Category: Business

DALLAS AND ATLANTA: More than 100 manufacturers of hotel products from Gujarat will exhibit their wares from April 27 through 29 at the SLPS Event Center in Irving, Texas and again from May 4 through 6 at the Gas South Convention Center in suburban Atlanta.

“The Gujarat region of India has a large pool of companies with the experience and the talent to design and produce high-end, high-quality hotel furnishings,” said Harshal Bhagat, Chairman of the International Business Delegation for the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SGCCI) in exclusive comments to Indo-American News.

“Our advantages include lower production costs, faster delivery times, and reduced import fees.  It’s a unique combination that can dramatically reshape the supply chain and bottom-line results for American hoteliers,” added Bhagat.

Admission to the trade shows is free, and booths will represent a wide variety of products, notably furniture, linens, fabrics, lighting, accessories, IT support, HVAC, and equipment for in-room technology and entertainment, for safety and security, and for fitness and spa.

According to Bhagat, “Hotel owners have suffered persistent supply chain disruptions during the past three years, so they’re ready to find reliable sourcing alternatives and take back control of their procurement cycle. Our expos are a very convenient way to discover the new buying options that every owner wants, needs, and deserves but hasn’t been able to find. Until now.”

Specifically, Indian manufacturers offer a package of benefits that include much shorter lead times for production and shipping, together with duty charges about 20% lower and product costs that can be 20% to 35% lower, according to the SGCCI, which represents almost 10,000 individual members and about 140 associations.

More information and “no cost” registration is available online at www.ifde.sgcci.in or by phone at 844-797-6111.

HOUSTON, February 27, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstration encouraged a Texas consortium spearheading the development of a regional clean hydrogen hub on the U.S. Gulf Coast to submit a full application in response to a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) designated in the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Of the 79 applicants competing for a part of the $7 billion in federal funds available to establish six to 10 regional hubs, only 33 projects were “encouraged” to move forward. The regional clean hydrogen hubs will create networks of hydrogen producers, distributors and consumers and advance infrastructure deployment, and commercialization, with an emphasis on equity and environmental justice.

The Leading in Gulf Coast Hydrogen Transition (LIGH₂T) Hub consists of the Southern States Energy Board, the National Energy Technology Laboratory and the University of Houston as the lead academic partner. Commercial partners include INEOS, Linde, MPLX and 13 other organizations.

UH, a Tier One public research university, has put together an academic consortium of eight universities and five community colleges to work on this important project. In addition, UH Energy’s Center for Carbon Management in Energy (CCME), a multidisciplinary academic research center focused on carbon management and the broad-based commercial deployment of Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) that is fundamental for global energy sustainability, will be a major contributor to the hub.

“UH is the Energy University and it is committed to being part of the solution by sharing our research and expertise in clean energy, carbon capture, hydrogen and more,” said UH Energy’s Hydrogen Program Officer Paul Doucette. “To do this right, it was important to collaborate and bring together a broad base of perspectives and complementary knowledge in several key areas to make our proposal the best it can be. This is especially important in areas such as environmental justice and equity, community, labor and stakeholder engagement, policy and regulation and workforce and skills development” Doucette added.

He added the academic consortium is one of the strengths of the LIGH₂T Hub proposal.

“This is not about building one particular thing, but about creating an ecosystem that provides substantial benefits to the communities it serves,” Doucette said. “This will provide new jobs, expand workforce and skills development opportunities, and greatly contribute to the local economies while enabling clean energy.”

The LIGH₂T Hub proposal leverages existing advantages for its foundation and could be a flagship for the long-term growth of clean hydrogen development and utilization in the Gulf Coast region and the U.S., according to the SSEB consortium.

“Texas has everything it needs to anchor a global leading low-carbon intensity hydrogen ecosystem in the United States,” said Ramanan Krishnamoorti, vice president of energy and innovation at UH. He listed the many advantages Texas offers – abundant natural gas supply, space for carbon storage, massive renewable energy capacity and production, abundant water supply, an established pipeline network, and an enormous industrial base at the Port of Houston and along the Texas Gulf Coast that will be the first adopters for the use of the produced hydrogen. Most importantly, the Houston area has a deep and talented workforce ready to embrace the hydrogen economy.

