The Indian Panorama

Tag: FICCI

  • Embassy of India in Romania Organizes Virtual B2B on Home Appliances

    Opening remarks by Ms. Bavleen Kaur, Sr. Director, FICCI.
    Remarks by Ms. Mihai Chelbi, Com Director, Marelvi Impex SRL.

    BUCHAREST (TIP): The Embassy of India organized a Virtual B2B Meeting on Home Appliances between a Romanian company and four leading Indian companies – IFB, Dixon Technologies, Crompton Greaves, and Havells India. The meeting witnessed active and enthusiastic participation from the Indian side and was organized in coordination with Ms. Bavleen Kaur, Senior Director, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI).

    Remarks by Ms. Mihai Chelbi, GM, Marelvi Impex SRL.
    Presentation by Mr. Anil Arora, VP, Dixon Technologies

    The meeting was organized in a virtual format as the Romanian company, Marelvi Impex SRL, is located in Suceava County, approximately 500 kms from Bucharest. This virtual engagement followed the visit of Ambassador of India, Dr. Manoj Kumar Mohapatra, to Suceava County, during which he met with the company’s management. During this interaction, the Romanian company expressed strong interest in establishing trade relations with India. Consequently, the Embassy facilitated this virtual B2B meeting with potential Indian companies that are already exporting globally and are keen to expand their presence in the Romanian market.

    Presentation by Mr. Rajan Rahi, Head of IFB.
    Presentation by Mr. Rahul Murgai, Head of Havells India.
    Presentation by Mr. Durgesh Buxy, AVP & Head of Crompton Greaves.

    The meeting commenced with opening remarks by Ms. Bavleen Kaur, Senior Director, FICCI, who highlighted the importance of institutional support in facilitating international business partnerships. This was followed by presentations from Marelvi Impex SRL and the participating Indian companies, which led to constructive and meaningful discussions.

    H.E. Dr. Manoj Kumar Mohapatra Ambassador of India, gives his remarks.
    H.E. Ambassador Dr. Mohapatra and Ms. Mihai Chelbi, GM, Marelvi Impex SRL engage in the discussion.

    Addressing the participants, Ambassador Dr. Manoj Kumar Mohapatra highlighted India’s strengths and capabilities in the home appliances sector and expressed confidence that Marelvi Impex SRL would explore concrete trade opportunities with India. The Indian companies also invited the Romanian company to visit India to gain firsthand exposure to their manufacturing facilities. The Romanian company, impressed by the presentations, expressed keen interest in visiting India. The Ambassador reiterated India’s position as a global manufacturing hub for high-quality products and encouraged Romanian companies to explore sourcing and partnership opportunities with Indian firms.

    The Embassy of India reaffirmed its continued commitment to strengthening economic and commercial ties between India and Romania, particularly in priority sectors such as home appliances and manufacturing, and assured participants of its support in facilitating future engagements.

    The event concluded with a fruitful discussion.

    (Based on a Press Release issued by the Embassy of India in Romania)

  • Strengthening India-Romania Economic and Technology Partnerships

    Strengthening India-Romania Economic and Technology Partnerships

    BUCHAREST (TIP): In a key highlight last week, the Embassy hosted prominent Romanian business leaders for a special presentation on India’s rising economy, delivered by Mr. Bhuvnesh Kumar, Deputy Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Ambassador Manoj Kumar Mohapatra delivered the opening remarks, underscoring India’s dynamic growth trajectory, projected at over 7% GDP growth in 2025, followed by an interactive Q&A session. The event advanced discussions on trade, investment, and collaboration opportunities between the two nations.

    Mr. Bhuvnesh Kumar, Deputy Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade spoke about the GDP growth of India over the years

    ICC Country Head Mr. Gheorghe Dinu, Mr. Naimish Kumar Patel from Dimar Recruitment & Immigration Services, Mr. Morten Reimers of Falcon Defense, and Ms. Adriana Radu of RIZ highlighted emerging opportunities for Romanian companies to engage with the Indian market. These partners played a pivotal role in fostering stronger India-Romania business ties.

