• Seven NRIs Appointed to Michigan Advisory Council
• India Initiative 2005 Launched in Warshaw

• Downer Says Yes to India's UN Bid
• New Delhi Can Play a Leading Role in World politics

The Michigan Governor, Jennifer Granholm, has nominated as many as seven Indo-Americans to the newly reconstituted Advisory Council on Asian and Pacific American Affairs. Topping the list of the Indo-Americans is Radha Krishnan, president elect of the National Federation of India American Associations, and a prominent community leader in United States. The first meeting of the Council is scheduled for June 27 (Monday), wherein the agenda is mostly related to civil rights issue. The council is charged with serving in an advisory capacity to the governor and alerting Granholm to pertinent issues within the Asian and Pacific American community. It will also make recommendations about programs and policies for betterment of Asian and Pacific Islanders in Michigan and will help promote public awareness of Asian and Pacific American culture and accomplishments. Among other Indo-Americans nominated to the Advisory Council are Anand S. Prasad, professor at Wayne State University School of medicine; Ganesh Reddy, who is director of business development for HTC Global Services, Inc (an IT company); and Narendra Kumar, an eminent medical specialist.

Courtesy: Hindustan Times, June 25, 2005

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Close on the heels of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Poland, a multi product exhibition "India Initiative 2005" opened at the historical Palace of Culture in Warsaw. "The significance of this event is that for the first time ever, we have more than 150 Indian businessmen and companies participating in an exclusive Indian exhibition in Poland" said the Indian Ambassador to Poland, Anil Wadhwa, at the opening ceremony, attended by Polish ministers, business and the media. India Initiative 2005" is a reflection of the fast changing scenario in Indo - Polish bilateral trade and investments. Last year we generated the best results since 1990s - over $400 million in bilateral trade " said Ambassador Wadhwa at a press conference earlier this week to launch the event. The $400 million mark translated into a 30% growth in bilateral trade and a 40% growth of India's exports to Poland. Ambassador Wadhwa informed that in the first quarter of 2005, bilateral trade has continued to grow at a rate of 30%. "Poland" he said, is an interesting country for India because it is now an EU member, and a spring board as well as entry point for the larger, combined EU market, and India is interested in investments in the ferrous as well as non-ferrous sectors, as well as automotive components and parts, textiles and pharmaceuticals". Traditional Indian handicrafts, jewellery, textiles, leather etc. are being displayed at the exhibition along with IT companies, pharmaceuticals, steel and chemicals, which have seen a boom in recent years. Four state governments - Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat- are sponsoring their companies at the exhibition, coordinated by the All India Association of Industries in cooperation with the Indian embassy, and have high hopes from the event. Indo-Polish trade is set to receive a further boost in October, when LOT (Polish Airlines) will resume three flights a week to New Delhi from Warsaw. The exhibition also includes display of traditional Indian crafts like tie and dying, carpet weaving, khadi spinning and embroidery. India's leading pop singer Mehnaz will present the face of a modern India in Poland, which is already hooked on traditional Indian dance forms, with a live concert at the Palace of Culture followed by Indian wine tasting - another first in Poland.

Courtesy: Hindustan Times, June 18, 2005

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Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer today said he saw a "reasonable chance'' for an expansion of UN Security Council in September. He also conveyed Canberra's support for India's bid for a permanent seat in the council. "I don't think it would be appropriate to exclude India as a permanent member of the (expanded) Security Council...finessing is required of the draft resolution mooted by the G-4 (comprising India, Brazil, Japan and Germany on expansion of the security council). If this is done, it will have a good chance of passage,'' he said. Downer, who held wide-ranging talks with his counterpart, K. Natwar Singh today, said both sides had agreed to jointly hold an exhibition of Sir Donald Bradman's memorabilia in India. Exhibits will be taken from various museums in Australia and sent to India. The exhibition will travel to all major metropolitan cities of the country. Besides this, the two sides discussed ways to expand cooperation in trade and security of sea lanes in the Indian Ocean. Downer also indicated that Australian Prime Minister John Howard may visit India soon.

Courtesy: The Indian Express, June 09, 2005

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Iceland president Olafur Grimsson, who takes pride in his long association with India, says New Delhi can play a leading role in world politics provided it does not remain engrossed in domestic affairs. ``India has the opportunity to play a leading role on the world stage and not be solely occupied with problems at home. It has an economic advantage, a vibrant democracy and has established peace in a reasonable way with its neighbours and relations with Europe and the United States,'' Mr. Grimsson told correspondents who are accompanying President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on his four-nation tour.Indian economy had turned around and, having a democracy that stood the test of time, the country could have its voice heard on the world stage. Mr. Grimsson said both India and Iceland got independence around the same time. Recalling his association with Indian leaders since Indira Gandhi, he talked glowingly of his special relationship with Rajiv Gandhi. Congress president Sonia Gandhi was his personal guest in 2001. ``She came along with Manmohan Singh and Natwar Singh. She was the Leader of the Opposition and today the Congress is leading the Government,'' he said emphasising that he always stood for friends irrespective of the positions they did or did not hold. A photograph in gilt-edge frame showing the Congress leaders during their visit to Iceland adornshis official residence and shares space with those of Russian President Vladimir Putin and the former United States President, Bill Clinton. Mr. Grimsson is confident that Mr. Kalam's current visit will open new vistas of cooperation in the fields of pharmaceuticals, aviation, earthquake research, information technology and geo-thermal energy. Iceland wants to join hands with India and become a major player in pharmaceuticals and information technology. He has been pursuing the launching of air services linking India to Europe and America with Iceland as the hub. Considering that Iceland has been a pioneer in low-cost air service, he says the current agreements could work wonders.

Courtesy: The Hindu, June 02, 2005

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