May 2017 | Vol V | Issue 6AMCHAM - The Voice of American Business in India

• PresentationonGlobalProcurementInitiative:UnderstandingBestValuebyMs.LaurenZeigler,ManagerGlobalProcurementInitiative,USTDAandMs.MehnazAnsari,USTDACountryRepresentative-SouthAsia

• InteractionwithMr.RameshAbhishek,Secretary,DepartmentofIndustrialPolicyandPromotion,GOI,onManufacturing

• MeetingwithDirectorGeneral(Acquisition)Ms.SmitaNagaraj,MinistryofDefence

• MeetingwithMr.PatrickSantillo,MinisterCounselorforCommercialAffairs,U.S.Embassy

• MeetingwithMs.MaryKayCarlson,Charged’Affaires,U.S.Embassy

• MeetingwithSenatorCoons(D-DE)andSenatorMerkley(D-OR)

• MeetingwithDr.AmitMitra,MinisterforDepartmentsofFinanceandIndustry,CommerceandEnterprises,GovernmentofWestBengal

• AMCHAM’s25thAnnualGeneralMeeting

HIGHLIGHTS

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25thAnnualGeneralMeeting

25MeetingwithSenatorCoons(D-DE)andSenatorMerkley(D-OR)

31ImPact50-50India:CSREnablingSocio-EconomicTransformationin100DistrictsinIndia

34Technology&InnovationTowardsaFuturisticValueChain2025Conference

36AnnualDay2017

40PanelDiscussiononBreakingtheGlassCeilingwithChiefGuest,Ms.UshaUthap,inhonorofInternationalWomen’sDay

51SmartInfrastructure–SmartCorporateOfficesandEnergyNeutralBuildings

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Office Bearers

Chairman

Mr. Pratyush Kumar

President

Boeing India

Vice Chairmen

Mr. Arun M. Kumar

Chairman and CEO

KPMG in India

Mr. Gulshan Kumar Sachdev

Managing Director

Quaker Chemical India Limited

Hon. Secretary & Treasurer

Mr. Atul Dhawan

Regional Managing Partner

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP

Board Members

Ms. Rekha M. Menon

Chairman and Managing Director

Accenture Services Pvt. Ltd.

Mr. Varun Khanna

Managing Director

Becton Dickinson India Pvt. Ltd.

Mr. Arun Kumar Jain

Managing Director

Fluor Daniel India Pvt. Ltd.

Mr. Kaher Kazem

President and Managing Director

General Motors India Pvt. Ltd.

Mr. Paresh Shah

Senior Vice President & General

Manager - India

Syniverse Technologies Services

India Pvt. Ltd.

Mr. Debdas Sen

CEO

TCG Digital Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

Mr. Krish Iyer

President and CEO

Wal-Mart India Pvt. Ltd.

Dr. Kiranmai Pendyala

CVP HR Greater Asia

AMD R&D Center India Pvt. Ltd.

Mr. Mahesh Krishnamurti

Managing Director

RGP India Private Limited

Mr. Madhu Poomalil

Managing Director

Arcesium India Pvt. Ltd. and

D. E. Shaw India Private Limited

Mr. Phil Shaw

Chief Executive - India

Lockheed Martin India Private

Limited

Mr. Iqbal Sait

Head of Asia Operations

Saggezza Inc.

Mr. Rajan Aiyer

Managing Director - GM, SAARC

Region

Trimble Information Technologies

India Pvt. Ltd.

Mr. Ramkumar Ramamoorthy

Senior Vice President,

Marketing, Corporate Affairs and

Communications

Cognizant Technology Solutions

Mr. Arijit Ghosh

President & Managing Director

Textron India Pvt. Ltd.

Ms. Kaku Nakhate

President & Country Head (India)

Bank of America N.A.

Ms. Vanitha Narayanan

Chairman

IBM India Pvt. Ltd.

Honorary Members

Mr. Patrick Santillo

Minister Counselor for Commercial

Affairs

U.S. Embassy

Mr. George N. Sibley

Minister Counselor for Economic

Environment, Science and

Technology Affairs

U.S. Embassy

Special Invitee

Mr. C. R. Dua

Chairman

Dua Associates

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD 2017-18

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Chairman’s Message

Pratyush KumarChairman,AMCHAM

IamhonouredtobeelectedastheChairmanofAMCHAMIndiafortheyear2017-18atitsrecentlyconcluded25thAGM.ThisisaspecialyearasAMCHAMhascompleted25yearsofU.S.–Indiabusinesspartnership.

AMCHAMwasestablished in 1992, a year after Indiawasemerging froma reformprocess.AgroupofbusinessesfromtheU.S.decidedtoformachamber,whichwasinitiallycalledtheAmericanBusinessCouncil.NowithasevolvedtobecomeAMCHAMIndia with over 400 member companies. The chamber’s aim is to advocate forbusinesses,worktoimprovetheeaseofdoingbusiness,helptoincreaseinvestmentsandbecomeabetterbridgeforbothcountries.Asthis isoursilver jubileeyear,wehavepublishedTHE INDIA JOURNEY - AMCHAM India celebrates 25 years of American companies’ contribution to India’s economy, society and U.S. - India friendship toencapsulateourjourneyandgrowthstory.

OurmembercompanieshavealsocontributedtothecommunitywithnumerousCSRprojects,employmentgeneration,exports,skilldevelopment,innovationandresearchanddevelopment.ThatiswhatIcall‘doingwellbydoinggood’andwouldliketothankeveryonefortheiryearsofsupportinourendeavour.

In the past 25 years, the relationship has seen its ups and downs, economicliberalization, sanctions, civil nuclear agreement and a major defense partnershiphas led tobusinessesgrowing leapsandbounds.Evenwith themostconservativeestimate,although therearenoofficial figures,Americancompanieshave investedover$50billioninIndia.Thathasresultedintomillionsofpeopleempoweredbybeinggainfully employed and that is a remarkable investment. The jobs and technologybroughttoIndiaarethekeyfactorstoasustainableeconomicgrowthwhichiscurrentlyaboutanaverageof7%.

IseeimmensepotentialintheU.S.–Indiapartnership,theever-growingtradebetweenIndiaandtheUnitedStateshascrossed$110billionperannum,however,wedohavealongwaytogotofullyutilizeourpotential.OurmissionistohelpAmericancompaniestooperateefficiently,compliantly,tofacilitateeaseofdoingbusinessinIndia,andtoadvocateforourmember’sissue.

AMCHAMhasrecentlybroughtoutacompendiumU.S. Companies – Partners in India’s Inclusive GrowthshowcasingthecontributionofAmericancompaniesoperatinginIndia.AsChairman,mygoalwillbetosteerthechambertowardsestablishingU.S.industry’sengagementinfocusareasoftheGovernmentofIndiasuchasmanufacturing,digitalconnectivity,smartcities,infrastructurebuild,skilldevelopment,entrepreneurship,andinnovation.

The chamber is well positioned to partner with the Indian and the United StatesgovernmentstohelprealizethefullpotentialofU.S.–Indiacooperationinthecomingyears. In carrying out my responsibilities as the Chairman of AMCHAM, I will beablysupportedbythenewlyconstitutedboardwhichconsistsofCEOsofAmericancompaniesbasedinIndia.IhopeyouwillallparticipateintheactivitiesofthechambertocontributetowardsthegrowthoftheIndianeconomy.

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25th Annual General MeetingOn4thMay,2017AMCHAMcelebratedits25thanniversaryatHotelITCMauryainNewDelhi.ThethemeofthiseventwasThe Future of U.S.-India Economic Synergy.

Ms. Ranjana Khanna,DirectorGeneral,CEO,AMCHAMIndiagavethewelcomeremarksandpresentedtheannualreporttomembersinthepresenceofMr. Pratyush Kumar,Chairman,AMCHAMIndiaandPresident,BoeingIndiaandMr. Atul Dhawan,HonoraryTreasurer&Secretary,AMCHAMIndiaandPartner,DeloitteToucheTohmatsuIndiaLLP.ThiswasfollowedbyremarksbyMr.PratyushKumar,Chairman,AMCHAMandpresentationandadoptionoftheauditedaccountsfor2016-17byMr.AtulDhawan,HonoraryTreasurer&Secretary,AMCHAM.Mr.MadhuPoomalil,ManagingDirector,D.E.Shaw IndiaPrivateLimited,proposed thepassingofaccountsandMr.ArunKumarJain,ManagingDirector,FluorDanielIndiaPvt.Ltd.,secondedit.

Ms.RanjanaKhannaannouncedtheappointmentofM/sWalkerChandiokandCo.LLPastheauditorsfor2017-18.ShealsoannouncedtheelectionresultsofthenewNationalExecutiveBoardfor2017-18whichwasratifiedbymembersof thegeneralbody.The following individualswereelected to theNationalExecutiveBoardand theywereelectedunopposed:

1.Mr. Arijit Ghosh,President&ManagingDirector,TextronIndiaPvt.Ltd.

2.Mr. Krish Iyer,PresidentandCEO,Wal-MartIndiaPrivateLimited

(L-R)Ms.RanjanaKhanna,DirectorGeneralCEO,AMCHAM,Ms.VanithaNarayanan, ImmediatePastChairperson,AMCHAMandChairman,IBMIndia,Mr.PratyushKumar,Mr.GulshanSachdev,ViceChairman,AMCHAMandManagingDirector,QuakerChemicalIndia,andMr.AtulDhawan,HonoraryTreasurer&Secretary,AMCHAMandPartner,Deloitte

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3.Mr. Kaher Kazem,PresidentandManagingDirector,GeneralMotorsIndiaPvt.Ltd.

4.Ms. Vanitha Narayanan,Chairman,IBMIndiaPvt.Ltd.

5.Mr. Atul Dhawan,Partner,DeloitteToucheTohmatsuIndiaLLP

6.Mr. Arun Kumar Jain,ManagingDirector,FluorDanielIndiaPvt.Ltd.

7.Mr. Arun M. Kumar,ChairmanandCEO,KPMGinIndia

8.Mr. Phil Shaw,ChiefExecutive–India,LockheedMartinIndiaPrivateLimited

9.Ms. Rekha M. Menon,ChairmanandManagingDirector,AccentureinIndia

10.Mr. Pratyush Kumar,ImmediatePastChairman,AMCHAMandPresident,BoeingIndia

Nominees of AMCHAM’s Regional Chapters

Location Chairman NEB Member

Bangalore Mr. Iqbal SaitManagingDirectorSaggezzaIndia

Mr. Paresh ShahManagingDirectorSyniverseTechnologies

Chennai Mr. Ramkumar RamamoorthySeniorVicePresident,Marketing,CorporateAffairsandCommunicationsCognizantTechnologySolutions

Mr. Rajan AiyerManagingDirector-GM,SAARCRegionTrimbleInformationTechnologiesIndiaPvt.Ltd.

Delhi Mr. Varun KhannaManagingDirectorBDIndia

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Hyderabad Dr. Kiranmai Pendyala CorpVPHRGreaterAsiaAMDR&DCenterIndiaPvt.Ltd.

Mr. Madhu Poomalil ManagingDirectorD.E.Shaw&Arcesium

Kolkata Mr. Debdas SenCEOTCGDigitalSolutionsPvt.Ltd.

Mr. Gulshan Kumar SachdevManagingDirectorQuakerChemicalIndiaLimited

Mumbai Mr. Mahesh KrishnamurtiManagingDirectorResourcesGlobalProfessionals(I)Pvt.Ltd.

Ms. Kaku NakhatePresident&CountryHead(India)BankofAmericaN.A.

In accordancewith theMemorandumofAssociationandRulesofAMCHAM, twoofficialsof theU.S.Embassy inIndiaarenominatedashonorarymembersontheNationalExecutiveBoardofAMCHAM.ThenomineesfromtheU.S.Embassyare:

1.Mr. George N. Sibley,MinisterCounselorforEconomic,Environment,ScienceandTechnologyAffairs,U.S. Embassy

2.Mr. Patrick Santillo,MinisterCounselorforCommercialAffairs,U.S.Embassy

Mr. Gulshan Sachdev,ViceChairman,AMCHAMIndiaandManagingDirector,QuakerChemicalIndiaLimited,inhisvoteofthanks,laudedtheAMCHAMSecretariatteamandpresentedappreciationmementostoMs. Mamta Uppal,

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Membership&EventsManagerandMr. Aubrey Daniels,RegionalDirector–TamilNaduChapter,foradistinguisheddecadeofservice.

Opening Session: Pathway to the Defining Partnership of the 21st Century

Ms. Ranjana Khanna,DirectorGeneralCEO,AMCHAMIndia,setthetoneforthesessionandintroducedMr.PratyushKumar,Chairman,AMCHAMIndia.Shealsosharedsomeintroductoryremarksabouttheambassadorsonthedais.

Mr. Pratyush Kumar,Chairman,AMCHAM India,began theday'sproceedingsmentioning itwas the25thyearofAMCHAMIndiaandthattherewasnobetterwaytoreflectonthe25yearsinIndiathantohaveafewambassadors,fromboth sides, to reflectonwhat's happened in the journeyanddiscusshow to realize the full potential of thispartnership.HementionedthattheU.S.–IndiarelationshiphasneverbeenbetterandemphasizedtheneedformoremanufacturinginIndiatosustainIndia’sGDPgrowth.

Ambassador Lalit Mansingh, former Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to the U.S., began his address byacknowledgingtheincrediblejourneyduringthelast25yearsforIndo–U.S.relationsandalsoforAMCHAMIndia.HeemphasizedthegrowthintheU.S.-IndiarelationshipandexplainedtherewasatimeinWashingtonwhenIndiawasanobjectofcharityandnotofstrategicimportancebuttodayIndiahasbeenlabelledasthedefiningpartnershipofthe21stcentury,withbilateraltradethathasgrown5timesinthepast10yearstoarecordof109milliondollarsin2015.Healsostatedthatthechangeofopticsonthepoliticalfronthasbeenequallyremarkable.HestatedthatthedialoguebetweenIndiaandtheU.S.hasseenamanifoldincreasemarkingprogressbetweentheGovernmentofIndiaandtheadministrationoftheU.S.,whichcoversalmosttheentirespectrumofbilateralrelations.