    Ambassador conducted an interactive question-and-answer session.

    Spotlight on IT & ITES Collaboration: A Strategic Pillar of Bilateral Growth

    Complementing this initiative, the Embassy, in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) and the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council, successfully organized a Business-to-Business (B2B) Meeting focused on Information Technology and Communications (IT&C), including IT Enabled Services (ITES). The event brought together over more than 100 leading Indian and Romanian companies, creating a dynamic platform for interaction, knowledge exchange, and the exploration of new partnership opportunities.

    ICC Country Head Mr. Gheorghe Dinu spoke about the opportunities for Romanian companies to engage with the Indian market.

    The India-Romania IT & ITES partnership has evolved naturally from shared strengths. India’s global leadership in software exports and its vast talent pool of over 5 million IT professionals complement Romania’s highly skilled workforce of 200,000+ IT specialists and its position as one of Europe’s fastest-growing technology hubs. This synergy has already delivered tangible results.

    Mr. Naimish Kumar Patel from Dimar Recruitment & Immigration Services spoke about opportunities for Romanian companies to engage with the Indian market.

    Indian companies operating in Romania, including Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Infosys, Wipro, and HCL Technologies, have generated over 10,000 high-quality jobs for Romanian professionals as of 2025, primarily in cities such as Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, and Timișoara. These roles span software development, cybersecurity, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and BPO services, contributing significantly to Romania’s economy through direct employment, skill development, and technology transfer.

    Mr. Morten Reimers of Falcon Defense spoke about opportunities for Romanian companies to engage with the Indian market.

    The B2B meeting further amplified these achievements by facilitating targeted matchmaking sessions, enabling participants to identify immediate opportunities in AI-driven solutions, digital transformation projects, and nearshoring services for EU markets.

    Ms. Adriana Radu of RIZ spoke about opportunities for Romanian companies to engage with the Indian market.

    Future Horizons: Building Momentum Towards India’s AI Summit and Localized Initiatives

    These engagements serve as important lead-up activities to the Government of India’s landmark AI Summit, scheduled for February 2026. This flagship national event will bring together global leaders, innovators, and policymakers to shape ethical AI governance, promote inclusive deployment, and advance transformative applications across sectors, closely aligning with shared India-Romania priorities in IT and ITES.

    Attendees at the B2B Meeting.

    Building on this momentum, the Embassy of India plans to organize “AI for All” Conferences in key Romanian technology hubs: Brașov on January 14, 2026, and Timișoara in the first week of February 2026. Organized in association with leading Indian companies such as Global Logitech and Wipro, these events will focus on democratizing access to AI, fostering hands-on workshops, and exploring collaborative R&D in areas including AI ethics, healthcare applications, and smart cities.

    Ambassador Dr. Manoj Kumar Mohapatra at the IT&C event held at the embassy spoke about India’s development in the industry.

    By convening local startups, universities, and industry experts, these conferences aim to accelerate technology transfer, strengthen bilateral talent pipelines, and position Romania as a co-innovation partner within India’s expanding AI ecosystem.

    FICCI highlighted their reach on a global level.

    These initiatives underscore the shared commitment of India and Romania to deepening economic and technological cooperation, leveraging India’s growth momentum and Romania’s strategic position within Europe. The Embassy remains fully committed to nurturing these partnerships to ensure sustained and mutually beneficial prosperity.

    (Based on a Press Release issued by the Embassy of India in Bucharest)

     

  • Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

    Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

    Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated annually on 9 January to mark the contribution of the non-residential Indian community towards the development of the country. According the Ministry of External Affairs, 9 January was chosen for the observance, as on this day in the year 1915, Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa. He then went on to lead the country in its freedom struggle. Being celebrated since 2003, the year 2015 saw a slight change with PBD being celebrated every two years from then on. The convention allows NRIs to engage with the government and people of the land of their ancestors for mutually beneficial activities.

