The Hindu Business Line : India Calling 2005 to focus on ties with Gulf countries

The objective of the conference is to project India as a country of varied opportunities and to explore areas for boosting bilateral trade and economic relations.

BRIDGING THE GULF: (From left) Mr Nayan Patel, Vice-President, IMC, Mr Prashant Gulati, Honorary Secretary, IBPC, Dubai, and Mr Rajesh Kapadia, President, IMC, at a press conference in Mumbai.

Mumbai , Nov. 20

THE dynamics of Indo-Gulf bilateral relations is changing. The Gulf is no longer just a destination for Indian job seekers.

The United Arab Emirates has emerged as a leading trading partner of India. Hundreds of Indian companies are operating from various free trade zones in the Gulf. Investment from UAE to India is also growing.

Recognising this, the Indian Merchants' Chamber (IMC) has chosen Dubai as the venue for its India Calling Summit— 2005.

The theme of the three-day conference is — Towards global leadership through Indo-Gulf partnership.

The objective of the conference is to project India as a country of varied opportunities and to explore the areas for boosting bilateral trade and economic relations between India and UAE. Business honchos including Mr Subhash Chandra of Zee, film director Mr Subhash Ghai, Mr Udayan Bose (Tamara Capitals), Mr Sam Pitroda (World Tel), Mr Ragat Mathur (Wipro) and Mr Sunil Alagh, former boss of Britiannia, will be key speakers at this year's summit to be held from December 9 to 11, jointly with Indian Business and Professional Council, Dubai.

An equal number of delegates, 250, from India and GCC countries (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain) are expected to participate in the conference. Three Union Ministers, Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar, Mr Prithviraj Chavan, and Ms Renuka Chowdhury will also participate along with Mr Vilasrao Desmukh, Chief Minister, Maharashtra, and government secretaries, according to Mr Rajesh Kapadia, President, IMC.

"Sheikh Hamdan, Deputy Ruler of UAE, is the chief patron of the conference," Mr Kapadia told reporters.

Notable speakers from the Gulf countries include Mr Ahmad Khayyat, CEO, EMAAR Industrial Services, Mr Khalid Malik, CEO, Dubai Industrial City, and Mr Michael Proffitt, CEO, Dubai Logistics city.

Subjects to be discussed at the conference include oil and gas, telecommunication and IT, tourism, media and entertainment, shipping, free trade and special economic zones, opportunities for overseas Indians and manufacturing and trading. Two-way trade between India and GCC countries is in excess of $12 billion.

UAE is the second largest trading partner of India after the US representing 70 per cent of India's export to GCC countries "More than 700 Indian companies are already operating from Dubai-based Jebel Ali Free Zone, which is one third of the total companies registered there," said Mr Prashant Gulati, Secretary, Indian Business and Professional Council, Dubai, a partner of IMC for the conference.

First three rounds of India Calling was organised in India while the fourth was organised last year in Singapore.

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