AmbassadorMansinghhighlightedthe3millionstrongIndiandiasporainAmericathatisavisibleandvibrantpartoftheAmericanmosaic,withhighrankingIndian-Americansservinginthegovernment.Hesaid,eventhoughtheIndo-U.S.strategicpartnershipisstrong,robustandirreversible,therearedoubtsraisedfromtimetotime.Headdressedtheanxieties thateveryPresidentialelectionraises,aboutpresentpoliciesbeingtrashedandold friendshipsbeingdisrupted.Hehighlightedsecurityanddefenserelations,PresidentTrump’sforeignpolicystance,visaissues,‘AmericaFirst’mentality,andhestatedthathefeelsassuredthattheIndianindustryandAmericanindustrywillfindawayof

Mr.PratyushKumar,Chairman,AMCHAMIndiaandPresident,BoeingIndia,addressingmembersduringtheopeningsession

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resolvingthisconfliction.AmbassadorMansinghalsotoucheduponunresolvedintellectualpropertyissues,especiallyin thepharmaceutical sectorwith thegovernment's latestmove to replacebrandedpharmaceuticalwithgenerics,whichisboundtomeetwithsomeresistancefromtheU.S.

He also acknowledged AMCHAM’s special role as a facilitator for expandingU.S. - India economic relations andconcludedwithwarm felicitations toAMCHAM India forcompleting25gloriousyearsandwished forevengreatersuccessinthenext25years.

Ambassador Richard Verma,formerU.S.AmbassadortoIndia,spokeofhisexperienceattendingAMCHAMmeetingsacross Indiaandexpressedgratitude toAMCHAM’sadvocacy for the immensevalue,notonly in India,butalso inWashingtonDC.HeappreciatedthesupportthatAMCHAMprovidestotheU.SEmbassyinIndia.

Throughhisaddress,AmbassadorVermarecognizedtwovitalreasonswhytheU.S.–Indiarelationshiphascontinuedtoprosper:thepublicsectorgovernmenttogovernmentworkandtheprivatesectorengagement.Herecalledtheearly1990’swithbudding interestduringPresidentClinton’s term followedby theadministrationsofPresidentBushandPresidentObama.HementionedtheU.S.–IndiaStrategicandCommercialDialogue,whichwasstarted2yearsago,andtheDefenseTechnologyandTradeInitiative(DTTI)betweentheU.S.andIndia.AmbassadorVermacreditedtheprivatesectorforhavingdonetheheavyliftingandbeingthedrivingforceinthesectorsofeducation,entrepreneurship,agriculture,IT,etc.

(L-R)Ms.RanjanaKhanna,DirectorGeneralCEO,AMCHAM,AmbassadorRichardVerma,Mr.PratyushKumar,Chairman,AMCHAM,AmbassadorMeeraShankarandAmbassadorLalitMansingh

Inclosing,hesaidweshouldnotbecomplacenttothinkthattheinwardlooking‘MakeinIndia’and‘AmericaFirst’wouldbeadividingfactorintheU.S.–Indiarelationship.Instead,heurgedallthosepresenttocontinuethisdialoguewithmutualrespect.TheAmbassadorconcludedbypromisingtobeIndia’sclosestfriendandpartnerasIndiagoesonitsjourney,alongwithAMCHAM,asitsdrivingpartner.

Ambassador Meera Shankar,formerIndianAmbassadortotheU.S.,beganherremarksbymentioningtwofactorswhichhelpedtore-shapeIndia-U.S.relations,theendofthecoldwarandtheopeningoftheIndianeconomy.SheexplainedthatfromIndia'spointofviewtheU.S.isthelargesttradingpartnerforIndia,115billioningoodsandservices.

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TheU.S.isoneofthefewmajoreconomieswithwhichIndiahasasmalltradesurplus.Shementioned,fortheU.S.,IndiahasbecomeapartneringlobalcollaborationandthroughcollaborationwithIndiancompanies,especiallytheITsector,IndiahashelpedtheU.S.toretainglobalcompetitivenessandtokeepjobsinAmerica.

AmbassadorShankarhighlighted that thepolitical relationshipbetweenbothcountrieswasverybroadbasedwithfoundationsineconomicsandgrowingstrategiccongruence,particularlyintheAsiaPacific.Shealsotouchedonthedefensepartnershipasamajorareaofgrowthoverthepastseveralyears.

Inclosing,AmbassadorShankaremphasizedthatthepartnershipbetweenthegovernmentsofIndiaandtheU.S.mustensurethatwhateverhasbeenachievedremainsasastrongfoundation.Withthenewadministration,thereisstillsomeambiguitysoitiscrucialtohaveanearlypoliticalsummitwhichwouldenabletheleadersofbothcountriestoprovidedirectionforthefutureoftherelationship.

The Future of U.S. – India Economic Synergy

Ms. Ranjana Khanna,DirectorGeneralCEO,AMCHAMIndia, introducedMs.MaryKayCarlson,Chargéd’Affaires,U.S.Embassy,andrequestedMr.PratyushKumar,Chairman,AMCHAMIndia,tointroduceMr.JayantSinha,MinisterofStateforCivilAviation,GovernmentofIndia.

Mr. Pratyush Kumar, Chairman, AMCHAM India, introducedMr. Jayant Sinha,Minister of State for Civil Aviation,GovernmentofIndia,andspokeabouthisdiagnosticthinkingthatpavesthewaytotransformationaleconomicgrowth.HementionedthatCDACarlsonandthewholeU.S.missioninIndiahasbeenextremelysupportiveofU.S.businessesinIndia.Mr.KumaralsothankedMs.VanithaNarayanan,ImmediatePastChairperson,AMCHAMandChairman,IBMIndia.

Ms. MaryKay Carlson,Chargéd’Affaires,U.S.Embassy,spokeaboutthebilateraleconomicandstrategicengagementandtheprogressintradetiesoverthelastdecade.ShementionedtheGovernmentofIndia’simplementationofpro-businessreformsthatcouldboosttradetiesevenmore.Asidefromtheeconomicties,shehighlightedthatbilateralpolicyengagementhasalsoledtoincreasedcooperationinpeacekeeping,disasterassistance,maritimesecurityandcounteringviolentextremism.

Ms.MaryKayCarlson,Chargéd’Affaires,U.S.Embassy,addressingmembersonthefutureofU.S.–Indiaeconomicsynergy

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CDACarlson talked about the following sectors as promising opportunities for growth and synergy: civil aviation,defense,education,energy,environmentaltechnologiesandtravelandtourism.Shementionedthatthe2017SelectUSAInvestmentSummitwilltakeplacefrom18th-20thJuneinWashingtonDC.CDACarlsonalsotalkedaboutthewaysthatAMCHAMplaysavitalroleinadvancingsharedprosperityandgoodwillbetweentheU.S.andIndia.AMCHAMhadrecently,throughaphotoexhibition,highlightedthewaysAmericancompaniesaremakingadifferenceinIndia.

Inconclusion,sheexpressedexcitementabout the transformativepotentialof thecommercial relationshipbetweentheU.S.andIndiaandidentifyingmorepoliciesandpracticesthatcouldfurtherimprovetheeaseofdoingbusiness,such as enhancing the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights and harmonizing standardswithinternationalbestpractices.

TheAMCHAMcompendiumU.S. Companies: Partners in India’s Inclusive Growthwas released. ThecompendiumoffersaglimpseofhowAmericancompanieshaveactivelyengagedinIndia’sinclusivegrowthstoryandhavecreatedgainfulengagement formore than5millionpeople.Collectively, theyareat the forefrontof innovationandground-breaking research anddevelopment across sectors, actively engagedwith theMSME sector, committed to socialupliftment, rural outreach, skill development, education, women’s empowerment, aswell as, health and sanitationacrossthecountry.

(L-R)Ms.RanjanaKhanna,DirectorGeneralCEO,AMCHAM,Mr.JayantSinha,MinisterofStateforCivilAviation,GovernmentofIndia,Mr.PratyushKumar,Chairman,AMCHAMandPresident,BoeingIndia,Ms.MaryKayCarlson,Chargéd’Affaires,U.S.EmbassyandMs.VanithaNarayanan,ImmediatePastChairperson,AMCHAMandChairman,IBMIndia,releasingtheAMCHAMcompendiumU.S. Companies - Partners in India's Inclusive Growth atAGM

Inthekeynoteaddress,Mr. Jayant Sinha,MinisterofStateforCivilAviation,GovernmentofIndia,thankedAMCHAMandAmericanbusinessesinIndiafortakingbilateraltradeupto110billiondollars,forU.S.foreigndirectinvestmentof50billionU.S.dollarsandforcreating5millionjobsinthecountry.HesaidthatthisisanextraordinaryachievementofAmericanbusinessinIndia.Mr.SinhasaidthatIndiaandtheUnitedSatesarelargecountriesandthetiesarestrongandintertwined,withIndianpartnershipinuniversities,businessesandpersonalties.HeaddedthatthereisnoneedtoworryaboutthefutureoftheIndia–U.S.relationshipasthisisastrongpartnershipandisdoingverywell.

Mr. Sinha mentioned that Spice Jet’s purchase order of Boeing aircrafts in India will secure 108,000 jobs inAmericaandthattheU.S.hasalsoalwayswelcomedIndiansbyprovidingjobs.U.S.–India’sstrongfoundationneedstobeleveragedtohelptheworldcreateamuchmoresustainablefuture.India’scontributiontoworldGDPisgoingto

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bealmostequaltothatofChinaatanestimated11trillioninthefuture.HeemphasizedthatthisstrengthofIndianeedstobeleveragedtohelpbuildafrugalandsustainablefutureglobally.

Mr.Sinhaalsotalkedabouthowreforms3.0intheIndiangovernmentisallowingmarketstoflourishwithanincreasedfocusoneaseofdoingbusinessandbuildingafoundationintechnologies.U.S.companiesarealreadyattheforefrontofthesebusinessesandhehighlightedsuccessfulbusinessstoriesofBoeingandAmazon,inIndia.

AcommemorativevolumeentitledThe India Journey – AMCHAM India celebrates 25 years of American companies’ contribution to India’s economy, society and U.S. – India friendshipwasreleased.Thevolumeembodiesthecollectivecontributionofover400AMCHAMmembercompanies.It isalsoatributetotheU.S.AmbassadorstoIndiaintheircapacity as honorary presidents of AMCHAM, past chairmen and countless well-wishers that have encouragedAMCHAM.

Mr.JayantSinha,MinisterofStateforCivilAviation,GovernmentofIndia,addressingmembersatAGM

(L-R)Mr.PratyushKumar,Chairman,AMCHAM,Mr.JayantSinha,MinisterofStateforCivilAviation,GovernmentofIndiaandMr.PatrickSantillo,MinisterCounselorforCommercialAffairs,U.S.Embassy

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The releaseofacommemorative volumeentitledThe India Journey – AMCHAM India celebrates 25 years of American companies’ contribution to India’s economy, society and U.S. – India friendship

Ms. Vanitha Narayanan, ImmediatePastChairperson,AMCHAMandChairman,IBMIndia, inherclosingremarks,mentionedthatasilver jubilee isasignificantmilestoneandwasthankful fortheretrospective lookintothepast25yearsofAMCHAM.SheemphasizedthattheU.S.–Indiarelationshipdoeshaveasolidfoundationandthatweareatthetippingpointwheretheaccelerationofcollaborationandgrowthisevidentacrosssectorsandindustries.Ms.Narayanantalkedabout,notonlyfrugaldevelopmentbutalsoaffordableinnovation.Shethankedtherepresentativeonthedaisandthankedtheembassyfortheirongoingsupport.

Mr.JayantSinha,MinisterofStateforCivilAviation,GovernmentofIndiawithMr.PratyushKumar,Chairman,AMCHAM

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Luncheon Keynote Address

Ms.RanjanaKhanna,DirectorGeneralCEO,AMCHAMIndiawelcomedthegatheringandcalledupontheChairmanofAMCHAMIndiatointroducethekeynotespeakerfortheafternoon.Mr.PratyushKumarintroducedMr.SureshPrabhu,UnionMinisterofRailways,GovernmentofIndia.

Mr. Suresh Prabhu,UnionMinisterofRailways,GovernmentofIndia,mentionedinhiskeynoteaddressthatoneofthelargestFDI,oneofthelargestordersthattherailwayshaseverplaced,almost7billiondollarswasplacedbytwocompanies---GEformakingdiesellocomotivesandAlstom,theFrenchcompany,formakingelectricallocomotives.TheyarealsoworkingonaveryambitiousprogramofmakingWIFIavailableonallpublicplatformsandtheirpartnerforpartoftheprojectisGoogle,soU.S.companiesareworkingwiththerailways.

Hespokeabouttheplansfortakingtherailwaystoahigherlevelandgeneratingincomeincreativeways.Mr.Prabhuexplainedthechangesbeingmadeinthefreightsector---separatefreightcorridorstobemadetoensurethatrevenuegenerationcontinuestobechurned.Hetalkedaboutnon-farerevenues,howtherailwaysaregettingmoreorganized,

Mr.SureshPrabhu,UnionMinisterofRailways,GovernmentofIndia,givingthekeynoteaddressduringtheluncheonsession

Mr.SureshPrabhu,UnionMinisterofRailways,GovernmentofIndia,receivingatokenofappreciationfromAMCHAM

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AMCHAMmembersandgovernmentofficialsintheaudience

creatingstandardsandhaving regularenergyaudits.Healsomentioned that thecreationand restorationofwaterbodiesalongthetracksnotonlymakessenseforenvironmentalreasons,butalsoforeconomicreasons.Mr.Prabhumentionedhowtherailwayshasintroducedenterpriseresourceplanningwhichhasthepotentialtoincreaserevenuesandsavemoney.

Inclosing,Mr.PrabhusaidthatIndiaandtheU.S.mustworktogetherinmanyareas,notjusteconomicanditistimetotakethenextstepforwardandtaketherelationshiptoahigherlevelfortheglobalgood.Hementionedthatthechamberisvitalforthisandacknowledgedthesignificantrolebusinessesplayinpushingthisrelationship.

