Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

US India Business Council and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) announce the Knowledge Trade Forum

Bangalore, India: November 29-30, 2001

For Immediate Release							Contact: Mr. John Harris, USIBC
June 19, 2001							Director Knowledge Trade Initiative
							(202) 463-5358
							jharris@uschamber.com

The U.S.-India Business Council and the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) are pleased to announce the Knowledge Trade Forum, the culminating event of the Knowledge Trade Initiative (KTI), to be held in Bangalore, India, November 29-30, 2001.

The KTI was launched during President Clinton’s trip to India in March 2000, and was subsequently organized under the auspices of the USIBC and FICCI. The KTI is a bilateral forum between India and the U.S. to discuss key issues affecting the trade of knowledge-based products and services between the two countries. The KTI aims to solidify Indo-US leadership in the knowledge economy by harmonizing bilateral positions on key issues affecting knowledge trade.

The Forum will pull together key industry and government stakeholders from India and the U.S. focusing on knowledge-based industries. The American delegation will be led by USIBC Chairman Ambassador Frank Wisner, Vice-Chairman AIG, and Chairman of the Knowledge Trade Initiative, Dean O’Hare, CEO of The Chubb Corporation.

A "Hollywood meets Bollywood" extravaganza will kick off the proceedings on November 29^th, followed by a full day of events on November 30^th focusing in particular on four tracks: IT services, biotechnology, e-entertainment, and bridging the digital divide. Workshops will take place throughout the day on topics including: accessing venture capital, entrepreneurial success stories, and proven paths to success in the IT outsourcing space. There will also be a contest for the most innovative way to deliver communications access, with an award of $10,000 going to the winner as determined by a distinguished international panel.

The Forum will also provide the backdrop for the presentation of the final report of the KTI. The KTI has formed a series of working groups to consider key policy areas that affect the trade in knowledge-based products and services. Over 150 international experts in each of their fields have met regularly over the past months coming up with policy recommendations for India and the U.S. to secure their positions as leaders of the new economy.

For further information and registration details, please stay in touch with our website http://www.knowledgetrade.org/.

The U.S.-India Business Council is a membership organization of almost 100 major U.S. companies with trade and investment interests in India. The Council was established in 1975 at the request of the governments of India and the United States to promote dialogue and cooperation between the two countries. Today the Council is the principal U.S. industry voice promoting policy change to deepen and strengthen bilateral commercial ties.