    It is sad that the day  has lost importance over the years under the Modi government.

    This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Non-Resident Indians (NRI) across the globe are coming together to celebrate the 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention in a virtual format.

    The Day holds great significance as it not only reconnects NRIs with their roots but celebrates their achievements as well. It also acknowledges the difficulties faced by Indian expatriate workers living abroad.

    Established in 2000, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the Confederation of Indian Industries and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.

    A celebratory event is held on 7-9 January every other year in an Indian city: a forum for issues concerning the Indian Diaspora is organised and the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards are given.

    In 2006, the concept of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) was launched during the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention at Hyderabad on 9 January.

    In 2014, Pravasi Bhartiya Divas was held in New Delhi and was attended by 1,500 delegates from 51 countries. President Pranab Mukherjee gave the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards.

    In 2013, 11th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was held in Kochi from 7-9 January, where the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) is organizing partner of the summit. The President of Mauritius, Rajkeswur Purryag, was the chief guest at the official inaugural session. Canadian Minister Jason Kenney became the first individual of non-Indian heritage to address the gathering.

    The 12th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was held during 7-9 January 2014 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The Theme for this year was Engaging Diaspora: Connecting Across Generations.

    The 13th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was held during 7-9 January 2015 at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, Gujarat . The Theme for this year was “Apna Bharat, Apna Gaurav”.

    The 14th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, which was supposed to be held during 7-9 January 2016 at New Delhi, was cancelled under the MEA’s decision to make the event biennial.

    The 15th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was held during 7-9 January 2017 at Bengaluru, Karnataka. The theme for this year was “Redefining engagement with the Indian diaspora”.

    The 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2018 was held during 6-7 January 2018 at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.

    The 17th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas 2019 was held during 21-23 January 2019 at Varanasi, India. Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth was the chief guest.

    History

    The decision to celebrate Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was taken in accordance with recommendations of the High Level Committee (HLC) on the Indian Diaspora set up by government of India under the chairmanship of L. M. Singhvi. The then Prime Minister of India,  Atal Bihari Vajpayee, received the report of the Committee at a public function at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on 8 January 2002, and announced the “Pravasi Bharatiya Divas” (PBD) on 9 January 2002. The day was chosen to mark the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India in 1915.

    The occasion is marked by special programs to recognise the contributions of NRI/PIO individuals of exceptional merit, felicitate NRI/PIO individuals who have made exceptional contributions in their chosen field/profession (Pravasi Bharatiya Samman and provide a forum to discuss issues and concerns of people of the diaspora. The event has been organized every year since 2003, and is sponsored by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and the CII (Confederation of Indian Industry), initially sponsored by FICCI.

    The 8th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas took place on 7-9 January 2010 and was webcast live at the official Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs website, also covered live on social media via live blogging and live tweeting at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, an online platform powered by Kotak Mahindra Bank. An investment facilitation platform for overseas Indians, the Overseas Indians Facilitation Centre, was launched by India’s Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, with a view of strengthening ties with the diaspora for partnering in India’s growth story on the occasion.

    The 2012 Pravasi Bhartiya Divas was held from 7-9 January 2012. The venue was Jaipur, Rajasthan. Chief Guest of this event was the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Ms Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

    The 2013 Pravasi Bhartiya Divas was held from 8-9 January 2013 in Kochi, Kerala. Chief Guest of this event was the President of Mauritius, Rajkeshwar Purryag. The 2015 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was held in Ahmedabad celebrating 100 years of Mahatma’s return to India. Chief guest was Mr Donald Ramtar, President of Republic of Guyana. The theme for this was “Apna Bharat Apna Gaurav” “Connecting Generations”.

    Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD), the annual event for the Indian diaspora, was canceled for 2016. The format of the event, which is held between 7 and 9 January, has been changed as announced by the minister of external affairs and overseas Indian affairs Sushma Swaraj, in October 2015. As per the announcement, the event was being moved to different states every two years; a smaller event would be held in Delhi every alternate year.