Ms.RanjanaKhanna,gave thevoteof thanksand introduced theU.S.ConsulGeneralsand theirsuccessorswhojoinedthenetworkinglunchreception:

• Ms. Katherine Hadda,ConsulGeneral,U.S.ConsulateGeneralHyderabad

• Mr. Jonathan Kessler,Director–NorthIndiaOffice,U.S.Embassy

• Ms. Deborah Robinson,ActingConsulGeneral,U.S.ConsulateGeneralChennai

• Mr. Thomas Vajda,ConsulGeneral,U.S.ConsulateGeneralMumbai

• Mr. Robert Burgess,DirectoroftheOfficeofRegionalAffairsintheBureauofSouthandCentralAsianAffairs,U.S.StateDepartment

• Mr. Edgard Kagan,DeputyChiefofMission,U.S.EmbassyKualaLumpur

• Mr. Derek Westfall,DeputyDirectorof theOfficeofRegionalAffairs in theBureauofSouthandCentralAsianAffairs,U.S.StateDepartment

**Toviewmorephotosofthiseventanddownloadthetranscriptsofallspeeches,pleasevisit:http://www.amchamindia.com/25th-annual-general-meeting/

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Office Bearers

Chairman

Vice Chairmen

Honorary Secretary & Treasurer

National Executive Board Members 2017 - 2018

Mr. Pratyush KumarPresident

Boeing India

Mr. Gulshan Kumar SachdevManaging Director

Quaker Chemical India Limited

Mr. Atul DhawanPartner

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP

Mr. Arun M. KumarChairman and CEO

KPMG in India

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National Executive Board Members 2017 - 2018

Mr. Arijit GhoshPresident & Managing Director

Textron India Pvt. Ltd.

Mr. Arun Kumar JainManaging Director

Fluor Daniel India Pvt. Ltd.

Mr. Krish IyerPresident and CEO

Wal-Mart India Private Limited

Ms. Vanitha NarayananChairman

IBM India Pvt. Ltd.

Ms. Rekha M. MenonChairman and Managing Director

Accenture in India

Mr. Kaher KazemPresident and Managing Director

General Motors India Pvt. Ltd.

Mr. Phil ShawChief Executive – India

Lockheed Martin India Private Limited

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Regional Chapters

Mr. Varun KhannaManaging Director

BD India

Delhi Chairman

Mr. Iqbal SaitManaging Director

Saggezza India

Mr. Paresh ShahManaging Director

Syniverse Technologies

Bangalore Chairman Bangalore NEB Member

Mr. Ramkumar RamamoorthySenior Vice President, Marketing, Corporate Affairs and

CommunicationsCognizant Technology Solutions

Mr. Rajan AiyerManaging Director - GM, SAARC Region

Trimble Information Technologies India Pvt. Ltd.

Chennai Chairman Chennai NEB Member

Dr. Kiranmai PendyalaCorp VP HR Greater Asia, AMD /

AMD India Board of Director

Mr. Madhu PoomalilManaging Director

D.E. Shaw & Arcesium

Hyderabad Chairperson Hyderabad NEB Member

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Honorary Members

Special Invitee

Mr. Debdas SenCEO

TCG Digital Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

Mr. Mahesh KrishnamurtiManaging Director

Resources Global Professionals (I) Pvt. Ltd.

Mr. George N. SibleyMinister Counselor for Economic, Environment,

Science and Technology Affairs U.S. Embassy

Mr. C. R. DuaChairman

Dua Associates

Ms. Kaku NakhatePresident & Country Head (India)

Bank of America N.A.

Mr. Patrick SantilloMinister Counselor for Commercial Affairs

U.S. Embassy

Kolkata Chairman

Mumbai Chairman Mumbai NEB Member

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Interactive Session on ‘Impact of GST on e-Commerce and Services Sector’

AMCHAMandKPMGorganizedaninteractivesessionon‘ImpactofGSTone-CommerceandServicesSector’on9thMarch2017attheKPMGofficeinGurgaon.

Mr.AmarjeetSingh,Chairman–TaxandTariffCommittee,AMCHAM,andPartner,KPMGwelcomedthemembers.

Mr.PriyajitGhosh,Partner,IndirectTax–KPMG;andMr.Sudipta Bhattacharjee, Partner, Indirect Tax-Litigations,AdvaitaLegal,madepresentationsontheimpactofGSTone-commerceandservicessector.

AMCHAM and USIBC Roundtable with Senior Executives from the Business Executives for National Security (BENS) Delegation

On 15th March 2017, AMCHAM hosted the delegationfromBusinessExecutives forNationalSecurity (BENS),jointlywithUSIBC,foraroundtable.BENSisanimpactfulgroupofC suite executiveswhohavea strong interestin U.S. National Security and can provide governmentleaders within the U.S. National Security Enterprisetheir perspectives on the challenges and opportunitiesinherent in the key strategic relationships of theUnitedStatesandassociatedinternationalpartners.TheywantedtogainanunderstandingofIndia’sbusinessenvironment

and perspectives on the security issues shaping U.S.-Indiarelations.Mr.PratyushKumar,Chairman,AMCHAMIndia, led the discussions and invited fellow AMCHAMmemberstoparticipateandsharecommentsonIndia’scounter-terrorism initiatives, the impact of India beingdesignated as America’s Major Defense Partner andgovernment policies (tax and investment regulations,‘ease of doing business’, etc.) that promote or hindereconomicdevelopmentandFDIinthedefensesector.

Interaction with Mr. Ramesh Abhishek, Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, GOI, on Manufacturing

AMCHAM’s Manufacturing Committee met with Mr.Ramesh Abhishek, Secretary, Department of IndustrialPolicy and Promotion, GOI, on 16th March in NewDelhi. Ms. Ranjana Khanna, Director General CEO,AMCHAM,welcomedmembers.TheSecretaryaccededtoAMCHAM’s request tomakeongoing interactionsonaquarterlybasis.SecretaryAbhishekwasaccompaniedbyMr.RajivAggarwal,JointSecretary,DIPPand InvestIndia.

Mr. Rampraveen Swaminathan, Chairman –Manufacturing Committee, AMCHAM and ManagingDirector,InternationalPaperIndia,madeopeningremarksontheoverallchallengestothemanufacturingindustryinIndia,suchas,theneedtohaveamodernizedintegratedportsystem, lackofGSTclarity,consistentgovernmentpoliceswithoutretrospectivechanges,delayscausedby

multiplicityofgovernmentagencies,laborlaws,andthemanufacturingskillsgap,amongothers.

Mr.RampraveenSwaminathanalsomoderatedasector-wisedialoguethatcoveredmanufacturingchallengesinagriculture and food processing, automotive, defense,electronicsandICTandforest-basedindustries.SomeofthecompaniesrepresentedatthemeetingincludedBAESytems, Boeing, Carrier Midea, Corning Technologies,Deloitte,DowChemical,EdgewoodNetworks,EmersonElectric, Ford, HP, IBM, International Paper, IPM IndiaWholesale Trading, John Deere, KPMG, LockheedMartin, PepsiCo and UTC. AMCHAM submitted adetailed document with company specific challengesand proposed solutions. To ensure future appropriatedeliverables,allmembersare requested tosend inputsontheirissuestovalerie@amchamindia.com.

DELHI

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(L-R)Mr.Krish Iyer,Walmart,Mr.RamkumarRamamoorthy,Cognizant,Mr.GeorgeSibley,U.S.EmbassyandMr.PatrickSantillo,U.S.EmbassyattheNEBmeetinginKolkataTheNEBmeetinginprogress

AMCHAMmembersduringaninteractiononmanufacturingwithMr.RameshAbhishek,Secretary,DepartmentofIndustrialPolicyandPromotion,GOI

National Executive Board Meeting

A meeting of AMCHAM’s National Executive Boardwas held on 22nd March 2017 in Kolkata under thechairmanshipofMr.PratyushKumar,President,BoeingIndia. Themeeting was hosted byMr. K. P. Sengupta,Chairman – Eastern Region, AMCHAM and Chairman,DataCore(India)Pvt.Limited.

ThiswasfollowedbyameetingwithDr.AmitMitra,MinisterforDepartmentsofFinanceandIndustry,CommerceandEnterprises,GovernmentofWestBengal, followedbyanetworking reception hosted by U.S. Consul General,Mr.CraigHall, forAMCHAMmembersaswellasotherAmericancompanies.

HR Core Committee Meeting

On 24th March 2017, the HR Core Committee met todiscussthedetailsoftheFutureofWorkConference2017.The conference was planned for the second week ofApril.Thecommitteedeliberatedontherequirementsfortheeventandcreatedachecklist.Adetailedagendawas

finalizedandcoordinatorswereassignedtoeachsessionbasedonthedesigncreatedbyMr.SarthakRaychaudhuri,VPHR,AsiaSouth,Whirlpool.ThismeetingwaschairedbyMr.DPSingh,VP–HR(India/SouthAsia),IBMandco-chairedbyMr.SameerMathur,SVP-HR,CitibankN.A.

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Defense Committee Meeting

Aviation Core Committee Meeting

On 24th March, AMCHAM’s Defense Committee heldameeting. Themembers discussed recommendationsthat the group could submit toDIPP on ease of doing

ThecoregroupofAMCHAM’sAviationCommitteemeton29thMarchanddecidedtomapthemembercapabilitiesintothetop7priorityissuesthatneededtobetakenup

business and the challenges being faced. The futureengagements planned with the Ministry of Defenceofficialswasalsodiscussed.

for discussion and the toppriority states that could beengagedwith,totakeforwardthecommittee’sagenda.

Agriculture & Food Processing Committee Meeting

HR Committee’s Future of Work Conference 2017

AMCHAM’s Agriculture & Food Processing Committeemeeting took place on 29th March. The committeediscussedthedocumenttheyarepreparingonagriculture

Asapreludetotheconference,thereweretwowebinarsconductedon the futureofwork,a live twitterchatanda white paper competition held by AMCHAM. Manyteams from member companies participated in thiscompetitionwith two teamsemergingaswinners.Bothteamsshowcasedamillennial’sperspectiveonthefutureofwork.ThisconferencewasplannedtobethefirsteversignatureeventoftheHRCommittee.

The Future of Work Conference 2017 was a full dayeventheldat theLeelaPalace,NewDelhion10thApril2017.Theopening remarksweregivenbyMs.RanjanaKhanna, Director General CEO, AMCHAM. She spokeabout technology’s impact onourwork andworkforce.ShethereafterintroducedMr.DPSingh,Chairman–HRCommittee,AMCHAMandVP–HR (India/SouthAsia),IBM and Mr. George N. Sibley, Acting Deputy Chiefof Mission and Minister Counselor for Economic,Environment, Science & Technology Affairs, U.S.Embassy,NewDelhi.

Thefirstsessionwasconductedon‘FutureofWork’withtwo speakers,Mr. Sarit Bose, PracticeHead forDigitalTransformation, Protiviti India andMr.DebabratMishra,PartnerConsulting,DeloitteToucheTohmatsu.Thiswasfollowedbythesecondsessionon‘FutureofWorker’withpresentationsgivenbyMr.VarunAggarwal,Co-Founder,Aspiring Minds and Mr. Sarthak Raychaudhari, VicePresidentHR,AsiaSouth,Whirlpool.Apresentationwasalsogivenon‘NewCollarSkills’byMs.JoyeetaDas,IBM,explaining how skill training that begins in high school

and foodprocessing andhow to expand the scope tomakeitmoreinclusive.

canhelpyoungadultsgetbetterjobs.

Thenextsessionwasconductedon‘FutureofWorkplace’withapresentationbyMr.ArjunRaviKolady,Workplace,Facebook andMr. Kamal Singhani, Vice President andSalesLeader,GlobalBusinessServices,IBMIndia.Thefifthsessionwasapaneldiscussionon‘FutureofLeadership’moderatedbyMs.EsterMartinez,Co-FounderandEditor-in-ChiefofPeopleMattersMedia.Panelists includedMr.Mohnish Sinha, Partner, Human Capital, Deloitte andDr. Kiranmai Pendyala,Member of AMCHAM’sNationalExecutive Board and Corporate Vice President – HR,EMEA&GreaterAsiaRegion,AMDR&DCenter.

The last sessionof thedaywasapaneldiscussionon‘TheFutureofHR’moderatorbyMr.DPSingh.PanelistsincludedMs.VishpalaReddy,VicePresident&HeadHR,AmericanExpress,Mr.PritpalKular,VicePresident–HR,GeneralMotors,Mr.ShaswatKumar,HREffectiveness,AonHewittandMs.IraGupta,HRHead,Microsoft.

The event concluded with a presentation and awardceremony, felicitating thewinnersand runnersup teamoftheFutureofWorkWhitePaperCompetition2017.TheprizeswereawardedbyoneofthejurymembersoftheFuture of WorkWhite Paper Competition, Dr. KiranmaiPendyalaandtheprizesweresponsoredbyTextron.

Theeventwasverywellattendedandgreatlyappreciatedbytheaudience.ThiseventwassponsoredbyAspiringMindsandIBM,withDeloitteastheknowledgepartner.

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Mr. George Sibley, Minister Counselor for Economic,Environment, Science & Technology Affairs, U.S. Embassy,givingthekeynoteaddressattheFutureofWorkConference

Ms.RanjanaKhanna,DirectorGeneralCEO,AMCHAMgivingopening remarks at the Future ofWorkConference inNewDelhi

(L-R)Dr.KiranmaiPendyala,MemberofAMCHAM’sNationalExecutiveBoardandCorporateVicePresident–HR,EMEA&GreaterAsiaRegion,AMDR&DCenter,Mr.MohnishSinha,Partner,HumanCapital,DeloitteandMs.EsterMartinez,Co-Founder&Editor-in-Chief,PeopleMattersMedia

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Mr.GauravSoni,Head–HumanResources,ProtivitiintroducingMr.ArjanKolady,WorkplacebyFacebookandMr.KamalSinghani,VPandSalesLeader,GlobalBusinessServices,IBMIndia

Mr.SameerMathur,Co-Chairman-HRCommittee,AMCHAMandSeniorVicePresidentHR,CitibankN.A.

TheaudienceatAMCHAM'sFutureofWorkConference,aninitiativeoftheHRCommittee

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(L-R)Mr.DPSingh,Chairman-HRCommittee,AMCHAMandVP-HR(India/SouthAsia),IBM,Ms.VishpalaReddy,VicePresident&HeadHR,AmericanExpress,Mr.PritpalKular,VicePresident–HR,GeneralMotors,Mr.ShaswatKumar,HREffectiveness,AonHewittandMs.IraGupta,HRHead,MicrosoftattheFutureofWorkConferenceinNewDelhi

Dr. Kiranmai Pendyala, Member of AMCHAM’s NationalExecutiveBoardandCorporateVicePresident–HR,EMEA&GreaterAsiaRegion,AMDR&DCenter,felicitatingtherunnersup,AkhilSharmaandVJSSrivastav,ofthefutureofworkwhitepapercompetitionfromCitibank

Dr. Kiranmai Pendyala, Member of AMCHAM’s NationalExecutiveBoardandCorporateVicePresident–HR,EMEA& Greater Asia Region, AMD R&D Center, felicitating thewinners,ShreyaPoojaryandArijitChakraborty,ofthefutureofworkwhitepapercompetitionfromWhirlpoolofIndiaLtd.

