CAROL STREAM, Ill.
Chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee, congressman (R) Ed Royce, addressed more than 400 members, especially businessmen, of the Indian-American community regarding the future of India-U.S. relations at a meeting hosted by the National Indian-American Public Policy Institute (NIAPPI) here at the Rana Reagan Community Center, June 7. Consul General of India in Chicago Ausaf Sayeed also spoke on Indo-U.S. relations. NIAPPI chairman Shalabh Kumar, who is also chairman AVG Technologies, and Brij Sharma, chairman of Powervolt, were among the industrialists playing host, as was NIAPPI president Bhailal Patel, who is also executive vice president of Parikh Worldwide Media that owns Desi Talk Chicago.
Royce, who is on the NIAPPI board of advisors, is a member of the India Caucus on Capitol Hill for over twenty years. The House Foreign Relations Committee plays a key role in the formulation of policies that affect U.S. relations with all other nations. Royce is a big supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. NIAPPI was the first U.S. organization to take a high level congressional delegation to visit Modi back in March 2013, when no U.S. legislator or administration official was even allowed to do so.
The select group was representative of industries ranging from electronics, cosmetics, technology, hotel management, petroleum, real estate, finance and construction. This was the first meeting of its kind where Indian-American business leaders gathered in support for their peers. They candidly discussed ideas and issues relevant to their companies with congressman Royce.
Royce discussed global trade issues highlighting synergies in the liquefied natural gas and agriculture industries. “In order to India to continue to grow, a consistent and strong demand of electrical energy must be met, and the U.S. can easily increase its bottom line by supplying to India,” said Royce. “U.S. farming technology can be sold and used by local farmers throughout India.”
On the issue of terrorism, he stated that both democracies face similar threats and the reduction of foreign aid and programs channeled at education in Pakistan and other countries in the Middle East will help both the U.S. and India to reduce terrorism in their nations.
Royce met with business leaders to discuss issues relevant to their industries. He was conducted on a factory tour the same evening of Sharma’s Powervolt, responsible for bringing jobs back to U.S. from China. Located in Elmhurst, Illinois, the factory builds power and control transformers for a myriad industries including electronic power systems, medical equipment and irrigation and supplied to large U.S.-based manufacturing companies such as Lincoln Electronics, United Technologies and Toro. Unlike many companies that offshore assembly and testing, all Powervolt products are designed, manufactured and tested in the U.S. Founded in the early 1990s, Powervolt now owns three factories in Midwest and employs more than 160 people.
“This was a great opportunity to showcase our companies and the contribution of Indian-American owned businesses to the U.S. economy. I am very happy that our community is getting recognition,” said Sharma, one of NIAPPI’s founding directors. Those present also presented their agenda of forming a Republican Hindu Coalition to represent all Indian Hindus living in the U.S. Royce urged them to show their presence in U.S. politics, business and trade on a united collective basis rather than as individuals. “I am honored to have participated in such an event. After spending decades in this country building our businesses, [RHS] is a much needed organization for our culture, our people and we look forward to future events,” said Yogi Bhardwaj, Global Director, Every Watt Matters and chairman National Petroleum Inc.
Other founding members and guests included NIAPPI executive vice president and Bhartiya Seniors Citizens of Chicago president Hari Patel, Dhimangroup chairman Raj Dhiman, chief technology officer at AVG Technologies Raj Tiwari, Nand Kishore, Circuitronics president Manny Sharma and Jasbir Guga. Business leaders were enthused by Royce’s visit and his one-on-one interactions. Royce said he looks forward to working with the U.S. administration to increase opportunities for Indian-owned U.S. businesses and that this is a first step in that direction. The visit was organized by NIAPPI founded by Kumar.
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