    In 2017, the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was held from 7-9 January 2017 in Bengaluru. The theme of this edition was “Redefining Engagement with the Indian Diaspora”. The Ministry of External Affairs, under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had used digital modes to reach out to Indians abroad. The campaign Digital India also played a major role in bringing the success to Pravasi Bhartiya Divas. The plenary session ‘Leveraging Social Media for Diaspora Connect’ held on 9 January 2017, at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas looked at social media as a medium in connecting the Indian Diaspora.

    About PBD Convention 2021

    In a virtual format, the convention will be held and the theme of the 16th PBD Convention 2021 is “Contributing to Aatmanirbhar Bharat”. The Convention of PBD will have three segments and will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. It will also be addressed by the Chief Guest, Chandrikapersad Santokhi, President of the Republic of Suriname. Winners of the online Bharat ko Janiye Quiz for the youth will be announced.

    The inaugural session will also be followed by the two Plenary sessions. The first will be on the Role of Diaspora Aatmanirbhar Bharat and will be featured by the External Affairs Minister and Commerce and Industry Minister. And the second will be on Facing Post Covid Challenges – Scenario in Health, Economy, Social and International Relations that will be addressed by Minister of Health and Minister of State for External Affairs.

    The Valedictory Session will be the finale where the President will deliver his Valedictory address to mark the occasion of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.

    Here to inform you that the Youth PBD was also be observed virtually on the theme “Bringing together Young Achievers from India and Indian Diaspora” on 8 January 2021 and was anchored by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. The Special Guest for the event is Priyanca Radhakrishnan, Minister for Community& Voluntary Sector of New Zealand.

    In January 2019, it was celebrated at Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh to acknowledge the Indian Diaspora of Indian origin to share their experience, knowledge which can help in the development of the country.

  • Rules and rulers: On social media curbs

    Rules and rulers: On social media curbs

    – Govt. must hear out the social media industry, and shed its arbitrary rule-making

    It does seem that most if not all global social media giants will miss complying with the new IT rules of intermediaries, which come into effect today. It would be unfortunate if this non-compliance were to trigger a further worsening of the already poor relationship between some social media players and the Government. The new rules were introduced in February. Among other things, they require the bigger social media platforms, which the rules referred to as significant social media intermediaries, to adhere to a vastly tighter set of rules within three months, which ended on May 25. They require these platforms to appoint chief compliance officers, in order to make sure the rules are followed, nodal officers, to coordinate with law enforcement agencies, and grievance officers. Another rule requires messaging platforms such as WhatsApp to trace problematic messages to its originators, raising uneasy questions about how services that are end-to-end encrypted can adhere to this. There are indeed many problems with the new rules, not the least of which is the manner in which they were introduced without much public consultation. There has also been criticism about bringing in a plethora of new rules that ought to be normally triggered only via legislative action. But non-compliance can only make things worse, especially in a situation in which the relationship between some platforms such as Twitter and the Government seems to have broken down. The latest stand-off between them, over Twitter tagging certain posts by BJP spokespeople as ‘manipulated media’, has even resulted in the Delhi Police visiting the company’s offices. Separately, the Government has been fighting WhatsApp over its new privacy rules. Whatever the back-story, it is important that social media companies fight the new rules in a court of law if they find them to be problematic. The other option, that of engaging with the Government, may not work in these strained times. But stonewalling on the question of compliance can never be justified, even if it is to be assumed that the U.S. Government has their back. Facebook, on its part, has made all the right noises. It has said that it aims to comply with the new rules but also needs to engage with the Government on a few issues. What is important is that the genuine concerns of social media companies are taken on board. Apart from issues about the rules, there have been problems about creating conditions for compliance during the pandemic. As reported by The Hindu, five industry bodies, including the CII, FICCI and the U.S.-India Business Council have sought an extension of 6-12 months for compliance. This is an opportunity for the Government to hear out the industry, and also shed its high-handed way of rulemaking.

    (Tribune, India)