Meeting with DG (Acquisition), Ministry of Defense

Meeting with Senator Coons (D-DE) and Senator Merkley (D-OR)

AMCHAM Defense Committee core team membersengaged with DG (Acquisition) Ms. Smita Nagaraj onTuesday, 11th April 2017. Discussion points revolved

AMCHAMmembershadacloseddoor roundtablewithSenator Christopher Andrew “Chris” Coons, UnitedStates Senator fromDelaware (Democrat) and SenatorJeffrey Alan “Jeff”Merkley, United States Senator from

aroundstrategicpartners,DDPissues,offsetissuesandothers.Theteamiscurrentlypreparingrecommendationsforsubmissiontoheroffice.

Oregon (Democrat) onTuesday, 18thApril, 2017at theU.S.Embassy.ThemembersdiscussedtheU.S.–IndiabusinessclimateandchallengesandopportunitieswithafocusontheeaseofdoingbusinessinIndia.

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Senator Merkley and Senator Coons at a roundtablediscussioninNewDelhi

Senator Coons in conversation with Mr. Pratyush Kumar,Chairman, AMCHAM and President, Boeing India andMr.PhilShaw,ChiefExecutive-India,LockheedMartin

Roundtable with Assistant USTR for South and Central Asia, Mr. Mark Linscott

AMCHAM hosted a breakfast roundtable forMr.MarkLinscott, Assistant USTR for South and Central Asia,U.S. TradeRepresentative, during his inaugural trip toIndia on19thApril at theU.S.Embassy inNewDelhi.ThemeetingwasfocussedontheU.S.–Indiaeconomicrelationship and future engagement on bilateral andmultilateraltradepolicy.

ThefollowingUSGofficialswerealsopresent:

• BrendanLynch,Director for India,OfficeofCentralandSouthAsianAffairs,USTR

• George Sibley, Acting Deputy Chief of Missionand Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs andEnvironment,ScienceandTechnology,U.S.Embassy

• Robert Kemp, Deputy Minister Counselor forEconomic Affairs and Environment, Science andTechnology,U.S.Embassy

• RobynKessler,PrincipleCommercialOfficer–NorthIndia,U.S.Embassy

• TimothyBrowning,Attorney-Advisor,OfficeofPolicyandInternationalAffairs,U.S.PatentandTrademarkOffice(USPTO)

• Chad Norberg, Trade and Technology Unit Chief,U.S.Embassy

• Komal Kalha, Senior Legal Counsel (IntellectualProperty),USPTO,U.S.Embassy

AMCHAMmemberswithSenatorMerkleyandSenatorCoonsandseniorofficialsfromtheU.S.Embassy,NewDelhi

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Ms. Valerie Swope, Program Coordinator, AMCHAMmadewelcomeremarksandintroducedtheUSGofficials.Mr.GeorgeSibleymaderemarksandthenturneditovertoMr.PrabalChakraborty,Chairman–MedicalDevicesCommittee,AMCHAMandVicePresidentandManagingDirector,BostonScientificIndia,whochairedthemeetingfrom AMCHAM. Mr. Chakraborty gave an overview ofthe progress on some of the flourishing sectors andemphasized that themedical devices sector still facespricecontrolchallenges.

Mr.Linscott,inhisopeningremarks,mentionedthatIndiaisoneof thecountries that theU.S. hasa tradedeficitwith ingoodsandagriculturegoods.Heexplained thatatradereportwillbemadeonthecountrieswithatradedeficittodeterminethereasonsandcircumstancesthat

ledtothedeficit.TherewillbeahearingbeforeCongressscheduledon18thMayandthereportisdueouton29thJune.HesaidhisvisittoIndiawasbasicallytounderstandandidentifytariffandnon-tariffbarrierssuchasdumpingpractices, IPR challenges, etc. so that the necessaryassessmentscouldbemade.

AMCHAMmembers introduced themselves and talkedaboutspecifictradebarrierstheircompaniesface.Someof the challenges included high import duties on rawmaterials, standards and regulations, in country testingrequirements, arduous tax laws, offsets challenges,export potential across sectors, product categorizationinconsistencies and interpretations from port to port,etc.Mr. GauravMendiratta, SectorManager –MedicalDevices,AMCHAM,gavethevoteofthanks.

AMCHAMmembersindiscussionwithAUSTRMr.MarkLinscott

U.S.governmentofficialswith(center)Mr.MarkLinscott,AssistantUSTRforSouthandCentralAsia

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Meeting with Beth Urbanas, Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy

On25thApril2017,Ms.BethUrbanas,DeputyAssistantSecretary for Asia and theAmericas at theOffice ofInternationalAffairs,U.S.DepartmentofEnergy(DoE),participatedinaroundtablediscussionwithAMCHAMmembers to discuss energy access, renewablesenergy efficiency, bio-fuels, energy security andenergy technologies. Ms. Udaya Arun, ProgramManager, AMCHAM, gave the welcome remarksand thediscussionwas ledbyMr.ArunKumar Jain,

Chairman–InfrastructureandSmartCitiesCommittee,AMCHAM and President & Managing Director, FluorDanielIndia.Ms.UrbanasisresponsibleformanagingDoE’s bilateral and multilateral engagements withAsian and American countries, hence the membersalsorequestedhersupportinadvocatingforpotentialareasofconvergencebetweenthetwocountries.Over10 members engaged in the roundtable discussionwiththeUSGofficials.

Medical Devices Committee Meeting

On 21st April 2017, the AMCHAM Medical DevicesCommittee met under the Chairmanship of Mr. PrabalChakraborty in New Delhi to discuss the agenda tobe takenupby thecommittee in theyear2017-18.Thecommittee also reviewed the work undertaken by thecommitteeduringthelastyear—successesandmisses.Itwasdiscussedanddecidedthattheinternaloutreachtoneighboringcountriesshouldcontinue.Thecommitteealsofelt that it is important tokeepinteractingwithU.S.Embassy officials and raise concerns of the medicaldevices industry both during visits of USG officials toIndia and by company representatives in WashingtonD.C.whenanyIndiangovernmentofficial is travellingtotheU.S.

The other point of discussion including approachingstate governments through any of the consulting firmsand trying to get an interaction with the State HealthDepartment through them. The committee membersalso suggested that the activity can be clubbed withorganizingahalfdaytrainingprogramfortheregulatorsifthevisitgetsfinalized.

Other members present during the meeting includedrepresentatives from Abbott, India Medtronic, GE,CR Bard, Boston Scientific, BD, Johnson & Johnsonand Edwards Life Sciences. Mr. Gaurav Mendirattawas present from the AMCHAM Secretariat during themeeting.

AMCHAMmemberswithMs.BethUrbanas,DeputyAssistantSecretaryforAsiaandtheAmericasattheOfficeofInternationalAffairs,U.S.DepartmentofEnergy

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MUMBAIPresentation on Global Procurement Initiative: Understanding Best Value

TheU.S.TradeDevelopmentAgency (USTDA)plans to

launch theirGlobalProcurement Initiative (GPI) in India

shortly. As a precursor to this launch, AMCHAM India,

inpartnershipwith theConsulateGeneralof theUnited

States, Mumbai, organized a presentation on “Global

Procurement Initiative: Understanding Best Value” on

Wednesday,22ndFebruary2017inMumbai.

The morning began with a welcome address and an

introductorynotebyMr.ChrisGrossman,ChiefEconomic

&PoliticalAffairs,U.S.Consulate,Mumbai.Ms.Mehnaz

Ansari, Country Representative – South Asia, USTDA,

made an insightful presentation onUSTDA’s presence,

projects,prioritysectors,partnerships(governmentand

industry)andinitiativesinIndia.

USTDAisengagedactivelyonprojectsininfrastructure,

energy, transportation and IT as well as providing in-

depth training on conducting life-cycle cost analyses,

pilotprojectsandfeasibilitystudies.USTDAalsopartners

withWorldBankandcollaborateswithmajormultilateral

developmentbanksintheplanningandexecutionofGPI.

Theagency’sgoalistoprovideeachGPIpartnercountry

with the access, opportunity and support it needs to

structure sound infrastructure tenders that can foster

sustainableeconomicgrowth.

Ms. Lauren Zeigler, Manager Global Procurement

Initiative,USTDA,sharedinsightinformationontheGlobal

Procurement Initiativethat isproposedtobelunchedin

Indiashortly.Throughthepresentation,shehighlighted:

• Keyissues:BestValuedetermination,lifecyclecost

analysis,objectiveevaluationandprofessionalization

• Overarching goals of the GPI: sustainability andimprovedoutcome

• The GPI model: Study tours to the U.S., trainingsessionsandadvisorysupport

• Partner Countries: Mexico, Colombia, Romania,Vietnam,Philippines,Ethiopia,Botswana,Panama

• Partnership criteria: USTDA seeks to partner withcountriesthatare:

• Committedtointegratingbestvaluedeterminationintenders

• Open to fair and transparent internationalcompetition

• Dedicatedtothelongtermprofessionalizationoftheirprocurementworkforce

• GPIinIndia:Potentialpartnerstates–Maharashtra,AndhraPradesh,Rajasthan,Gujarat,WestBengal

AninteractiveQ&Asessionansweredseveralqueriesonchallengesandopportunities in the Indianprocurementscenario. The roundtable event concludedwith closingremarks and vote of thanks by Ms. Surabhi Wahal,RegionalDirector–WesternRegion,AMCHAM.

Tour of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust followed by an interactive meeting with Mr. Anil Diggikar, Chairman, JNPT

AMCHAMIndia,inpartnershipwiththeConsulateGeneraloftheUnitedStates,Mumbai,organizedasitevisittotheJawaharlalNehruPortTrustandinteractivesessionswithChairman JNPT andCommissioners ofCustoms JNPTonTuesday,21stMarch2017.

Thesite visit commencedwithabriefingon thehistoryandfunctionsof theJawaharlalNehruPortandSEZby

Mr.Sittarasu,CEO-JNPTSEZ.Thebriefingwasfollowedby a roundtable meeting with Mr. Anil Diggikar (IAS),Chairman,JNPTandseniormembersofJNPTSEZ.Themeeting began with a brief presentation titled ‘JNPT-Anchor theGlobal Trade Together.’Mr. Gregory Taevs,Principal Commercial Officer, U.S. Commercial Serviceand Ms. Surabhi Wahal, Regional Director WesternRegion, AMCHAM, thanked Mr. Diggikar, Mr. Sitarrasu

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andtheJNPTteamforthewonderfulopportunityforthedelegation to visit. Mr. Diggikar shared insights on theJNPTSEZandportwhich isoneof themost importantprioritiesfortheMinistryofShipping,withaspecialfocuson‘port led industrialization.’ HesharedthatJNPThasnotifiedmulti-productSpecialEconomicZone(SEZ)andFreeTradeWarehousingZone(FTWZ),justoutsideoftheportboundaries,forwhichthefoundationstonewaslaidbyHon’ble PrimeMinisterNarendraModi.Mr.Diggikarbelieved that the visit to the SEZ will help AmericancompaniesgetacquaintedwiththeirobjectiveofmakingJNPT SEZ a successful project as well as would beinstrumental in learningof the viewsof theparticipantsthatwillhelpcreateatrulycustomerfocusedSEZ.

SomeofthekeyhighlightsofJNPTSEZinclude:

• Location advantage – part of the greater Mumbaiarea,withestablishedroadandrailnetwork

• Minimalregulatoryrisks–SEZisbeingsetupinportownedland,noR&Rissuesforinvestors

• Execution Certainty – master planning andengineering completed, utility and infrastructuredevelopmentcurrentlyinadvancedstage

• Complete utility support – JNPT is providinguninterruptedpowersupply,waterandroadnetworkrightattheallotmentstageitself

• SEZincentives–SEZandFTWZnotificationsreceived

andtenantswillbeeligible fordutyexemptions, taxexemptionsandFDInormrelaxation

• DedicatedSEZcell–JNPThascreatedadedicatedSEZ cell to provide environmental and other SEZclearances on the port and invited AMCHAMmembers toshare theirqueriesandsuggestions intheeaseofdoingbusinessatJNPT

ThemeetingconcludedwithavoteofthanksbyMr.MarkMartyn-Fisher, Director- Special Projects, UPS JetairExpress Pvt. Ltd. Excitement buzzed on a breezy ferryrideshowcasingaseasideviewofJNPT.

ThedelegationwentontomeetwithseniormembersoftheCustomsDepartmentat theJNPTCustomsHouse.The roundtable meeting with Mr. Subhash Agarwal(Commissioner of Customs – General), Mr. Mohanty(CommissionerofCustoms–NSII),Mr.ShrawanKumar(Commissioner of Customs – NS III) along with seniormembers of the department, had members sharingchallenges as well as benefits of the ease of doingbusinessattheJNPTport,overacandidinteraction.Asafollowupofthemeeting,officialswelcomedtheideaofaconsolidatednoteonchallengesfacedbycompaniestoenableswifterandsmootheroperationaleasewhereverpermissible.Themeetingandeventsofthedayconcludedwith closing remarks by Mr. Gregory Taevs and Ms.SurabhiWahalwhourgedAMCHAMmemberstoreachouttotheU.S.ConsulateandAMCHAMasaplatformforsupportontheeaseofdoingbusinessinIndia.

AMCHAMmembersinMumbaiforatouroftheJawaharlalNehruPort

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ImPact 50-50 India: CSR Enabling Socio-Economic Transformation in 100 Districts in India

President, Habitat for Humanity International, Asia-Pacmade the keynote address on ‘Impact Asia- Habitat’sStrategicDirectionintheAsia-PacRegion.’

A photo essay on beneficiary testimonials and impactachievedwashighlightedbyMs.LaraShankar,Director,StrategicManagementUnit,Habitat forHumanity India.ThiswasimmediatelyfollowedbyaninteractivesessionwithdonorsandpartnersofHabitat forHumanity IndiamoderatedbyMr.SanjayDaswani,Sr.Director,ResourceDevelopment&Communications,Habitat forHumanityIndia. An engaging Q&A session answered severalqueriesthatwereposedbytheparticipants.