“As a team, we are going to capitalize on all of those benefits Texas offers and continue to build on this world-class foundation,” he said.

The LIGH₂T Hub partners will submit the full proposal by April 7 to compete for the next phase of the DOE’s funding program.

By Seema Govil

Journalist, Consultant, Franchise Consulting Company

The South Asian diaspora comprises knowledgeable and entrepreneurial individuals with the business acumen and drive to become successful franchise owners. The success of numerous South Asian franchise owner’s evidences this across the nation. Such as Sanjeev Khanna (founder and chairman of GS Dallas Group), along with his partners, Govind Agrawal, Rahul Agrawal, Ambika Khanna Cheruvu, and Shivam Khanna, are involved in various franchises, including Subway, Wing Stop, European Wax Center, Massage Envy, Great American Cookies, and Aloft Hotels.

The group, which has offices in Dallas and Houston, owns and operates over 200 locations across seven states and Ruchika, Prashant Nagrath, Ruchika, and Prashant’s remarkable growth from 3 to 102 franchise locations in less than 30 months, even during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrates the potential for franchising to be a safe and scalable path to achieve financial and time freedom. And many others from Dallas. Similarly, Houston is home to numerous successful South Asian franchise owners.

South Asian parents often place a strong emphasis on education, which plays a significant role in the success of many of these entrepreneurs. Education helps young people develop critical thinking skills and provides them with the knowledge they need to succeed academically and professionally.

South Asians are also passionate about learning new skills, which can be beneficial when starting a business or managing one successfully.

In addition to having access to educational opportunities, South Asians have access to numerous resources that help them gain insight into franchising. These include online forums where people can ask questions about franchises, research conducted on franchising opportunities, seminars held by franchisors or industry experts on topics such as legal issues related to franchising, or financial management tips for franchisees; all these resources give potential franchisees invaluable information they need before making any decisions regarding franchising.

For many South Asians, franchising offers an attractive option, as it is a proven business model with lower risks and higher chances of success than independent startups. Franchising allows an individual to get into business with an established brand name with its own loyal customers and employees. It also reduces the time required for market research & development, marketing & promotion, customer service & loyalty building activities when starting an independent venture. Furthermore, franchisors provide support services such as business training & consultations, which help franchisees run their businesses efficiently and effectively.

In Houston alone, several successful South Asian franchise owners are making a mark for themselves in various industries such as hospitality, retail, food service, etc. These include restaurateur Kumar Daulatramani whose chain Café Bombay has been serving delicious Indian food since 1999; Rajesh Bhavnani, who owns several Subway outlets; Sachin Kakkar, who runs a chain of Burger King restaurants Ricky Oberoi, who runs numerous Wendys in Texas and Florida and Anwar Siddiqui who owns multiple Papa John’s Pizza outlets across the city.

“Franchising success for South Asians is on the rise! With an ever-increasing number of South Asian business owners setting their sights on franchising, the opportunities and rewards are vast. From service industry franchises like restaurant chains to retail ones like clothing stores, South Asians are increasingly finding success in the franchising world. The trend has been reflected in current franchise ownership statistics, showing that 5-8% of all U.S. franchisees are now of South Asian descent. At the same time, the cultural influence and economic impact of these businesses is undeniable, having become valued and trusted members of their local communities. With this trend continuing to grow, it is clear that South Asians are poised to make a powerful impact within the franchising world!”

Join us at the Franchise Expo, on March 4^th and 5^th at Humble Civic Center, where you can learn from experienced industry experts who will share insider knowledge and advice on scaling a successful franchise. Savvy entrepreneurs know that education is vital – gain valuable insight into marketing strategies, funding options, legal processes, and more!

Kapil Manocha and Seema Govil are available in person for a personal consultation .

Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity – scan our QR code or follow the link below for more information about what we have planned!

https://www.franexpousa.com/attend-houston-franchise-expo-trade-show-november-2022?cons=SGovil

Or you can reach out to Seema Govil for any questions regarding the expo or Franchising opportunities.

