Savannah hosts 2nd annual India’s supply chain conference
ISCMOC Award winners with Honorable Ajit Kumar, Consul General of India, Atlanta (2nd from left); Honorable Edna Branch Jackson, Mayor of Savannah, Georgia; and Ms. Judy Reinke, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs, U.S. Commercial Service, India.
(Photos: Bytegraph)
The USA India Business Summit (UIBS) is the largest conference in the Southeast USA promoting business relations between the USA and India. The goal of UIBS is to bring investment, partnerships, and businesses between the United States and India on a common platform and accelerate growth in key areas of science & technology, energy, supply chain, logistics, infrastructure, investment, etc. The 2nd annual India's Supply Chain: Markets and Opportunities Conference (ISCMOC) in the port city of Savannah, Georgia was successfully organized by UIBS and attended by about 95 delegates.
Honorable Edna Branch Jackson, Mayor of Savannah, inaugurated the conference on April 2nd, saying that Savannah is rich in history and heritage and that delegates were welcome to explore the largest historic district in the US as tourist and businesspersons.
Mr. Ani Agnihotri, Program Chairman India's Supply Chain: Markets and Opportunities Conference (ISCMOC); Honorable Ajit Kumar, Consul General of India, Atlanta; Honorable Edna Branch Jackson, Mayor of Savannah, Georgia; Dr. John R. McIntyre, Director of the Georgia Tech – CIBER.
Considering the rapid expansion and globalization of India's Supply Chain were presenting partners USA India Business Summit (UIBS), Georgia Ports Authority, Georgia Tech Center for International Business Education and Research, and Georgia College. Keynote speakers were Honorable Ajit Kumar, Consul General of India, Atlanta and Ms. Judy Reinke, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs, U.S. Commercial Service, India. India's trade with the U.S. touched USD $100 billion last year and has a potential to grow to USD $ 1 trillion. Indian businesses are creating value, wealth, and thousands of jobs in the USA.
India, with growth at a predicted 5%, better than expected, is one of the most promising markets in agriculture, engineering goods, fast moving consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, textiles, infrastructural projects, and telecoms. This rise has helped its logistics markets and is likely to gain momentum as India finds creative ways to lead the wave of recoveries in the current evolving global downturn. Fast-paced growth in the Indian industrial sector coupled with its continuous ascent in agricultural production and distribution have required a rapid extension of India's supply chains across a continental-sized mosaic-like country to ease distribution and sourcing of production.
Mr. Ani Agnihotri, Program Chairman India's Supply Chain: Markets and Opportunities Conference (ISCMOC); Honorable Edna Branch Jackson, Mayor of Savannah, Georgia; Honorable Ajit Kumar, Consul General of India, Atlanta; Ms. Judy Reinke, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs, U.S. Commercial Service, INDIA; Dr. John R. McIntyre, Director of the Georgia Tech – CIBER.
Indian distribution entails numerous layers of intermediaries and retailers across a widespread and complex country characterized by cultural and linguistic diversity. This complexity and the particular moment in India's economic history create opportunities for logistics service providers, established in other national and regional markets, to consolidate a lasting foothold in the Indian marketplace.
The time is long gone when India's creaking road and rail networks limited its ability to make the leap forward into the global markets. Large-scale projects now dot India's geography, harbingers of the tremendous growth potential and pent-up demand for a more efficient, state of the art, logistical network to respond to the economic and demographic march forward.
Twenty-two speakers participated in six panel sessions. According to Ani Agnihotri, Conference Chair, Georgia has a growing relationship with India. Both Georgia and the Indian business community have plenty of opportunities to explore in traditional areas such as software and technology as well as emerging areas of pharma and supply chain.
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