TheeventconcludedwithclosingremarksbyMr.SanjayDaswaniandavoteofthanksbyMs.ShaliniRaizada,HRLeader – Shared Services, DowChemical InternationalPvt.Ltd.

ParticipantsattheAMCHAMandHabitiatForHumanityCSRevent'ImPact50-50India:CSREnablingSocio-EconomicTransformationin100DistrictsinIndia'inMumbai

AMCHAM, in partnership with Habitat For HumanityIndia, organized ‘ImPact 50-50 India: CSR EnablingSocio-EconomicTransformationin100DistrictsinIndia’inMumbaionWednesday,22ndMarch2017.

Theeventbeganwithopening remarksbyMs.SurabhiWahal, Regional Director – Western Region, AMCHAMIndia, followedbyaspecialaddressbyConsulGeneralThomasVajda,U.S.ConsulateGeneral,Mumbai.Ashortaudio-visualfilmsharinganoverviewonthejourneyandmilestonesofHabitatForHumanitywasplayed.

Thefirstkeynoteaddressoftheevent,Mr.RajanSamuel,Managing Director, Habitat for Humanity India, sharedinsight into the CSR impact in housing and sanitationwhile focussing on the strategy impact 50-50: multi-sector, multi-year and multi-donor approach to make‘Housing for All’ and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan a reality,districtbydistrictinIndia.Mr.RickHathaway,AreaVice-

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Western Region Committee Meeting

On 29th March 2017, AMCHAM’s Western RegionCommittee meeting was held at the Bank of AmericaofficeinMumbai.Themeetingwhichwaswellattendedcommenced with welcome remarks by Mr. MaheshKrishnamurti, Co–Chair AMCHAM WRC and openingremarks by Ms. Surabhi Wahal, Regional Director –WesternRegion,AMCHAMIndia.

As part of the agenda a presentation of AMCHAM’sSupplyChain&LogisticsCommittee(SCL)wasmadebyMr.MilindTailor,Co–Chair,AMCHAMSCLCommittee&

HeadofIndirectProcurement&ElectronicSecurityAsiaPacific,DieboldSystemsPvt.Ltd.ThemainfocusoftheWRCmeetingwastodiscusstheforthcomingAMCHAMOpen House and the Western Region signature event‘India:2017andBeyond.’MemberswereupdatedonthenewlyelectedWRCCommitteemembersw.e.f.4thMay2017(postAMCHAMIndia’s25thAGM).

TheWRCmeetingconcludedwithbriefremarksbyMs.SurabhiWahal.

Open House: An Interactive Evening with Mr. Subhash R. Desai, Minister – Industries & Mining, Government of Maharashtra and Mr. Apurva Chandra, Principal Secretary – Industries, Government of Maharashtra

AMCHAM India, in partnershipwith theU.S.ConsulateGeneral in Mumbai, organized an ‘Open House: AnInteractive Evening with Mr. Subhash Desai, MinisterIndustries & Mining, Government of Maharashtra andMr. Apurva Chandra, Principal Secretary – Industries,GovernmentofMaharashtra’onFriday,7thApril2017inMumbai.

The event, which was well attended by senior leadersof U.S. companies, began with welcome remarks by

Consul General Tom Vajda, Consulate General of theUnitedStates,Mumbai.Thiswasfollowedbyanoverviewby Mr. Gregory Taevs, Principal Commercial Officer(U.S.Consulate)onservicesoftheForeignCommercialServicesandMr.AdamBranson,Chief,U.S.AgriculturalAffairs,ontheagricultureservices.

Ms.KakuNakhate,NationalExecutiveBoardMember,AMCHAM India and President and Country Head,Bank of America, through her address showcased

ConsulGeneralTomVajdadeliveringthespecialaddressataCSReventinMumbai

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OpenHouse:AnInteractiveEveningwithMr.SubhashDesaiMinisterIndustries&MiningandMr.ApurvaChandra,PrincipalSecretary–Industries,GovernmentofMaharashtra

the services, activities and initiatives of AMCHAMIndia. While welcoming the Hon’ble Minister shehighlighted significant initiatives of AMCHAM’sWestern Region, which included roundtables withHonb’le Chief Ministers (Maharashtra, MP, Gujarat)and senior representatives of the state government(MIDC,DIPP,JNPT).ShealsoinvitedandencouragedU.S. companies that are not members of AMCHAMto leverage the important association and becomemembers of AMCHAM! Last but not least,Ms. KakuNakhateinvitedparticipantstotheforthcomingannualevent on innovation and technology on 19th April,the Western Region’s signature event ‘India: 2017 &Beyond’on26thAprilandthe25thAGMofAMCHAMinNewDelhion4thMay2017.

Mr.ApurvaChandra,PrincipalSecretary–Industries,Government of Maharashtra, began his address bycommendingAMCHAM’snotableeffortsandsupportof connecting the American businesses to the stategovernment. His address mainly highlighted variouspolicies such as IT, retail, defense, logistics andwarehousing and the planned revisions in the nearfuture and the development projects in the statefocused on AURIC – Aurangabad Industrial CityProject.

Mr. Subhash Desai, Minister Industries & Mining,GovernmentofMaharashtra,inhiskeynoteaddressstatedthatheforeseesagreatfutureforco-operationbetweenU.S. and India.He urgedU.S. companies to utilize theservicesprovidedbyMaitri-Maharashtra Industry Trade&InvestmentFacilitationCell,whichisaninitiativebytheMaharashtraGovernmenttofacilitatedomesticaswellasinternationalinvestorstosubmitregulatorydocumentsatasinglelocationandasingleentity.Hon’bleMinisterDesaialsotoucheduponthedevelopmentprojectsinthestate– theNaviMumbai International Airport, TransHarbourLinkand theMumbaiCoastalRoad.AnengagingQ&Asessionansweredseveralqueriesthatwereposedbytheparticipants.

Ms.SurabhiWahal,RegionalDirector–WesternRegion,AMCHAM, presented copies of AMCHAM’s CSRCompendium – Happily Going Miles for Their SmilesandSmartCities:ACapabilityDeckofU.S.Companiesin IndiatotheHon’bleMinisterShriSubhashDesaiandMr.ApurvaChandraandbroughttolightthecontributionsandexpertiseofAMCHAMmembers.

The event concluded with closing remarks by ConsulGeneralMr.ThomasVajda,whotheninvitedtheHon’bleMinistersandtheparticipantstoaneveningofnetworking.

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Technology & Innovation Towards a Futuristic Value Chain 2025 Conference

AMCHAMIndia’sSupplyChainandLogisticCommitteeand Manufacturing Committee organized it’s annualconferenceon ‘Technology& Innovation – ValueChain2025’onWednesday,19thApril2017inMumbai.TheeventwaspoweredbyCGNAssociationIndiaPvt.Ltd.,RhenusLogistics India Pvt. Limited, Portrucks Equipments Pvt.Ltd.,InternationalPaperAPPMLtd.andTimkenIndiaLtd.

Theeveningwasaconvergenceofbrightfuture-focusedmindstofosterlearningandinspiration.Theeventbeganwith opening remarks byMs. SurabhiWahal, RegionalDirector – Western Region, AMCHAM India, and wasfollowedbyremarksfromMr.SanjayKoul,Co-Chairman– Manufacturing Committee, AMCHAM and ChairmanandManagingDirector, Timken India Ltd. Mr.GregoryTaevs, Principal Commercial Officer, U.S. ConsulateGeneral,Mumbai,madeaspecialaddress.

Mr. Sanjay Sethi, CEO, Maharashtra IndustrialDevelopment Corporation (MIDC), made the keynoteaddress with a presentation on ‘Maharashtra IndustrialDevelopment Corporation – A Forward LookingPerspective’ highlighting the DNA of next generationindustries, policies, infrastructure, technologies and theoutcome.Someofthekeyhighlightsfromthepresentationincluded:

• Economicimpactofdisruptivetechnologiesby2025

• 3 pillars of growth identified byMIDC to foster therapidchange:

1. Liveable initiatives that focus on socialinfrastructureandwell-being

2. Initiatives that focus on making industryefficientandeconomicallyvibrant

3. Socialresponsibility

• SnapshotoffutureservicethatwillbeofferedbyMIDCsuch as instrumentation and control, computingresources,datamanagement,securityandprivacy,interoperability,connectivityandanalytics

Mr. Subhendu Roy, Partner, AT Kearney, shared an in-depth outlook on ‘Supply Chain 2025 - Trends andImplicationsforIndia.’Throughthepresentationhesharedan in-depthunderstandingof trends thatwill shape the

futuresupplychaininIndia2025namely:

• Moremegacities

• Proliferationofsegments

• Improvedsupplychaininfrastructure

• Betterregulatoryclimate

• Strongerglobalconnect

• Affordableandaccessibletechnologies

ParticipantsoftheconferencereceivedahardcopyofATKearney’sstudyonthesubject.

ThefirstpanelsessionoftheeveningmoderatedbyMr.RohintonSidhwa,Partner,Deloitte,featuredanengagingdiscussion on ‘Innovation and Technology EnablingManufacturing and Supply Chain’ which discussedemerging trends such as IOTs, drones, technologydisruptions. The speakers included Mr. SudhanshuSingh,SeniorVicePresident&ChiefOperatingOfficer,Analytics & Research, Genpact, Mr. Ganesh Shinkre,GeneralManager –Sourcing,GETransportation, India,Mr. Ramesh Kailasam, Managing Director, APCOWorldwideIndiaPvt.Ltd.,Mr.UmeshMadhyan,NationalHeadInfrastructureandLogistics,HindustanCoca-ColaBeveragesPvt.Ltd.andMr.AlaguBalaraman,Partner&IndiaMD,CGNAssociationIndiaPvt.Ltd.

A presentation was made on ‘Automation Solutions inLogistics andSupplyChain’ byMr. S.Gopalakrishnan,Co-Founder, Portrucks Equipments Pvt. Ltd. Portruckspresented their unique solution in automation, fromproducts to roads, which is a high-density storage/sequencer and automated truck/container loader andunloader.Aminimodelof thesystemwasdisplayedatthevenue.

Tounderstand‘KeyTrendsoftheFuture:2025BusinessandtheHumanCapital’, thesecondpanelsessionwasmoderatedbyMr.MuthukumarNarayanaswamy,SeniorVice President & Whole Time Director, Meritor Inc.AutomotiveAxlesLimitedprophesizedavisionofhumancapital2025.ThepanelspeakersincludedMr.ShantanuDas, CHRO, Amway India, Mr. Kumar Kandaswami,SeniorDirector,DeloitteToucheTohmatsuIndiaPvt.Ltd.andMr.MukundMenon,HRDirector,InternationalPaper.

An engaging Q&A session answered several queries

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thatculminatedinadeeperunderstandingofsignificantperspectivestothesubject.

Mr.SrinivasanSarangapani,Chairman–SupplyChain&LogisticsCommittee,AMCHAMandDirectorOperations,

TimkenEngineering&ResearchIndiaPvt.Ltdconcludedthesuccessfuleventwithclosingremarksandavoteofthankstoalltheparticipants,theeminentspeakersandtheeventsponsors.Theeventwasfollowedbynetworkingovercocktailsanddinner.

(L-R)Mr.SanjayKoul,Co-Chairman–ManufacturingCommittee,AMCHAMandChairman&ManagingDirector,TimkenIndiaLtd.,Mr.SanjaySethi,CEO,MaharashtraIndustrialDevelopmentCorporation(MIDC),Ms.SurabhiWahal,RegionalDirector-WesternRegion,AMCHAM,Mr.GregoryTaevs,PrincipalCommercialOfficer,U.S.ConsulateGeneralMumbai,Mr.SrinivasanSarangapani,Chairman–SupplyChain&LogisticsCommittee,AMCHAMandDirectorOperations,TimkenEngineering&ResearchIndiaPvt.LtdandMr.MilindTailor,Co-Chairman–SupplyChain&LogisticsCommittee,AMCHAM,andHead–SupplyChainManagement,DieboldSystemsPvt.Ltd.

Paneldiscussionon‘InnovationandTechnologyEnablingManufacturingandSupplyChain’atanAMCHAMconferenceinMumbai

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HyDERABAD Annual Day 2017

AMCHAM Hyderabad’s Annual Day was held on

23rd February, 2017. The Consul General of the U.S.

ConsulateHyderabadwasthechiefguestfortheevent.

Dr. Kiranmai Pendyala, Chairperson – Hyderabad

Chapter, AMCHAM, thanked the sponsors in her

openingremarksandgaveabriefontheactivitiesofthe

HyderabadChapter. Shementioned theflagshipevent

oftheHyderabadChapter,AMCHAMSports,whichwas

only conductedby theHyderabadChapter. She spoke

aboutthestrongrelationshipofAMCHAMIndiawiththe

U.S.ConsulateandhowAMCHAMhasplayedarole in

strengtheningU.S.–Indiabusinesstiesoverthelast25

years.Dr.Pendyalaemphasizedthatifyouarenotwilling

torisk theusual,youwillhave tosettle for theordinary.

Americancompanies in Indiahavecreated the relevant

relationships and success they have today through the

tenetsofinnovationandinclusivegrowth.AsHyderabad

continuestoplayakeyroleinthegrowthofU.S.business

inIndia,shementionedthatthebestwaytogetstartedis

toquittalkingandbegindoing.

Ms. Katherine Hadda, Consul General of the U.S.

Consulate,Hyderabad,mentioned that AMCHAM is an

incredible organization, active in everything from social

responsibilityinitiativestosportsandculturalevents—a

greatpartnertotheconsulateandgreatfriends.CGHadda

saidthattheseeventsweregreatexamplesofthestrong

community of leadership AMCHAM demonstrates in

Hyderabad.ShespokeaboutUTCandtheirinvolvement

with theHyderabadMetro. To learnmoreaboutall the

things happening inHyderabad,CGHadda invited the

audience to follow her on Twitter. She mentioned that

the U.S. and India have agreed that the GES will be

heldsomewhere in India thisyear. Itwouldbea3-day

interaction focused on entrepreneurshipwith economic

growth,socialinclusionandsecuringcommunities.CG

Haddaemphasizedthatitistheuniquepeopletopeople

tiesbetweenthecitizensofU.S.andIndiawhichcreates

thefoundationsofthecloserelationshipandthatistrue

of thecommunity inHyderabadalso,wheremanyhave

familytiestotheU.S.orhavestudiedthere.

