indian states, which offer tremendous potential to SMEs based in Minnesota. The increasing commercial engagements would lead to greater people to people contact, the Minister observed. The Minnesota Governor articulated the interest of Minnesota based corporates in seeking greater Indian expertise for research in different sectors of manufacturing and engineering. This is the first-ever visit by a Minnesota Governor to India. Informing that it is one of the bigger and more economically vibrant states in US, Pawlenty stated that there is tremendous potential for our bilateral, commercial and economic relations. Pawlenty left for New Delhi last Wednesday at the head of a 73-member trade delegation to bolster bilateral commercial ties with the country.

The aim of the mission is to provide a means for Minnesota business leaders to explore opportunities in India and promote increased exports to India and to develop and expand strategic relationships with key India and United States organisations. The delegation will travel to New Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai from October 20 to October 27, for a series of market and industry presentations, networking events, roundtable discussions and one-on-one business events with potential Indian customers, distributors and partners.

In each of these cities there will be an evening networking reception in honor of the Governor that will be attended by local government and business leaders.According to Tony Lorusso, executive director of Minnesota Trade Office, "Our interest in India is multifaceted. We are interested in India because it is the fastest growing country globally.

There are fewer economies that are growing at 9 per cent GDP growth in recent years and obviously that kind of growth obviously turns into many opportunities from which Minnesota can benefit."Lorusso was quoted by rediff.com as saying that "There is also a pro-western environment that favors US firms we think and then India has a such a huge young population and these are some of the reasons we are looking at India.

"The website quoted Pawlenty as also saying that his mission will stop in China to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Minnesota's sister-state agreement with Shaanxi Province. During the visit to Shanghai, Pawlenty will visit China's only Best Buy store, where he will present computer equipment donated by the company to a school in Minnesota's sister-province. He will participate in an opening ceremony at the Shanghai Best Buy, the company's first store in China and their largest store in the world.

Asked about investment in infrastructure, one of India's top priorities, Lorusso was quoted as saying that Minnesotan companies are absolutely interested in environmental projects or airport projects. "There are several companies in the environmental sector that are going in this mission. They have a lot of interest in the infrastructure sector in India as well," he said.Minnesota sent a small delegation to India ten years ago led by a commissioner.

Although since then there has been no trade mission to India, there has been good bilateral trade.Minnesota's exports to India in the last ten years or so has increased 370 per cent and that compares to a 145 per cent for US growth to India. Indian-owned companies in Minnesota include SuzlonWind Energy Corporation in Pipestone, Patni Computer Systems, Inc., Wipro Ltd, and Natural Stone Inc.

Suzlon has been ranked as the fifth-leading wind turbine manufacturer in the world and its wind turbines are used at 12 wind park sites in southwestern Minnesota. Minnesota Trade Office noted that India's gross domestic product grew an average 7 per cent per year between 1994 and 2004 and recently has tracked at nearly 9 per cent. U.S. manufactured exports to India reached $6.8 billion in 2005, an increase of 111 per cent since 2000.

Minnesota's manufactured exports to India grew 208 per cent to $85 million over the same period. "India's middle class is 300 million people and growing by 5 per cent per year. That's a huge segment of the population that has increasingly more money to spend on consumer goods," Lorusso said.

The promising sectors include computers and electronics, machinery, medical products, biotechnology, and food processing. In addition, Indian companies have ambitious plans for expanding and diversifying manufacturing activities, particularly in the automobile, auto parts, metals, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and electronics industries, creating opportunities for Minnesota suppliers. Among those who are accompanying the delegation include Senator Satveer Chaudhary and Gopal Khanna. The delegation with meet with the Confederation of Indian Industry as well as Wipro leadership.Governor Pawlenty is accompanied by Minnesota's First Lady Mary Pawlenty.

In addition to participating in business events on the mission, the First Lady will also devote her time to raise awareness of humanitarian and social causes in which Minnesotans are involved. Some of the programs involve providing hope to Indian orphans, training and resources for the disabled, and advancing healthcare for children. (ANI)

Labels: NRI