Seema@thefranchiseconsultingcompany.com

DALLAS: The first-ever trade expos in the United States by India-based manufacturers of products for the hotel industry are being held in Dallas and in Atlanta. The events, featuring more than 100 suppliers, are scheduled for April 27 through 29 at the SLPS Event Center in Irving, Texas and May 4 through 6 at the Gas South Convention Center in Duluth, Georgia.

“People of Indian heritage are active throughout the U.S. hotel industry – as owners, as product specifiers, and as FF&E buyers,” said Harshal Bhagat, Chairman of the International Business Delegation for the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SGCCI), which is organizing and sponsoring the events.

“So it’s very appropriate that India’s leading manufacturers of hotel furnishings come here and demonstrate how they can help American hoteliers achieve their American dream.”

Admission to the trade shows is free, and booths will represent a wide variety of products, notably furniture, linens, fabrics, lighting, accessories, IT support, HVAC, and equipment for in-room technology and entertainment, for safety and security, and for fitness and spa.

Bhagat added, “This is a unique opportunity for American hoteliers to learn directly in face-to-face conversations about the very significant savings they gain in costs and in timeline by ordering products from India compared to other off-shore sources.”

Specifically, Indian manufacturers offer a package of benefits that include much shorter lead times for production and shipping, together with duty charges about 20% lower and product costs that can be 20% to 35% lower, according to Bhagat.

“The very latest designs will be on display for hotel owners and developers, purchasing and procurement firms, architects, interior designers, and product specifiers at hotel brands,” according to Bhagat.  “And many custom options are conveniently available.”

The SGCCI represents almost 10,000 individual members and about 140 associations.  It has a rich history of organizing innovative trade shows such as Yarn Expo, Weaveknitt, Fiber 2 Fashion, Auto Expo, Energy International, and Food & Agritech Expo.

More information and “no cost” registration is available online at www.ifde.sgcci.in or by phone at 844-797-6111.

DALLAS:

• Plans to further speed up the expansion process in becoming the No: 1 jewellery retailer globally
• Immediate expansion plans into the UK, Bangladesh, Australia, Canada, Egypt, Turkey, and South Africa.
• Dallas store is the 300^th global showroom of Malabar Gold & Diamond

The grand inauguration of the 300^th global showroom of Malabar Gold & Diamonds, the 6^th largest jewellery retailer globally with a strong retail network of 300 showrooms across 10 countries, was held in Dallas, USA.

Ms. Susan Fletcher, Collin County Commissioner and Mr. Jeff Cheney, Mayor of Frisco, Texas jointly inaugurated the showroom in the presence of Mr. Shamlal Ahamed, Managing Director – International Operations. Mr. Joseph Eapen, President – USA, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, Mr. Jasar R, Branch Head, Malabar Gold & Diamonds, other team members, well-wishers and dignitaries were also present for the event in Dallas. This is the 3^rd showroom of Malabar Gold & Diamonds in the USA, with the other 2 located in Oak Tree Road, New Jersey and West Devon Avenue, Chicago. The Dallas showroom is located at 5811 Preston Road, Frisco.

“It is a moment of great pride for us as we touch the 300^th mark with this new showroom in Dallas, USA. We started off with a small showroom in Calicut, Kerala, India and today in less than 30 years, we have a strong retail presence of 300 showrooms across 10 countries; all thanks to our customers, shareholders, employees and other stakeholders. We will continue to strengthen our retail presence in the regions where we have established a robust presence, as well as enter new markets with our differentiated products, services and assurances. The acceptance and patronage received by the brand gives us the confidence to further speed up the expansion process in becoming the No: 1 jewellery retailer globally,” said Mr. MP Ahammed, Chairman, Malabar Group.

Malabar Gold & Diamonds currently operates in 10 countries and has immediate expansion plans into the UK, Bangladesh, Australia, Canada, Egypt, Turkey, and South Africa. The future expansions are expected to create approximately 6,000 job opportunities in the retail, manufacturing, technical and management areas related to jewellery trade.