Mr. B.V. Mohan Reddy, Chairman of Cyient, a

PadmashriAwardee,wasfelicitatedonthisoccasion.

Atotalof261participantsreceivedawardsaswinners

and runners up for AMCHAM Sports, which saw a

record 1,400 participants representing 29 American

companies.Theeventclosedwithavoteofthanksby

Mr. Shashidhar Reddy, Vice Chairman – Hyderabad

Chapter,AMCHAM.

Mr.IanHarrisofDSTgivingawardstotheDeloitteTeam

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Releaseof the4thHealthcareConferencePositionPaperbyConsulGeneralHaddaalongwith theHealthcareWorkingCommitteemembersduringAnnualDayinHyderabad

Mr.V.LaxmikanthgivinganawardtotheBroadridgebasketballteamasrunnersup

TheDeloitteteamwerethewinnersofcricketduringAmChamSports2016

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AMCHAM’s Hyderabad Chapter Executive Committeebiddingfarewelltosomeoftheirboardmembers

Mr.JamesSchillenger,SecretaryCommerce,StateofIndiana,U.S.andhisteamwithMr.ShashiReddy,ViceChair-HyderabadChapter,AMCHAMandothermembers

Hyderabad Executive Committee Meeting

On 7th March 2017, AMCHAM’s Hyderabad ChapterExecutiveCommitteemetat theofficeof Invesco tobidfarewellforsomeoftheboardmemberswhoaremovingon or have stepped down from their current positions.WonderfulexperiencesandmemorieswithAMCHAMwereshared.Therewasalsoabrainstormingsessionforboardmeetings, the annual event – AMCHAM Sports, AnnualDayandtheinteractiontheysharedwithmembersatlarge.

Meeting with Mr. James Schillenger, Secretary of Commerce, State of Indiana, U.S.

develop, attack (drug epidemic) and provide. Healso mentioned that Indiana has a balanced statebudget.

Mr.Schillengeransweredquestions frommembersandinformedmembersoftheupcomingvisitoftheGovernorofIndianainSeptember2017.

On 16th March, Mr. James Schillenger, Secretary ofCommerce, State of Indiana, U.S. and his teammetwith the AMCHAM members in Hyderabad at TheWestin, over breakfast. Mr. Schillenger shared theopportunities available for businesses in Indianaand mentioned that Governor Holcomb’s 5 pillarsof “Indiana a State that Works” are cultivate, fund,

5th AMCHAM Healthcare Conference – Committee Meeting

On1stMarch2017,thefirstcommitteemeetingforthe5thAMCHAMHCCwasheld at theofficeofPhenomenex.The committee deliberated on what we need to touchuponthisyearandhowwewanttheconferencetoshapeupandwhatdifferencewewouldliketosee.Aftermuch

brainstorming a tentative theme was decided upon –impact of current geo political situation on healthcare.The day’s event would be split into three sessions –innovation,investmentandvaluesandoutcomes.

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5th AMCHAM Healthcare Conference – Committee Meeting

On30thMarch2017, thecommitteemembersmetattheofficeofAbbott(St.JudeMedical)anddiscussedwhatwewouldliketoseehappenandhowwecouldexpandthecommitteeto includeotherstakeholdersinhealthcare.Itwasdecidedthateachofthesessions

would have panellists who would be: policymakers,insurance, medical devices / technology, pharma /biotech,serviceprovidersandmoderator.

WehaverequestedFrost&Sullivantobetheknowledgepartnerspro–bonoandtheirresponseisawaited.

Meeting with Ms. MaryKay Carlson, Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy

AMCHAM members met with Ms. MaryKay Carlson,Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy during her visit toHyderabad on the 27th April at The Chambers, Taj

Krishna,overbreakfast.Thediscussionrevolvedaroundawiderangeoftopics,suchas,visasanddiversityandinclusion.

AMCHAMmemberswithMs.MaryKayCarlson,Chargéd’Affaires,U.S.EmbassyinHyderabad

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KOLKATAReview on the L1 Blanket Visa Procedures with Mr. Peter Theis, U.S. Consular Officer

On 14th March 2017, the Consular Section of the U.S.Consulate,hostedareviewofL1blanketvisaproceduresat the American Center in Kolkata. Members ofAMCHAM’s Eastern Region were invited to attend thissession.ConsularOfficer,Mr. Peter Theis, visiting fromChennai, briefed the participants on procedures andConsular Chief, Shelly Dittmar, explained the interviewprocess.Theparticipatingmembersweregivenagreaterunderstanding of the personal interview and what thefullprocessentailed.TheeventwasverywellorganizedbytheConsularSectionandtheofficers interactedwithmembers and addressed different issues companiesoftenexperienced.

Panel Discussion on Breaking the Glass Ceiling with Chief Guest, Ms. Usha Uthap, in honor of International Women’s Day

On 15th March 2017, AMCHAM’s Eastern Region, inassociation with Hyatt Regency Kolkata, organizedachat session formembersandguests tocelebrateWomen’s Day. The event was graced by eminentpersonalities from all walks of life who shared theirexperienceintheirjourneytosuccessthroughapaneldiscussion. The event was themed “Breaking theGlassCeiling.”Ms.AmadaKidwai,RegionalDirector

– Eastern Region, AMCHAM opened the session bywelcomingtheaudienceandpanellistsandmentionedthat InternationalWomen’sDay 2017was celebratedon 8thMarch with the slogan “Be Bold for Change”andcalledforamoregenderinclusiveworld.Shesaidthat each one of us can be a leader within our ownspheresof influenceby takingboldpragmaticactiontoaccelerategenderparity.

(L-R)Ms.UshaUthup,PadmaShreerecipient2011,SisterCyril,PadmaShreerecipient2007,Ms.OndrillaDutt,CEO,OpenDoors,Mr.K.P.Sengupta,Chairman-EasternRegion,AMCHAM,Ms.BrigitHolms,GeneralManagerHyatt,Ms.LoveyBurman,CEO,KookieJar,Dr.MitulSengupta,jazz,tapandKathakdancerandMs.AmadaKidwai,RegionalDirector-ER,AMCHAM

Mr.PeterTheis,U.S.ConsularOfficer,reviewingL1blanketvisaproceduresinKolkata

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Mr.K.P.Sengupta,Chairman–EasternRegion,AMCHAM,in his opening address said, “Although we haveprogressedmuchintermsofwomen’srightsfromwhatitusedtobeearlier,muchremainstobecovered.Incities,womenandmenworktogether,shouldertoshoulderbutthatisathinuppercrustwhenweconsiderthesituationonanallIndialevelwherethereisstillinfanticideofthegirlchild,amostheinouscrimethatgoesoninthenorthofIndia,inparticular.Thus,theawarenessforwomen’srightneedstobespreadinthedistrictsandvillagesofIndia.”Mr.Senguptasaid thatwomenshouldnotbeaheadofus,norbehindusbutwithus.

Ms.BrigitHolms,GeneralManager,HyattRegency, inher welcome address spoke about her journey in theprofessionalworldofthehotelindustry.ThebatonwaspassedontomoderatorMs.OndrillaDutt,CEO,OpenDoors. The panellists were Ms. Brigit Holm, GeneralManagerHyattRegencyKolkata,Ms.UshaUthup,ChiefGuest, Singer/Performer, and recipient of the PadmaShreeAwardin2011andSisterCyril,aninternationally

recognized educational innovator and recipient ofthe Padma Shri in 2007. Sister Cyril also started theRainbow School where underprivileged children andstreetchildrenaregivenfreeeducation.Theremainingpanellists included Ms. Shyamashree Sen, DistrictGovernorRotaryClubofCalcuttaMetroCity,Ms.LoveyKapur,baker,chefandentrepreneurofKookieJar, thebestbakery in thecityandDr.MitulSengupta,a jazz,tapandkathadancer,alsoknownforhercontributioninthefieldofmovementtherapyinKolkatahavingworkedwith autism formore than 10 years to find the impactof movement in healing the problem areas related toautism.

The interactive session was both lively and thoughtprovokingwherepanellists interactedwith theaudiencefor a very interestingdialogue/discussion session. Ms.Usha Uthup and Ms. Mitul Sengupta enthralled theaudiencewiththeirsinginganddancing.ThesessionwasconcludedwithMs.SusmitaMalik,ExecutiveCommitteemembergivingthevoteofthanks.

DancerDr.MitulSenguptaperformingataneventhonoringInternationalWomen'sDayinKolkata

Meeting with Dr. Amit Mitra, Minister for Departments of Finance and Industry, Commerce and Enterprises, Government of West Bengal

On 22nd March 2017, AMCHAM’s National ExecutiveBoard, led by Pratyush Kumar, Chairman, AMCHAM,hadaclosed-doormeetingwithDr.AmitMitra,Ministerfor Departments of Finance and Industry, CommerceandEnterprises,GovernmentofWestBengalinKolkata.

Mr.RajivaSinhaIAS,AdditionalChiefSecretary,Departmentof Industry, Commerce and Enterprises, GoWB andMr.SurendraGuptaIAS,ManagingDirector,WBIDCwerealso present. The AMCHAM delegation also includedMr. George Sibley, Minister Counselor for Economic

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Affairs and Environment, Science and Technology andActingDeputyChief ofMission,U.S.EmbassyandMr.Craig Hall, Consul General, U.S. Consulate, Kolkata,alongwithmembersofAMCHAM’ssecretariat.

TheMinisterspokeabout investmentopportunities inthe state, he discussed the different verticals wherethe state would like to have further investments inpartnership with U.S. companies. He said that thegovernment was very keen to work with a businessbodylikeAMCHAMandappreciatedtheworkthatwas

beingdoneby thechamber.U.S.companiespresentwho had concerns/problems/suggestions or werelookingatexpanding their footprint in thestateweregivenahearingandDr.Mitraaddressedsomeoftheirqueries.HerequestedcompaniessendtheirconcernsofficiallytotheAdditionalChiefSecretarythroughtheAMCHAMSecretariattoenablegettingissuesresolvedina timelymanner.Healsosaid thathewas lookingforwardtohavingAMCHMleadaglobaldelegationforthenextWestBengalGlobal summit salted for 17-18January,2018.

AMCHAM'sNationalExecutiveBoard,andothermembers,duringaninteractionwithDr.AmitMitra,MinisterforDepartmentsofFinanceandIndustry,CommerceandEnterprises,GovernmentofWestBengal

(L-R)Mr.RajivaSinhaIAS,AdditionalChiefSecretary,DepartmentofIndustry,CommerceandEnterprises,GoWB,Dr.AmitMitra,MinisterforDepartmentsofFinanceandIndustry,CommerceandEnterprises,GoWBandMr.PratyushKumar,Chairman,AMCHAM

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Networking Reception Dinner

The U.S. Consul General to Kolkata, Mr. Craig Hall,hosted a networking dinner reception for members ofthe AMCHAM National Executive Board (NEB) whowere in Kolkata for the board meeting, members ofAMCHAM’s Eastern Region and representatives ofAmerican companies, not yet members of AMCHAM.ThisgaveAMCHAMmemberstheopportunitytointeractandhighlighttheadvantagesofbeingamember.Italsogave theNEBmembers theopportunity to interactwithAMCHAMERmembersinaninformalgathering.

Mr. George Sibley, Minister Counselor for EconomicAffairs and Environment, Science and Technology andActing Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy, andConsulGeneralCraigHall,intheiraddresstotheguests,spokeabout thehistoryof theConsulate inKolkata, its

support to the American business community and theadvantagesofbeingpartofAMCHAM’sEasternRegion,aswellastheimportanceofworkingtogetherasateamtoenhanceU.S.business interests in India.TheybrieflytoucheduponthemeetingwithDr.Mitra,Hon’bleMinisterfor Department of Finance, Industries, Commerce &Enterprises,GovernmentofWestBengal.

This was followed by remarks by Mr. Pratyush Kumar,Chairman, AMCHAM, Mr. K.P. Sengupta, Chairman –Eastern Region, AMCHAM, and Mr. Gulshan Sachdev,ViceChairman,AMCHAM.Thevoteofthankswasgivenby Mr. Debdas Sen, Vice Chairman – Eastern Region,AMCHAM.Thesocialambienceforthissessionwasveryhelpful as this enabledmembers andnon-members tointeractandhighlighttheirpresenceinthestate.

Eastern Region Executive Committee Meeting

On 3rd April 2017, the AMCHAM ER held their ECmeeting at the Data Core Systems office. Mr. K.P.Sengupta, Chairman ER, updated members presenton the NEB meeting held on March 22, 2017. HeinformedtheECthathehadrequestedforclarificationon points related to the process of election for ECmembership from the Delhi Secretariat and from

Mr. Dua of Dua Associates. Forthcoming eventswerediscussedanda reviewof theevents/meetingsheld in 2016–17 was done. The review highlightedthat though the ER had a small membership base20 events were held apart from various meetingswith the GoWB. The members present thankedMr.Senguptaforhisleadershipduringthe2016.

NEBmemberswithConsulGeneralCraigHallinKolkata

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Presentation by U.S. Consular Section Chief, Shelly Dittmar, on Business and Work Visas

On 19th April 2017, Ms. Shelly Dittmer, ConsularSection Chief, U.S. Consulate Kolkata, and Ms.Shoshauna Clark, Visa Chief/Non-Immigrant Visas,hadaninteractivesessionwithmembersofAMCHAM’sEasternRegionon the recent trends in theU.S. visaprocessingsystem.Theyexplainedthedifferenttypesofvisasthatwereissueddailyandtheimportanceoftheapplicantsmatchingthefit.Thisinteractivesession

helpedmembercompaniesunderstandtheprocessingsystem and gave them the opportunity to interact atthe networking session on issues pertaining to theirorganizations.Mr.K.P.Sengupta,Chairman–EasternRegion, AMCHAM, gave the opening remarks andintroduced themembers to theConsulate team.Ms.Amada Kidwai, Regional Director – Eastern Region,AMCHAM,gavethevoteofthanks.

