The USINPAC leadership, and delegation, had exclusive and substantive meetings with the political, corporate, and entertainment leadership of India over the past two weeks. In the political spectrum, USINPAC met with the Hon’ble PM, and Ministers for External Affairs, Defense, Home, Communications & IT, Science & Technology, Tourism, Overseas Indian Affairs, Minister of State in PM’s Office, and the Health Secretary. Subsequent to the meetings, USINPAC hosted a press conference at Delhi, attended by top Indian media, and elaborated on its mission and objectives.

Amongst corporate India, USINPAC had substantial meetings with Mukesh Ambani (Chairman, Reliance Industries Ltd.), Deepak Parekh (Chairman, HDFC Bank), Vijay Mallya (Chairman, UB Group), and K Chauker (Managing Director, Tata Industries), while industry associations in Delhi (ASSOCHAM) and Mumbai (Indian Merchants Chamber) hosted panel discussions for the USINPAC delegation. Also, at Mumbai, Mr. Sanjay Puri, Dr. Natwar Gandhi, Dr. Suvas Desai, and Mr. Robinder Sachdev addressed a special panel discussion on “Role of people of Indian origin in promoting India”, and Mr. Puri was a featured speaker at a conference organized by a state government.

Acknowledging the role played by entertainment industries in promoting intercultural understanding, USINPAC hosted a panel discussion and reception at Mumbai in which participants included the top directors and producers of India’s film and entertainment industry – including Yash Chopra, Ramesh Sippy, Manmohan Shetty, Ashutosh Gowarikar, Mukesh Bhutt, Amit Khanna, and CEOs of Mukta Arts, Virgin Records, etc. Miss India-World of last year, Ami Vashi, was part of the USINPAC India team which hosted the event.

USINPAC also had the honor to host Senator Bingaman and Congressman Faleomavaega in Delhi and Mumbai; and held a joint reception with FICCI for Senator Brownback, Congressman Leach and other members of their Congressional delegation in Delhi, attended by the U.S. Ambassador, several members of India’s parliament, top Indian and American corporate officers, and Vinod Khosla, amongst others.

On the last night of the India visit, an invitation for USINPAC to appear on a top rated TV talk show, along with the Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, gave an opportunity to USINPAC to thank India and convey warmest regards to our friends in India. USINPAC is heartened by the overwhelming response from India’s political, corporate and cultural leaderships, and in 2005 it intends to develop upon the significant discussions, and thereby to add value, to American, Indian, and global communities. We look forward to 2006.