‘Malabar Gold & Diamonds has played a vital role in making Indian jewellery more acceptable and trustworthy at the global level in recent years. We are now crafting unique experiences targeting the individual and specific preferences of our customers. As the design discovery and initial decision-making of most customers are happening online these days, we are focusing greatly on strengthening our omnichannel retail strategy, for which we are making use of the services of global technology giants like Microsoft, IBM, Accenture, E&Y, Deloitte etc..’, said Mr. Abdul Salam KP, Vice Chairman, Malabar Group.

Malabar Gold & Diamonds is renowned globally for offering an unparalleled jewellery buying experience with convenience, and customer-friendly policies along with the ‘Malabar Promise’ of incomparable quality and service assurance. Malabar Promise includes assured lifetime maintenance from any of the showrooms across 10 countries, guaranteed buyback, IGI and GIA-certified diamonds ensuring 28-point quality check of global standards, zero deduction gold exchange, complete transparency, 916 hallmarked pure gold, responsible sourcing, fair price policy and fair labour practices.

“We are very excited about our future growth plan and will immediately be expanding into new markets, including the UK, Bangladesh, Australia and Canada, followed by Egypt, Turkey & South Africa. Apart from this, we will further strengthen our retail footprint within the existing markets as well. We constantly make efforts to evolve in line with the diverse preferences of our multicultural and multinational customers, as part of which we will focus further on product variety and a superior shopping experience, in addition to opening more stand-alone stores for local customers of the respective regions”, said Mr. Shamlal Ahamed, Managing Director – International Operations, Malabar Gold & Diamonds.

The new showroom in Dallas has a stunning display of more than 30,000 jewellery designs from 20 countries across gold, diamonds, precious gems and platinum, catering to the design preferences of those residing in and around Dallas.

‘We have an ambitious retail expansion plan in India as well, especially in the North and Central Indian states and are gearing up in a big way to enter new territories as well by setting higher standards in the jewellery trade. We understand the sensitivity of the industry and ensure compliance through responsible sourcing, ethical business practices, and transparent and professional fund management. Our association with trade bodies, financial houses, and government regulators help to ensure that our operations are infallible globally’, said Mr. O Asher, Managing Director – India Operations, Malabar Gold & Diamonds.

“We will further strengthen our manufacturing capabilities to support our retail expansion drive globally. We will also be hiring skilled artisans and related staff as part of this process. This will also further bolster our mission, “Make in India, Market to the World.” Keeping in line with the brand’s outlook as a responsible jeweller, all our ongoing and upcoming facilities have and will be designed to provide safe and pleasant working conditions to the employees”, said Mr. Nishad AK, Group Executive Director, Manufacturing & B2B, Malabar Group.

Malabar Group believes that the most successful companies are those which integrate responsibility and sustainability into their core business and commit 5% of their profit to support socially responsible purposes both in India and abroad, since its inception in 1993. Hunger, Health, Education, Women Empowerment, Housing and Environment are the key focus areas for the Group.

HOUSTON: This week TiE Angels Texas completed its investment award to LIDROTEC, winner of the 2022 Rice Business Plan Competition.  The investment was included in LIDROTEC’s Series A financing, led by GOOSE Capital.  The LIDROTEC award is the culmination of a decade-long participation by TiE in the Rice Business Plan Competition supporting student teams from Europe and Asia by mentoring them and by financial assistance to help them travel to compete at Rice.  2022 was a special year for TiE with both TiE mentored teams reaching the final, and the first time a TiE-mentored team won the grand prize at the Rice Business Plan Competition.  

The TiE effect and involvement with Rice Business Plan Competition

TiE’s participation in the Rice Business Plan Competition was started by TiE Charter Member and former Chair of TiE Global, serial entrepreneur Ashok Rao of GOOSE Capital, along with Brad Burke, Managing Director of the Rice Alliance.   Over a period of 10 years, Ashok led the search for student teams in Europe and Asia.  Once selected, he led mentoring bootcamps in Houston.  When Covid restricted travel, the bootcamps moved to being virtual, starting in January, occurring in weekly 3-hour sessions right until April.