Meeting with Mr. Surendra Gupta, IAS Managing Director, West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation

Mr.SurendraGupta,IASManagingDirector,WestBengalIndustrial Development Corporation invited industryheadsandchamberheadstoapreparatorymeetingonBGBS 2018. The meeting was attended by AdditionalChiefSecretaryandPrincipalSecretaryCommerceandIndustry,Mr.RajivSinha,whoalsochairedthemeeting.

The meeting was to discuss and evolve a stakeholderpartnership for investmentopportunites inWestBengal.AMACHMERwas represented byMr. Dinesh Agarwal,immediatePastPresidentofAMCHAMER;Mr.JoydeepDatta Gupta, EC member and Ms. Amada KidwaiRegionalDirector,AMCHAMER.

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BANGALORE

A high-level U.S. Congressional delegation visitingBangalore met up with the top management of U.S.companies at an exclusive breakfast meeting on 23rdFebruary.ThisimportantgroupofU.S.lawmakerswasledbytheChairmanoftheU.S.HouseJudiciaryCommittee,Representative Bob Goodlatte. The other members ofCongress present at the meeting were: Rep. GeorgeHolding,Rep.JasonSmith,Rep.DaveTrott,Rep.SheilaJacksonLee,Rep.HankJohnson,Rep.DavidCicilline,andRep.HenryCuellar.

The Chairman of AMCHAM’s Karnataka Chapter andCorporate VP & MD, Synopsys South Asia, Dr. PradipDutta, led the proceedings. He welcomed the visitingdelegation and gave a brief on the Karnataka Chapterand the business climate in India. ChairmanGoodlattethenaddressedtheparticipantsandespeciallytouchedon theH1B issue explaining that theU.S.would like tostrikedealswithIndiathatareintheinterestofboththenations, but there was a need to reassess Indo-U.S.policiestocreatejobsforAmericans.

Mr. Sanjay Koul, Chairman and Managing Director

Breakfast Meeting with U.S. Congressional Delegation led by Representative Bob Goodlatte, Chairman, U.S. House Judiciary Committee

of Timken India, and a member of the KarnatakaChapterExecutiveCommittee,AMCHAM,spokeon themanufacturing sector in India especially the prevalentlabor laws. Ms. Debrati Sen, Managing Director, 3MIndiaand3MSriLanka,touchedonIPRissuesandMr.SanthoshKumar,ManagingDirector,TexasInstruments,spokeonhowtheITsectorhadevolvedinIndia,especiallyinBangalore.

Among the eminent corporate heads at themeetingwere Bala Bharadvaj, Managing Director, BoeingIndiaEngineering&TechnologyCenter;NareshShah,President,Hewlett Packard IndiaSoftwareOperationPvt. Ltd.; Nyron Latif, COO, Goldman Sachs India;AtulUjagar,ManagingDirector,NikeSourcing;AnandDatta, President, Dover India; Yogen Karumbaya,Site Head – Bangalore, Thomson Reuters; andMohan Sekhar, SeniorManagingDirector, AccentureServices.

ThemeetingclosedwithavoteofthanksfromMr.IqbalSait,HeadofAsiaOperations,Saggezza Inc.andViceChairman–KarnatakaChapter,AMCHAM.

Members of AMCHAM Karnataka Chapter with a U.S. Congressional delegation led by the Chairman of the U.S. House JudiciaryCommittee,RepresentativeBobGoodlatte

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Visa Session with U.S. Consulate

On 14th April 2017, an important visa session wasconductedbyConsularOfficerMs.NuritEinik,fromtheU.S.Consulate,Chennai at the J.W.Marriott. Heads of

Session on U.S. Immigration: Understanding Impact for India Outbound in association with Deloitte

AMCHAM, in association with Deloitte, held a half-day seminar on “U.S. Immigration: Understandingthe Impact for India Outbound” on 6th March 2017,at the Leela Palace in Bangalore. A presentation onimmigration fundamentals, U.S. immigration overviewand potential changes was made by Joel Guberman,Chair and Founding Partner, Guberman Garson LLP,an independent global immigration law firm allied withDeloitteLLPinCanada.

There was a panel discussion on “Is the IndianTechnology and Services IndustryGeared for the NewChallenges Ahead?” The panellists were Mr. AnujSarin, Group Head Global Immigration Management

Services, Wipro Limited, Phanindra Kuruganty, Head –Global Compensation & Compliance, Tech Mahindra,Nandakumar Kirupanandam, Director – InternationalAssignment Services, CapGemini, and Divya Baweja,Partner,DeloitteIndia.

This was followed by an animated Q&A session.Alok Agrawal, Senior Director, Deloitte India, made apresentationonIndiainboundimmigration.Theseminarwas attended by over 100 professionals in the globalmobility and immigration space from the top U.S.companiesinBangalore.

(L-R)U.S.RepresentativeSheliaJacksonLee,Dr.PradipDutta,Chairman-KarnatakaChapter,AMCHAMandCorporateVP&MD,Synopsys(India)andU.S.RepresentativeBobGoodlatte,Chairman,U.S.HouseJudiciaryCommittee

immigration/HRattendedthesession.ThereweremanyquestionsraisedontheH1–BissuesandotherchallengesfacedbytheU.S.companies.

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CHENNAI

On 23rd February a breakfast meeting on the easeof doing business in Tamil Naduwas held in Chennai.TheguestspeakerwasMr.VikramKapur IAS,PrincipalSecretarytoGovernment,IndustriesDepartment.

Mr.Ramkumar,Chairman-TamilNaduChapter,AMCHAM,welcomedmembersandsetthetoneforthemeetingbystatingthat traditionally,TamilNaduhasalwaysbeenintheforefrontofindustrializationwithastrongpresenceinthemanufacturingofengineeringandautocomponents,textiles, leather,sugaretc.TamilNadu isonestatewitha strong agricultural base and has transitioned fromagriculturetomanufacturingandnowtoITandservices.

Mr.VikramKapurbeganhisaddressbystatingthatpeoplein theaudienceare responsible for the IndiaandTamilNadugrowthstory.Hewentontosaythatduringthepostliberalizationperiodsince1991,theprivatesectorbegantotakeovertheleadintheindustrialdevelopmentofthecountry.StatesstartedtakingtheinitiativeinthenewandcompetitiveenvironmentandTamilNaduwasoneoftheearliesttoseizetheopportunitybyplayingasupportiveroleandannounceditsindustrialpolicyin1992itself.Thispolicybecame thecornerstoneand laid the foundationfor the rapidgrowthofnew industries in thestate.Thispolicybecametheharbingerofgrowththatfacilitatedtheelectronics and automobile industry revolution in TamilNadubyattractingmajorprojectsfromIndustrialgiants.Majorprojectstriggeredamultipliereffectbyattractingalargenumberofautoandotherancillaryindustries.

Mr. Kapur went on to mention that the policy of thegovernment has been to maximize the welfare of thepeople of Tamil Nadu by creating gainful employmentopportunities by achieving higher and sustainableeconomic growth with emphasis on balanced regionaldevelopmentthroughgreaterprivateandpublicinvestmentin manufacturing and infrastructure development. Hesaidthatthetelecomstoryisevidenceofhowtheprivatesector can change the face of the communicationindustrywhereover80%ofthepopulationhasamobileconnection.Thisisanexampleofthegovernmentgivingspace to the private sector and the private sector took

the challenge. Thegovernment, in its avowedpolicy tomake the ease of doing business, is working towardsunshacklingthefettersoftheprivatesector.

Mr. Kapur said that Tamil Nadu set standards inmanysectors such as a remarkable industrial growth story;public health which boasts of a fascinating story withuniversalcoverage;pioneersineducationwiththe‘aidedschools’conceptandthestatehasbeenthefirsttoopenup the education sector to private investment; socialupliftmentreformsandthenoonmealschemeforschoolstudentswhichhasbeenadoptedbymanystates; freepower to farmers bringing in growth in the agri sectordespitethestatebeingperenniallydroughtprone.

On the governance front,Mr. Kapur said that the stateis themost urbanizedwith over 50% of the populationlivingintownsandcities.Thestatehasawell-functioningbureaucracy supporting the political executive and adisciplined citizenry. The state has a growth of 9.0 to9.25%whichis2%morethanthenationalaverage,withthe state GDP being second only to Maharashtra. Onthe industrialoutput thestate is the3rd largestwith thelargestnumberoffactories,largestnumberofSME’sanda20millionworkforce.Headdedthatontheexportfrontthestatewas the3rd largestand for theperiod2011–2016thestatereceivedthe3rdhighestFDIinflow.

ThepoliticalandsocialcultureinthestateisreflectedinthefaiththatbusinesshasreposedinTamilNaduwhichboastsofthefinestinfrastructureandhavinganextensiveroadnetwork;railnetwork;4majorportsandmanyminorportsand4internationalairports.Thestatehasovercomeitspowershortagesandtodayisself-sufficientinpowerwithnomajorloadsheddingacrossthestate.

Theadvantagesofthestateisinitsurbanizationwhichisacriticalengineforgrowth;largepooloftrainedmanpowerwithonemilliongraduatesyearly;theengineeringcollegesin thestateproduceover2.5 lakhengineerseveryyearand an equal number of engineering diploma holdersand tradesmen from the Industrial training Institutes.‘IndiaToday’ rankedTamilNaduas thenumber1state

Breakfast Meeting on Policy Initiatives by the Tamil Nadu Government to Promote Industrial Development

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in termsofshowing themost improvement in itssocio-economicinfrastructure.

Mr.Kapurattributed to thepoorshowing in theEODBrankings from 12th in 2015 to 18th place in 2016 dueto the increase in thenumberof parameters from240to600.Hesaidthattherankingmatrixneedsaseriousre-look.

On the e-governance front, Mr. Kapur stated that thepublicandbusinessesinterfacewith10or12governmentdepartments,allofthemareinafairlyadvancedstateofcomputerization.

Tomakelifeeasierforbusinesses,someoftheoutcomesare the ‘singlewindow clearance’ through the TN stateGuidanceBureauwhichgrantsan in-principleapprovalafter30daysofsubmittingthecompleteproposal.Someof the challenges are in the CRZ clearance which isextremely strict; TNPCBwhich has strict normsandanonline filing system; land clearanceswhichmany timesgetheldupinlitigation.TheTNgovernment,throughitsagencies like SIPCOT and TIDCO, have a large readilyavailablelandbanktocatertoindustry.

Mr.Kapursaid that theNCAERgives thestateabetterrankingwhencompared to theDIPP ratingwhichdoesnotfactorinindustryfeedback.

Toimprovetheinfrastructurethestatehasembarkedonaplantoinvestinlogisticssupportbydevelopingroads,railnetworks,ports,powergenerationanddistributionasoutlinedintheVisionDocument2023.

Mr.KapurinvitedAmericanbusinessestoinvestinTamilNadu by stating that there are numerous opportunitiesfor work in ‘smart cities,’ the aeronautical hub andmanufacturing.IntherecentlyheldGlobalInvestorMeet2015,atotalof98MOU’sweresignedwithaninvestmentof242 lakhcrore rupeesoveraperiodof3 to7 years.Ofthis,62projectshavebeenimplementedand7havealreadystartedcommercialproduction.

He concluded by thanking the American companiesfor kick starting the industrial development in the statemakingareferencetoFordMotorCompanywhichsetupamanufacturingplantinMaraiMalaiNagarnearChennai.

Thispresentationwasfollowedbyaninteractivesession,afterwhich,themeetingconcluded.

Meeting with Mr. Joseph M. Pomper, Minister Counselor for Consular Affairs, U.S. Embassy, New Delhi

On 8th March 2017, a select group of six AMCHAMmembers led by the Tamil Nadu Chapter Chairman,R. Ramkumar, met with Mr. Joseph Pomper, MinisterCounselorforConsularAffairs,U.S.EmbassyMr.CharlesLouma D’Overstreet, Chief of Consular Services andViceConsulNathanLeonardat theTajCoromandel, toexchangenotesontherecentdevelopmentsontheU.S.visasituation.

Mr.PompergaveanoverviewofthecurrentdevelopmentsonU.S.immigrationandclearlymentionedthatitisonlytheCongresswhichcanmakelawsoreffectanychangesinthecurrentimmigrationpolicyoftheU.S.government.He added that consular work is bipartisan and as theexecutive they would have to implement the law. HefurtherstatedthatitwouldnotbepropertocommentonthebillsinCongressrelatedtotheH1Bvisaregime.

Mr. Pomper said that 27 out of the 60 additional visaofficers are already at work, but due to the freeze on

federalhiring itmay takeawhile toaugmentpositions.HisadvicetoalltravelerstotheU.S.istoapplyforaUSvisanow,iftheydonotalreadyhaveone.Thecurrentwaitperiodis15daysandthiscouldincreaseinthecomingmonths. He also said that the U.S. has over 165,000studentsfromIndiacurrentlystudyingintheU.S.andthisnumberisthesecondhighestafterChina.

On the H1B visa, Mr. Pomper said that any changeis subject to legislation and it would be risky for thosewhosevisahasexpiredtoremainintheU.S.ItisbesttoreturntoIndiaandgetafreshstampandtheprocessisnotretroactive.Mr.Pomperalsomentionedthatthefocusof any change is onnumbers andmarket forces, suchassalarylevels.ApersonholdingadegreefromaU.S.universityhasabetterchanceofemploymentintheU.S.andthattheU.S.isstillapreferreddestinationforhighereducation.

In response, AMCHAM members stated that their

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companieswouldcomplywiththelawsinforceandthatthepresentdevelopmentshavecreatedagreatdealofanxietyamongstthoseIndianslivingintheU.S.onanon-immigrantvisastatus.

Mr.PomperrequestedAMCHAMtosendamessagetoall employees and families that there is no need to beoverly concerned and sought AMCHAM assistance toallayfearsoftheIndianslivingthere.

Accordingly,AMCHAMhaspublishedthefollowingVISAUPDATEinthedailynewsalertwhichiscirculatedtoallmembers:

U.S. Visa Update

AsadvisedbytheConsularSectionoftheU.S.Embassy,allbusinesstravelers,touristsandstudentsarerequestedto apply for their Non-Immigrant U.S. Visa as early aspossible.Thecurrentwaittimeisaround15daysandisexpectedtobelongerasthebusyseasonbegins.

