WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2008

CORPORATE PROGRAM

ADVANCED REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED. PLEASE REGISTER AT THE DOOR.

U.S.-India SME Summit: Leveraging Global Supply Chains and Integrating the SME Community

Featuring
Ambassador Susan C. Schwab, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative 
His Excellency Kamal Nath, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Government of India 

presented by
The Chicago Council on Global Affairs

in collaboration with
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry
U.S.-India Business Council
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
National Association of Manufacturers

The U.S.-India SME Summit will connect major corporate leaders in the United States and India with U.S. and Indian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Particularly, the event will speak to the process by which SMEs can amplify the global competitiveness of firms of all sizes. Large multinational corporations will offer case studies on the SME role in maximizing the global supply chain. In addition, U.S. and Indian government leaders will offer a vision for enhancing the U.S.-India trade and investment relationship and describe synergies in the manufacturing sector. Click here to see the the current agenda.

Speakers and delegates will represent a variety of sectors, including general engineering, machine tools, aviation, auto components, food and agricultural processing. In addition to Ambassador Schwab and Minister Nath, the summit will feature Richard Stephens, senior vice-president of The Boeing Company, Ambassador Carla Hills, chairman and chief executive officer, Hills & Company and former U.S. Trade Representative, Dr. C. Fred Bergsten, director, Peterson Institute of International Economics, and senior representatives from the National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council, the National Association of Manufacturers, the Export-Import Bank in Washington D.C., and the State Bank of India.

Conference attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in matchmaking meetings* on the following day, February 21, 2008, connecting Indian and U.S. SMEs and major multinationals to each other for new business opportunities.

Schedule:

• 8:30 a.m.  Registration and Continental Breakfast
  
  
• 9:00 a.m.  Welcome Remarks: The Honorable Michael Moskow, senior fellow for the global economy, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs and former president and chief executive officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and His Excellency Ronen Sen, Ambassador of India to the U.S.
  
  
• 9:15 a.m.  Opening Keynote: “Enhancing U.S.-India Bilateral Trade and Investment” with Ambassador Susan C. Schwab, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and His Excellency Kamal Nath, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Government of India 
  
  
• 10:45 a.m.   “SMEs and Maximizing the Global Supply Chain”
  
  
• 12:15 p.m.  Luncheon Address: “Strengthening U.S.-India Market Access” with Mr. Richard Stephens, Senior Vice-President, The Boeing Company
  
  
• 1:30 p.m.  Panel Discussion: “A Vision for Future Opportunities”
  
  
• 3:30 p.m.  “Enhanced SME Partnerships: Engineering and Manufacturing”
  
  
• 4:30 p.m.  “Financing SME Competitiveness in a Global Economy”
  
  
• 5:00 p.m.  Closing Remarks: Dr. Amit Mitra, secretary-general, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)

Location:
InterContinental Hotel
505 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611

Conference Price: $50 (includes matchmaking Feb. 21)

*To Request an SME Matchmaking Meeting on February 21, 2008, please see below.

A major Indian Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) business delegation of 65 Indian companies from a wide range of sectors including Agri and Food Processing, Automotive Components, Engineering Goods/Instrumentation, Chemicals/Fertilizers, Electrical Goods, Bio-Technology, Pharmaceuticals/Medical Equipment, Logistics, Water Treatment/Waste Management, Plastics, IT/Consultancy, Wood Products, Textiles/Gift Items/Ethnic Items/Leather, Aluminum, Financial Services and Consultancy/Trade Advisory Services will be visiting Chicago from February 20-21, 2008 in connection with an Indo-US SME Summit being organized by the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) in collaboration with The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, the US-India Business Council, the National Association of Manufacturers and the Illinois Department of Economic Development. Details of the Indian companies can be obtained from the following weblinks:
- <http://www.ficci.com/events/events.htm>
- <http://www.ficci.com/events/events-ahead/feb08/feb08-us.htm>

The Indian company representatives would be available for matchmaking meetings on February 21. Interested US companies are requested to contact Mr. Umesh Kumar, Second Secretary (Commerce), Embassy of India, Washington, DC 2008, Tel. No. 202-9399834, Fax No. 202-7974693, E-Mail: ukumar@indiagov.org or Ms. Puneeta Priyadarshini, Director, FICCI, Tel. No. 202-7767181 (O), Fax No. 202-3318703, Mobile No. 202-9573001, E-Mail: puneeta@ficci.com.