Sunil Mittal calls on Hillary Clinton

A CII delegation, led by Confederation of Indian Industry president and Bharti Enterprises CEO Sunil Bharti Mittal, called on US Democratic presidential candidate Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton at the Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on Wednesday.

The delegation included Hari S Bhartia of Jubilant Organosys Ltd, C K Birla of Hindustan Motors Ltd, Tarun Das, Confederation of Indian Industry, Atul Punj of Punj Lloyd Ltd, Analjit Singh of Max India Ltd, and Kiran Pachricha, Director, CII, US.

Earlier, the CII delegation was welcomed by the US-India Business Council (USIBC) at a USIBC luncheon in Washington, DC celebrating their partnership.

USIBC president Ron Somers thanked CII for its partnership in moving Indo-US commercial relations fast-forward.

"We are indebted to the leadership and vision of this esteemed delegation of entrepreneurs, and to the commitment the Indian private sector has invested in supporting India's emergence as a global economic power. USIBC is grateful for our partnership with CII," Somers said.

USIBC board member, former Secretary of Defense, William S Cohen, underscored the long-standing partnership between USIBC and CII. He applauded Sunil Bharti Mittal on his leadership in building a 'global' India, and encouraged CII's continued leadership in deepening the US-India commercial partnership.

Wal-Mart vice chairman, Mike Duke, was also present on this occasion to celebrate the recent partnership between Bharti Enterprises and Wal-Mart, and formally introduced Sunil Bharti Mittal to the 250-plus luncheon crowd at Washington's Madison Hotel Ballroom.

CII's new president Sunil Mittal urged US companies to invest in India, and to be mindful that investments should be for the long-term and 'inclusive,' enabling the benefits of economic reforms to reach all segments of Indian society. "We must work together -- Indian and American businessmen and women -- to build on India's 16 years of economic reforms -- ensuring that growth is sustainable, reaching all segments of society," Mittal said.

USIBC celebrates its 32nd Anniversary on June 27 in Washington, DC at its 'Global India' Summit, which will feature Union Commerce Minister Kamal Nath, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Reliance chairman Mukesh Ambani, Boeing CEO Jim McNerney, US Trade Representative Susan Schwab, and US Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, among others.

US Democratic presidential candidate Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (left) greeted Confederation of Indian Industry president and Bharti Enterprises CEO Sunil Bharti Mittal at the Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Kiran Pachricha (center), Director, CII, US, looks on.

Photograph: Jay Mandal / On Assignment.