Changes, ifany, intheH1Bimmigrantvisa issubjecttolegislation. There is no need for anxiety on this score.Current holders of the H1B visa employed in the USAwhosevisavalidity isnearingexpiryorhasexpiredareadvisedthatitisbesttoreturntoIndiaandrenewthevisa,whichwillbeprocessedunder thecurrent rules. Itmaynotbepossibletopredictwhatchangeswillbemade,ifandwhen,thebillscurrently inCongressaremadeintolaw.StayingbackintheUSAwithavisathathasexpiredisrisky.

TheU.S.continuestobethemostpreferreddestinationfor Indianstudentswhowish to studyPGanddoctoralprograms.IntherecentpastseveralIndianstudentshavesecured admission for UG courses too. Students arewelcometoplanfortheirhigherstudiesintheUSA,whichhasmany reputed institutionsofferingawidechoiceofcourse of study. Students who have higher educationcertificationfromaU.S.universitystandabetterchanceofemploymentintheU.S.A.

Tamil Nadu Chapter Executive Committee Meeting

On11thMarch2017,ameetingoftheTamilNaduChapterExecutiveCommitteewasheldattheMadrasClub,undertheleadershipofMr.R.RamkumarastheChairman.Mr.RajanAiyer, thenewlyelectedViceChairmanwasalsopresent.

Thediscussionmainlyfocusedontheforthcomingeventsthat could be organized in Chennai. Members presentagreedthatdisruptivetechnologies,artificialintelligence,automation etc. are some of the recent developmentswhich will alter the way we do our work. The followingthemeshavebeensuggested:

• Whatdowedowhenmachinesdoeverything?

• AlgorithmicCEO’s

• Energy neutral offices and manufacturing plants –smartcorporateoffices

• Temporaryemployment

MembersalsodiscussedtheissueofcybersecurityanddecidedthatAMCHAMTamilNaducanorganizeaneventontopic.Thechoiceofspeakersistobedecided.

Breakfast Meeting: Smart Business Infrastructure – Authorised Economic Operator, Customs & Central Excise

On 20th April 2017 AMCHAM’s breakfast meeting on‘Smart Business Infrastructure – Authorised EconomicOperator,Customs&CentralExcise’washeldatHotelWestin Velachery in Chennai. Mr. Aubrey Daniels,Regional Director – Tamil Nadu Chapter, AMCHAMchaired the meeting. The guest speakers wereMr.SantoshDalvi,Partner–KPMG,Mr.SunilKumarSinhaIRS,CommissionerofCustoms&AEOProgramManagerandDr.AnchitaPandohIRS,AssistantCommissionerof

Customs, AEO Program. The event was facilitated andsponsoredbyKPMG.

Thetonefor themeetingwassetbyMr.SantoshDalviandMGRamachandranofKPMGwhomentionedthattheGovernmentof Indiawasverykeentoscaleuponthe World Bank’s ‘ease of doing business’ rankingsandtofacilitateglobaltradethroughthe‘MakeinIndia”initiative.

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Customs Commissioner, Mr. Sunil Kumar Sinha, madea presentation on the Authorised Economic OperatorProgram, an initiative rolled out by theWorld CustomsOrganisationwithover150membercountriespresently.The U.S. has been promoting the C-TPAT for a longtime, which is one layer in U.S. Customs and BorderProtection’s (CBP) multi-layered cargo enforcementstrategy.Throughthisprogram,CBPworkswiththetradecommunity to strengthen international supply chainsand improve United States border security. C-TPAT isa voluntary public-private sector partnership programwhichrecognizesthatCBPcanprovidethehighestlevelof cargo security only through close cooperation withthe principle stakeholders of the international supplychainsuchasimporters,carriers,consolidators,licensedcustomsbrokers,andmanufacturers.

Commissioner Sinha said customs organizations allover the world are tasked with the twin challenges ofsecuringthebordersfromunlawfultradeandatthesametime facilitating the legitimate trade. Trade security andfacilitationisoneofthekeydeterminantsfortheeconomicdevelopment of the countries. Customs, being thegovernment organization that controls and administersthe international movement of goods, is in a uniquepositiontoprovideincreasedsecuritytotheglobalsupplychainandtocontributetosocio-economicdevelopmentthroughrevenuecollectionandtradefacilitation.

Withaviewtosecuretheinternationalsupplychain,theWorldCustomsOrganizationhadinJune2005adoptedthe SAFE Framework of Standards to secure andfacilitateglobaltrade.Sincethen,thisuniqueinternational

instrumenthasusheredinmodernsupplychainsecuritystandardswiththehelpofacloserpartnershipbetweencustoms and business in the form of the AuthorizedEconomicOperator(AEO)Program.

The AEO program seeks to provide tangible benefitsin the formof fastercustomsclearancesandsimplifiedcustomsprocedurestothosebusinessentitieswhoofferahighdegreeofsecurityguarantees in respectof theirroleinthesupplychain.AnentitywithanAEOstatusisconsidereda‘secure’traderandareliabletradingpartner.There are three tier AEO programs for importers andexporters (AEO-T1, AEO-T2, and AEO-T3). Accordingly,theAEOProgramManagermay,followinganapplicationbyaneconomicoperator,issuethefollowingAuthorizedEconomic Operator Certification subject to scrutiny ofdocuments for the T1 and onsite verification for the T2Certification.Logisticsproviders,custodiansor terminaloperators, customs brokers and warehouse operatorsshallbeprovidedwithanAEO–LOcertification,subjecttoscrutinyofdocumentsandon-sitephysicalverification.

TheAEOcertificationhasmanybenefitsfortheimporter/exporter, who can take his consignment directly fromthe port of entry to his facility for all imports and thefactory sealed container can be directly loaded on toa vessel.Customsdutycanbepaid twiceamonth forall transactions fromthe1st to the15thand16th to theendofthemonth.TheAEOprogramreducestransactioncostsand improvesspeedof theentire transaction inatransparentmanner.EachcustomsofficehasacustomerrelationshipmanagerwhowillprovideimmediatesolutionsforallAEOcertifiedoperators.BreakfastMeetingon

(L-R)Mr.SantoshDalvi,Partner,KPMG,Mr.SunilKumarSinhaIRS,CommissionerofCustomsandDr.AnchitaPandohIRS,AssistantCommissionerofCustomsspeakingontheAuthorisedEconomicOperatorPrograminChennai

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Smart Infrastructure – Smart Corporate Offices and Energy Neutral Buildings

On 30th March 2017, AMCHAM’s Tamil Nadu Chapterorganized a breakfast meeting on energy neutralbuildings and smart corporate offices at Hotel WestinVelacheryinChennai.ThemeetingwaschairedbyMr.R.RamkumarwithguestspeakersDr.Prof.BennyRaphael,IIT–MadrasandDr.ChidambaranathanVelan,CEO,TataRealtyInfrastructureLimitedandmoderatedbyMr.RaviBhattaram,Director-Engineering,CBRESouthAsiaPvt.Ltd.Bothguestspeakersmadepresentationsonthegiventopic.Thefollowingisasummaryofthepresentation:

Amid growing concerns about rising energy prices,energyindependence,andtheimpactofclimatechange,statistics show buildings to be the primary energyconsumer. This fact underscores the importance oftargetingbuildingenergyuseasakeytodecreasingthenation’s energy consumption. The building sector cansignificantlyreduceenergyusebyincorporatingenergy-efficient strategies into the design, construction, andoperation of new buildings and undertaking retrofits toimprovetheefficiencyofexistingbuildings.Itcanfurtherreduce dependence on fossil fuel derived energy byincreasinguseofon-siteandoff-site renewableenergysources.

The concept of a net zero energy building, one whichproducesasmuchenergyasitusesoverthecourseofa

year,recentlyhasbeenevolvingfromresearchtoreality.Currently,thereareonlyasmallnumberofhighlyefficientbuildings thatmeet the criteria to be called “net zero.”As a result of advances in construction technologies,renewable energy systems, and academic research,creatingnetzeroenergybuildingsisbecomingmoreandmore feasible.While theexactdefinitionsofmetrics for“netzeroenergy”vary,mostagreethatnetzeroenergybuildingscombine:

• Exemplary building design to minimize energyrequirements

• Renewableenergysystemsthatmeetthesereducedenergyneeds

Bothspeakersemphasizedthatregardlessofthedefinitionormetricusedforanetzeroenergybuilding,minimizingtheenergyusedthroughefficientbuildingdesignshouldbeafundamentaldesigncriterionandthehighestpriorityofallnetzeroenergybuildingprojects.Energyefficiencyis generally the most cost-effective strategy with thehighestreturnon investment,andmaximizingefficiencyopportunitiesbeforedevelopingrenewableenergyplanswillminimize thecostof the renewableenergyprojectsneeded.Usingadvancedenergyanalysis tools,designteamscanoptimizeefficientdesignsandtechnologies.

Mr.R.Ramkumar,Chairman-TamilNaduChapter,AMCHAM,settingthetoneforthebreakfastmeetingon“SmartBusinessInfrastructure–EnergyNeutralBuildings&SmartCorporateOffices"

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Energy efficiency measures include design strategiesand features that reduce the demand-side loads suchas high-performance envelopes, air barrier systems,daylighting, sun control and shading devices, carefulselectionofwindowsandglazing,passivesolarheating,naturalventilation,andwaterconservation.Oncebuildingloadsarereduced,theloadsshouldbemetwithefficientequipmentandsystems.Thismayincludeenergyefficientlighting, electric lighting controls, high-performanceHVAC,andgeothermalheatpumps.Energyconversiondevices such as combined heat and power systems,fuelcells,andmicroturbinesdonotgeneraterenewableenergy. Instead, they convert fossils fuel energy into

heat and electricity and are can be considered energyefficiencystrategies.

In summation, it was stated that the largest energyreductions can be achieved through design, includingon-siterenewableenergysystems,buildingmaintenancesoftware systems and energymanagement systems. Apeer reviewof thedesign fornewprojects isadvisable.ThepaybackonCAPEX isabout12–15months if theright installationsaredone intheprojectstate.Forretrofittedbuildings,paybackwouldbe2-3years.Abuildingisconsidereda‘smartbuilding’whenallitsequipmentisonthe‘hi-performancemode.’

(L-R)Dr.BennyRaphael,ProfessoratIITMadras,Mr.RaviBhattaram,Director,CBREandDr.C.Velan,CEO,TataRealty

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Corporate Members

Additional Members

AMCHAM Welcomes New Members

Mr. P. KaniappanManaging Director

WABCO India Limited

Mr. Snehil GambhirManaging Director, Vice PresidentJ C Penney Services India Pvt. Ltd.

Mr. Abhishek VatsDirector

Bank of America

Mr. Amarjeet SinghPartner

KPMG in India

Mr. Rohit GambhirManaging DirectorESAB India Limited

Mr. Rakesh TripathiManaging Director

MWV India Paperboard Packaging Pvt. Ltd.

Mr. Ranvijay LambaCountry Head, India

Arcesium India Pvt. Ltd.

Mr. Nitin AtroleyPartner & Head – Sales and Markets

KPMG in India

Mr. Amardeep DevadasonSr. Vice President

RR Donnelley India Outsource Pvt. Ltd.

Mr. Nihaj G. MohammedConsultant

American Heart Association

Mr. Chris RaoVice President & Country Head

UTC Aerospace Systems

Mr. Vikas VasalPartner

Grant Thornton India LLP

Ms. Neelam MakhijaniCEO

ChildFund India

Mr. Rakesh SinghVice President & General Manager

Citrix

Mr. Jaijit BhattacharyaPartner

KPMG in India

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National Secretariat

Ms. Shailja KaushalProject Director - ECP

Email : ecp@amchamindia.com

Mr. Debasish Roy Program Director

Email : debasish.roy@amchamindia.com

Ms. Mamta UppalMembership & Events Manager

Email : mamta.uppal@amchamindia.com

Mr. Aubrey DanielsRegional Director - Tamil Nadu Region

Email : aubrey@amchamindia.com

Ms. Ines MirandaRegional Director - Karnataka Chapter

Email : amchambangalore@amchamindia.com

Ms. Valerie SwopeProgram Coordinator

Email : valerie@amchamindia.com

Ms. Udaya ArunDirector - Aerospace & Defense

Email : udaya@amchamindia.com

Ms. Madhvi KatariaDeputy Director General

Email : madhvi.kataria@amchamindia.com

Ms. Ranjana KhannaDirector General, CEO

Email : ranjana.khanna@amchamindia.com

Ms. Amada KidwaiRegional Director - Eastern RegionEmail : amada@amchamindia.com

Mr. Yeshi DorjeeManager - Administration & PublicationsEmail : yeshi.dorjee@amchamindia.com

Mr. L.N. AgarwalSenior Manager & OSD

Email : laxmi@amchamindia.com

Ms. Tanya PaulCommunication Director

Email : tanya@amchamindia.com

Mr. Gaurav MendirattaDirector - Medical Devices

Email : gaurav@amchamindia.com

AMCHAM Team

Ms. Surabhi WahalRegional Director - Western RegionEmail : mumbai@amchamindia.com

Ms. Ruth Sandya RodriguesRegional Director - Hyderabad Chapter

Email : sandya@amchamindia.com

Established in 1992, the American Chamber of Commerce in India (AMCHAM India) is an association of American business organizations operating in the country.

AMCHAM India has around 500 members, spread across the nation. The Chamber enjoys a close relationship with the U.S. Embassy, which supports its objectives and helps in fulfilling them. The incumbent U.S. Ambassador to India is the Honorary President of AMCHAM.

MissionAMCHAM’s principal objectives are to:

• Promote activities that encourage and stimulate investment by U.S. companies in the country.

• Support the business operations of its members.

• Encourage bilateral trade between India and the U.S.

These primary objectives are fulfilled by:

• Providing a forum for U.S. – based business organizations to discuss and identify common issues, economic and commercial interests in India and /or the U.S.

• Instituting Sectoral Committees which implement the primary objectives in their respective sectors.

• Reviewing policies and procedures in various sectors that affect the members as well as growth of foreign direct investment.

AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN INDIA Affiliations

AMCHAM is affiliated to the following Chambers :

• Chamber of Commerce of U.S.A in Washington, D.C.

• Asia Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce (APCAC)

• AMCHAM’s in other countries.

Regional Chapters

AMCHAM’s National Secretariat is based in New Delhi with six Regional Chapters in Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai.

Published by: American Chamber of Commerce in India, Printed at Multiplexus (India), C-440, Narela Industrial Park, DSIIDC, Narela, Delhi - 110040

Editor: Tanya Paul, tanya@amchamindia.com

Regional Secretariat