Lidrotec’s win in this year’s Rice Business Plan Competition was the culmination of a 12-year journey and a moment of real pride for me.” said Ashok.  “When Brad and I created this program, we had no idea as to the impact it could have. We have been thrilled to be part of this incredible competition, while delivering high quality teams to Rice from Universities in Europe and Asia” he continued. “Prior to this year, 4 of our teams had made it the finals, while obtaining over $10 million in investment from Goose Capital. And this year my dream has been realized. Finally, a TiE-mentored team has won this prestigious competition.”

Brad Burke, Managing Director of the Rice Alliance, commented, “More than 250 judges, including investors, corporate leaders and technologists, saw great potential in this year’s competitors. We were thrilled to see the hard work of the TiE teams rewarded by making it to the final round! As the world’s largest and richest competition, we appreciate the collaboration with TiE in supporting student entrepreneurs in Asia and Europe.”

A student team from Aachen (Germany), LIDROTEC, aims to revolutionize semiconductor wafer cutting with their technology using lasers and liquids.  Founded by graduate students from RWTH Aachen University, LIDROTEC impressed judges at the Rice Business Plan Competition with their research and commercialization prospects, winning over $550,000 in prizes, including the $350,000 grand prize from GOOSE Capital, and $100,000 from TiE Angels TX.

Speaking of their experience, Alexander Igelmann (CEO, LIDROTEC) and Alexander Kanitz (Chief Innovation Officer, LIDROTEC) said, “The training with the TiE team was incredible. Not only did we improve our pitch, we also learned a great deal and had a lot fun on our way. The TiE team really went beyond and above to help us, and supported us whenever we needed it. They have become our friends and we consider them part of the LIDROTEC family now. Doing the training together with another team, Invitris, was also invaluable. Not only could we learn from their pitch, but we also really bonded as a group.”

Extending the RBPC role model to TiE University Global and beyond

Over the last 5 years, the global TiE organization has developed multiple platforms to help different types of entrepreneurs, run by TiE chapters across the 14 countries where TiE has a presence.   TYE (The Young Entrepreneurs) helps student entrepreneurs in high schools.  TiE University helps student entrepreneurs in universities and colleges worldwide, competing in local chapters and culminating in a global pitch competition.  TiE Women uses the same model to attract women entrepreneurs and startups which are majority-owned by women.  And TiE Access applies the very same model to underserved minority communities.

TiE University is a program of TiE Global that spans chapters worldwide with the mission to empower college students to become entrepreneurs.  The program’s focus is to continuously evolve the local and global entrepreneurship ecosystem where university students thrive.  A critical success factor is unlimited mentoring offered to students to nurture them from ideation to investment.   Dr. Paul Lopez, global co-chair of TiE University, who participated in RBPC as a judge said: “The 42 teams at RBPC were the best of the best from over 400 teams that applied this year.  The edge that the students had who took advantage of the offer of unlimited mentoring by TiE charter members became apparent which resulted in these teams being successful in winning top prizes and sizeable investments into their venture.  And the mentoring doesn’t stop with the competition — TiE University continues to be available to these and all college students as they launch or scale their startup In the marketplace.

Today TiE is building on the historical foundation started with participating with the RBPC, reaching out to other student entrepreneurs and working with other local academic institutions such as Houston Community College and the University of Houston to participate in the TiE University program, helping student entrepreneurs compete for the TiE University Global award.

HOUSTON: Southwestern National Bank (“SWNB”) celebrated its 25th anniversary and annual holiday party on November 5, 2022, at Hyatt Regency Hotel, Houston, Texas. Over 200 attended the annual party casino night. Honorable guests, directors, and employees gathered to celebrate this important milestone. CEO Joanne Kim kicked off the party with a warm, welcoming remark thanking the board of directors, employees, and customers. Kim said she’s grateful for the tremendous support and warmth from the SWNB Family. Kim was delighted to announce that SWNB had another good year, and it’s all because of the loyal, hardworking, and dedicated employees. Kim said she is confident and excited that SWNB will achieve many more milestones and continue to be the “Bank of Choice” for our customers.

