SPEECH BY THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE CONFEDERATION OF INDIAN INDUSTRIES (CII), SHRI CHANDRAJIT BANNERJEE, AT THE PRESENTATION OF THE COMPENDIUM ON BUSINESS DELEGATIONS TO THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA BY ASSOCHAM, CII AND FICCI

Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, 18th June 2012

Its a great pleasure for all of us here in the industry to come and express our gratitude for this unique leadership that we saw in Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, in taking industry along and expossing them at the highest in several countries and really increasing our exposure, increasing our share in the global economy. This has been the most exciting time for those of us who have been able to participate in these exciting visits that we have had since April 2008.

The first visit was to Latin America and a large number of members were excited, because they were able to go with the President of the country. They were also excited because that was an economy which we were just about trying to handle and there was great interest for Brazil, Mexico and Chile. The team which went, some of whom are here, still come back to us, talking about how they really achieved what they set out to - that is connecting with the highest, talking about Indian industry, the problems of Indian industry and how we have been faring over the last decade in our journey of globalisation and global integration. Many big names, many medium names, many small names were associated with these visits, but I must say that some of the big names that CII has coordinated to be a part of Madam President's delegations have talked about how these business visits were extremely unique. Unique in that they helped and facilitated in the setting-up of big projects across the world, which have helped them promote trade and investments on behalf of India in some of these countries, and I must say that the feedback that we have received from our big companies have been very exciting and which has actually motivated a large number of medium and small industries to also participate and get an opportunity in such exciting visits.

It is after our visits to some of the countries, in which we were able to be a part of the accompanying delegations of the Hon'ble President of India, that CII has been able to bring out some newsletters, special communiqu�s on various achievements of these business delegations, which we have been able to share not only with the industry at large, but also with the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce, with our embassies, with industries, our counterpart organisations with whom we do work, with whom we have Memoranda of Understandings in these countries. We have seen the results of those reports, those circulations which have really led to further enquiries and inputs. Today, as we celebrate, 'Engaging the World' with Indian industry through the Hon'ble President of India, we feel extremely accomplished, we feel that the landmark steps which was taken by the Hon'ble President has strengthened bilateral trade and economic cooperation between India and the countries that we visited. Madam President, every time before we went out for a visit, you have very patiently listened and understood the business issues and the potential from industry and in turn raised the business and economic issues of Indian industry with key officials at the highest level in these countries. That was the key that was very important for the delegates who were accompanying you. Your visits did provide a great opportunity and exposure and much needed access for networking opportunities for business delegates who accompanied you every time that you had been abroad. CII members and the members of the industry who are here and some who have not been able to join us have found these visits with the President of India very useful, very enlightening and enlarging their economic cooperation and taping business potential. Madam, we want to thank you for your leadership and for really exposing Indian industry to such an exciting gamut in the world.

Thank you