September 29, 2023: The Council of EU Chambers of Commerce in India completed its 31st Anniversary and 31st Annual General Meeting on 29th September 2023 at the Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai. The Theme was Trade, Technology and Talent-An Opportunity for Transformational Expansion of EU- India Cooperation.
The event was attended by members, government officials, EU and non-EU diplomats from various countries.
Mr Peeyush Kaushik, President, The Council of EU Chambers of Commerce in India & Business Leader- Global Mobile Surgery and Head of Healthcare Innovation Center, Philips India Ltd. and Dr. Renu Shome, Director, The Council of EU Chambers of Commerce in India welcomed esteemed guests and dignitaries to the event.
Mr Kaushik in his welcome remarks thanked the Chief Guests, Guests of Honour, governing board, members and all other guests present. He also made a special mention of EU delegation’s support, governing board members and all member of the Chambers and secretariat led by Dr Renu Shome. He said the theme of today is of paramount importance – “Trade, Technology, and Talent: An Opportunity for Transformational Expansion of EU-India cooperation. This theme is not merely a statement; it is a call to action, a clarion call for us to come together and forge a future of unparalleled collaboration and progress.
The highlight was the insightful remarks and direction on how to forge EU-India partnership by Chief Guests Shri. Nitin Gadkari, Hon’ble Minister of Road, Transport and Highways, Government of India, and Shri. Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution & Textiles, Government of India.
Mr. Parrag Jain–Nainutia (I.A.S) Principal Secretary (Transport & Ports), Home department, Govt. of Maharashtra and Mr. Ranjit Singh Deol (I.A.S) Principal Secretary School Education & Sports Department, Govt. of Maharashtra marked their presence as the Guests of Honour at the AGM.
Shri. Nitin Gadkari, Hon’ble Minister of Road, Transport and Highways, Government of India congratulated the Chamber for accomplishing 31 years. Shri. Gadkari emphasized on the importance of India’s role in the global economy, particularly in collaboration with European countries. He highlighted the need for India to establish joint ventures with international success stories and leverage its pool of talented young engineers and manpower. He underscored the importance of boosting exports and reducing imports for the nation’s economic growth. He recognized the vital role that Chamber plays in building relationships and facilitating cooperation among stakeholders. Additionally, he stressed on the significance of aligning India’s development with futuristic technologies and the country’s visionary goals. Shri Gadkari concluded by emphasizing the potential for win-win partnerships by harnessing successful technologies from EU countries.
Shri. Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution & Textiles, Government of India complimented the Chamber for accomplishing 31 successful years Shri. Goyal underlined the significance of Chamber in strengthening trade and investment relations between the EU and India. He emphasized India’s vast potential to create synergy that can enhance economic prosperity, spur innovation, and promote cultural exchange. Shri Goyal advocated harnessing the power of “3T’s” – Trade, Technology, and Talent – to drive the vision of greater prosperity and development. He highlighted India’s leadership in cutting-edge areas like Artificial Intelligence, Space Exploration, and Clean Energy. Goyal concluded by affirming the commitment of both the EU and India to not only technological advancement but also collaborative efforts in development projects related to climate change and green energy.
The inaugural session was followed by panel discussion, moderated by Mr. Chandramowli Srinivasan, Former CFO, SKF India and Past President of The Council of EU Chambers of Commerce in India.
The gathering witnessed an enriching and engaging panel discussion.
Mr. S P Shukla, Chairman-Defence Aerospace Agri & Micro Irrigation Mahindra Group talked about the promising potential of EU- India trade relations, pointing out that although the EU ranks as India’s 3rd largest economy, India stands as the 10th largest economy for the EU. He highlighted the encouraging aspects of this situation, emphasizing the immense potential for growth. He also said that the changing demographic profile of the EU, with more people seeking work opportunities, presents a favourable opportunity for India to supply skilled manpower to address shortages in the manufacturing sector. Mr. Shukla believes that a combination of geopolitical dynamics and India’s skilled workforce will propel the country upwards from its current 10th position, with significant trade growth on the horizon.
Ms. Runa Baksi, Country Head of Global Trade & Receivable Finance (GTRF), The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd. India highlighted India’s emergence as an attractive destination for manufacturing and investment. She mentioned that several factors are contributing to this trend, including advancements across various sectors. Overall, these developments are expected to result in favourable outcomes for India.
Ms. Ritu Kochhar, Head Spencer Stuart India emphasized on the key points for enhancing the EU and India partnership. She highlighted the areas of complementarity between the two regions, with the EU excelling in hi-tech, manufacturing, and luxury cars, finding a promising market in India. Conversely, India’s strengths lie in technology, agriculture, and related fields, creating opportunities for mutual growth. To move forward, Ms. Ritu underscored two essential elements: first, a strong focus on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to facilitate trade, and second, the identification of partnership areas, including AI, digitization, healthcare, and supply chain resilience. She suggested collaborative efforts in these areas can unlock significant potential and benefit both regions.
Mr. Robin Banerjee, Chairman, Nucleon Research Pvt. Ltd. talked about the factors that make India highly competitive for EU buyers. He highlighted three crucial considerations for international business: cost, quality, and on-time delivery. India currently holds a strategic position in the global market, offering cost-effective solutions while also demonstrating a growing commitment to quality. Indian manufacturers have become increasingly quality-conscious, and improved logistics services in the country have enhanced the timely delivery of goods and services, making India an attractive option for EU buyers seeking a competitive advantage.
Mr. Koustubh Kanade, Vice-President Marketing & Executive Projects, B. Braun Medical (India) Pvt. Ltd. shared his insights highlighting a significant partnership between India and the EU, particularly in the healthcare sector. He pointed out that one-third of all Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) sold in Europe originate from India, while one-third of medical device imports in India are sourced from the EU. This strong collaboration underscores the efforts of both nations to decrease their dependence on China, showcasing the potential for further cooperation in the healthcare industry.
Dr Shome made a presentation on the activities held during the year and announced the results of the Governing board for FY 2023-24. She also released the Activity Report which was later circulated to all present.
Mr Rajeev Sharma, Sr. Vice President, The Council of EU Chambers of Commerce in India & Country Managing Director, G4S Corporate Services (India) Pvt. Ltd proposed the vote of thanks by placing his sincere appreciation to Governing Board members, all members, partner and sponsors of the event G4S SECURITY SOLUTIONS, ATLANTIC GLOBAL SHIPPING PVT. LTD., PHILIPS INDIA LIMITED, INDUS FINANCE LTD., EXPORT CREDIT GUARANTEE CORPORATION LIMITED, HAROPA PORT, SEAHORSE SHIP AGENCIES PVT. LTD., SRI KALISWARI METAL POWDERS PVT. LIMITED, HALDIRAM SNACKS PVT. LTD., SUHANA PRAVIN MASALEWALE, PHARMATECH EXPO, DEEPAK ENTERPRISES (MAKESTUDY), HEINEKEN SILVER, VBEV PVT , ASPRI SPIRITS PVT. LTD, ECONOMIC LAWS PRACTICE, BIKAJI FOODS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, ADYA HERBAL, AVEDA X NYKAA LIFESTYLE SALON, VSGYM.
The session ended with interesting raffle draw with many Winners.
During business session of the AGM, Mr. Peeyush Kaushik was elected as the President and Mr. Rajeev Sharma, Country Managing Director, G4S India was elected as Senior-Vice-President and Mr. Robin Banerjee, Chairman Nucleon Managing Director as Vice-President of The Council of EU Chambers of Commerce in India for the year 2023-24.
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