By EuAsiaNews,
Brussels : Three Indian ministers have confirmed their participation at the European Union-India Business Partnership Summit “India Calling 2009” which will be held Brussels from September 30-October 3, according to the organizers of the event.
The 4-day major international meeting is organised by the Mumbai-based Indian Merchants’ Chamber (IMC) in association with the Brussels-based Europe India Chamber of Commerce (EICC).
Gul Kripalani, IMC President, told EuAsiaNews that Mr. Kamal Nath , Minister of highway and surface transport, Mr. Vaylar Ravi, Minister for overseas Indian Affairs, and Mr.Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir have already confirmed their attendance.
Mr.Anand Sharma, Minister of commerce and industry has also shown interest, said Kripalani who is visiting Belgium currently to prepare for the conference.
“We hope we will have a confirmation next week from
Mrs.Sheila Dixit (chief minister of Delhi), although so far she has not said yes,” noted Kripalani.
“The preparations are going on extremely well. We have been able to get a lot of cooperation from our government in New Delhi,” he said.
The prime minister and foreign minister of Belgium are most likely to attend the inaugural session of the conference.
Kripalani said 150 participants from India and an equal number from Europe are expected to participate in the conference.
Among the objectives of the conference are to build all-round strategic business partnership between India and EU and to strengthen mechanism for joint ventures and technological cooperation.
EU Commissioners, top EU diplomats , Members of European Parliament will also be invited to participate .
Founded in 1907, IMC is a leading chamber of trade, commerce and industry in India. It has been organizing the India Calling Business yearly Summits from 2004.
On his part, EICC Secretary General, Sunil Prasad, noted that the conference is being organized at a time when the economic meltdown has mounted pressure on all economies sucking the strength of traditional economic drivers.
“The conference will therefore facilitate interaction and dialogue which will allow the key business leaders of Europe and India to address the immediate challenges posed by the crisis,” he told EuAsiaNews.
While nothing like this type of event has happened before in Brussels, Prasad said that EICC is committed to creating opportunities by leveraging the power of the biggest names in business and leadership through this conference.