“As we reflect on SWNB’s 25th anniversary, we want to thank all those who have paved the way for us to reach this milestone – our founders, Board of Directors, amazing customers, and best-in-class team members,” said the Chair of the Board Dr. Jody Lee. Dr. Lee also presented 10th, 15th, 20th, and over 20 years of service awards to the following employees:

10-year service award: Trucgan Doan (Universal Banker) and Laura Zhang (Deposit Operations Specialist)

15-year service award: Chen Chen (Credit Officer), Annie Lee (Head Teller), Chi H. Tang (IT Manager), and Anna Tse-Cheng (Operations Officer)

20-year service award: Annie Chan (Closing Manager), Helen Liu (Deputy of Credit Officer), and Vicki Chen (Branch Manager)

Over 20 years of service award: Betsy Reese (Chief Financial Officer) and Catherine Liang (Co-Chief Lending Officer)

Dr. Lee also presented an appreciation award to four founding directors: Michael Hong, Sam Hwong, Binh Ho, and Sean Hou, and a lifetime service award to four founding directors: C.K. Lee, Doris Chen, Ted Hsieh, and Ed Malmgren.

SWNB has always been a proud supporter of mentoring and developing future leaders in the communities they serve. This year, two academically outstanding graduating high school seniors were awarded a special merit scholarship. SWNB Merit Scholarship recipients were Ian Ho and Diana Feng.

Our guests mixed, mingled, and played on the gaming tables throughout the evening, including blackjack, craps, and roulette.

CONROE, TX: The Franchise Expo to be held November 12 and 13 at the Lone Star Convention Center in Conroe offers an excellent opportunity for business hopefuls to learn the intricacies of the franchise world. It is a chance to learn about the latest and greatest franchise business models.

The Expo will offer completely free educational seminars all weekend long, allowing attendees to learn about a range of topics that can help in making the business a success.

These topics will include: how to scale your business; how to understand and diversify; marketing secrets; how to franchise your business; finance – funding options for your business; franchise law; how to evaluate franchise opportunities and much more to educate ourselves to move to the next level.

Kapil Manocha, the representative for the South Asian community, will be available to answer questions in person at the event. He can be reached at Kapil@thefranchiseconsultingcomoany.com or at (216) 538-3661, Expo coordinator Seema Govil can be reached at Seema@thefranchiseconsultingcompany.com.

To register for a free ticket for the event, scan the QR code on the flyer or visit the link below for more info. https://www.franexpousa.com/attend-houston-franchise-expo-trade-show-november-2022?cons=SGovil

CONROE, TX: The Franchise Expo to be held November 12 and 13 at the Lone Star Convention Center in Conroe offers an excellent opportunity for business hopefuls to learn the intricacies of the franchise world. It is a chance to learn about the latest and greatest franchise business models.

The Expo will offer completely free educational seminars all weekend long, allowing attendees to learn about a range of topics that can help in making the business a success.

These topics will include: how to scale your business; how to understand and diversify; marketing secrets; how to franchise your business; finance – funding options for your business; franchise law; how to evaluate franchise opportunities and much more to educate ourselves to move to the next level.

Kapil Manocha, the representative for the South Asian community, will be available to answer questions in person at the event. He can be reached at Kapil@thefranchiseconsultingcomoany.com or at (216) 538-3661, Expo coordinator Seema Govil can be reached at Seema@thefranchiseconsultingcompany.com.

To register for a free ticket for the event, scan the QR code on the flyer or visit the link below for more info. https://www.franexpousa.com/attend-houston-franchise-expo-trade-show-november-2022?cons=SGovil

By Seema Hakhu Kachru

HOUSTON: India is America’s ninth largest trading partner and holds a stock of almost $13 billion in foreign direct investment in the US, creating more than 70,000 jobs, a leading Indian-American international trade policy expert has said.
Speaking at the annual Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston (IACCGH) on Saturday, Arun Venkataraman, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Global Markets, praised the chamber for its role in strengthening the US-India partnership for 23 years.

Venkataraman was sworn in as the assistant secretary of commerce for global markets and director general of the US and Foreign Commercial Service for the International Trade Administration in April this year. He was appointed by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the US Senate on April 7 to lead the federal government’s efforts to promote exports abroad and attract inward investment.

Citing an example of the chamber’s role in bringing businesses to the USA, he said Mahindra USA, which made Houston its corporate headquarters for its farm tractor business, was a direct result of the trade delegation led by the IACCGH and supported by the US Commercial Service.

“For our part of the United States, US companies have invested $42 billion in foreign direct investment and are supporting the media in India,” he said.

“We have relaunched the CEO forum and are working to expand our US-India commercial ties, both of which will produce concrete outcomes to support greater commercial collaboration,” Venkataraman said.

India is the ninth largest trading partner of the US and holds a stock of almost $13 billion in foreign direct investment in America, creating more than 70,000 jobs, he said.

Noting that India has joined the diverse group of countries that are participating in the Indo-Pacific economic framework, he said it will support the even deeper integration between the US and India and the rest of the Indo-Pacific region.

“Looking ahead, we will continue to rely on the Indo-American Chamber to help us expand economic opportunities for all Americans. To deepen collaboration in the energy and tech sector, I will be working closely with CGI Houston, Aseem Mahajan, towards creating new opportunities for us and Indian firms,” he said.

“Our community can and should play a pivotal role, not only in seizing business opportunities overseas but continuing to build the foundation of strong commercial ties for the US-India relationship.

“This relationship will be a defining feature of the 21st century and the diaspora community and our commercial economy will be decisive in whether that relationship achieved its potential to do good for the world. We’re all counting on you to carry that forward and we look forward to continuing our partnership,” he said.

Twenty-three years of building relationships between Houston’s business community and India were celebrated in great style at the Hilton Americas-Houston during the IACCGH 2022 gala.

The gala was attended by Houston’s top industry leaders, elected federal and local officials and their representatives.
Lauding the role of IACCGH in boosting bilateral trade and advocacy, Consul General of India in Houston Aseem Mahajan, in his remarks, said, “India and the United States share a comprehensive global strategic partnership covering almost all areas of human endeavour, driven by shared democratic values, convergence of interests on a range of issues and people-to-people contacts”.

He said the bilateral trade and investments between both countries have deepened in recent years despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.

There are over 2,000 US companies present in India and over 150 Indian companies in America and the number is growing rapidly which underlines the immense potential in partnership.

Harris County Mayor Sylvester Turner referred to the $14 billion trade that currently exists between India and Houston and said IACCGH has been instrumental in promoting economic engagement and facilitation of bilateral trade.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said that IACCGH has evolved into a vehicle of economic empowerment as Chamber ensures that “our region remains an economic engine of success by strengthening commerce between USA and India.”

Judge K P George, the highest ranking Indian-American in Texas, said, “IACCGH is a strong voice and asset for the Indo-American businesses facilitating commerce between the US and India to provide an American market for Indian products and vice versa”.

“Chamber has set a dynamic distinction during the challenging economic environment while standing at the forefront of creating opportunities for knowledge exchange collaboration and maximization of resources for your members,” George said.

Jagdip Ahluwalia – executive director and a major force behind the Chamber, who was recently recognised for being one of the Houston Business Journal’s 2022 Diversity Champions – said during his welcome speech that the chamber has come a long way since its inception in 1999.

“Now after two decades, it is instrumental in building bridges between India and Houston, boosting bilateral trade, economic growth, job creations and major investments, and is cited among the upper echelons of the US Small Business Administration as a model chamber,” he said.

“As we are hopefully coming out of the pandemic, I believe, we are well positioned to build on our successes and become even more of a force to reckon with in the next decade,” Ahluwalia said.

President Tarush Anand, whose term ends this year, offered an update on recent outstanding events and programmess that allow members to overcome challenges and seize opportunities presented by the new normal.4

He highlighted ‘NOW GEN’ initiative launched by Chamber this year, which is focused on engaging with empowering young professionals and business leaders. “I am excited about its potential and look forward to seeing it grow,” Anand said. Incoming President Rajiv Bhavsar was introduced at the gala.

IACCGH Gala is the annual fundraiser for the chamber that attracts over 700 attendees.

Credit: Press Trust of India