Indo-U.S. K T I Rollout
November 29, 2001, New Delhi

Welcome Address by Mr Chirayu R Amin, President, FICCI

Ambassador Frank G Wisner, Chairman,U.S.-India Business Council,
Mr. Dean R. O’Hare, Chairman & CEO, The Chubb Corporation,
Mr. Albert A. Thibault, Deputy Chief of Mission, American Embassy,
Mr. Rajendra S. Lodha, President-Elect, FICCI,
Mr. Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman, Indo-U.S. Joint Business Council
Mr. R. Veeramani, President, I A C C
Dr. Amit Mitra, Secretary-General, FICCI,
Chairmen of the Working Groups of KTI, and
Ladies and Gentlemen

It gives me great pleasure to welcome such illustrious representatives of the US and Indian industry and senior officials from the Government of India. Mr. Albert Thibault’s presence today underscores the US Government’s commitment to stronger Indo-US relations.

Since the visit of President Clinton last year, India and the US are exploring new vistas of a multi-dimension relationship. Post September 11, both countries have reaffirmed their strong commitment to democracy, freedom, free enterprise and commerce. We in India appreciate the commitment of the US Government to remove terrorism from anywhere and everywhere. We are sure that our ties will emerge stronger from the recent developments in the region.
Over the 90’s Indo-US trade and economic cooperation has registered impressive gains. However, it still remains way beyond its true potential; it was in this context that we wanted to add new content to enrich the bilateral economic agenda. Thus was born the Knowledge Trade Initiative.

Historically, economics recognized only two factors of production, labour and capital. This is now changing. Knowledge has emerged as the prime wealth creating asset. Technology and knowledge are now the key factors of production. Knowledge industry has captured the imagination of one and all. I may mention that it was back in the spring of 2000 during the visit of President Clinton to India that we at FICCI and USIBC decided to work on the Knowledge Trade Initiative Protocol and it was during the visit of our Prime Minister to Washington DC that the KTI was launched.

On a more personal note, KTI holds a special place in my heart. The chairing of the Core Group Meeting of the KTI was the very first meeting chaired by me as the President of FICCI and perhaps my last as President, FICCI. I am very happy that the entire report has been completed during my tenure.

I compliment both FICCI and USIBC for the hard work they have put in to complete this exercise and for garnering inputs from the best and brightest in all segments of the knowledge industries.

I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the presence of Mr. R. Veeramani, President, Indo-American Chamber of Commerce. We have been working very closely with IACC through the years and would be happy to involve the IACC as partners in KTI.

May I now invite Ambassador Wisner, whom all of you are familiar with and have had the pleasure of knowing during his tenure at Delhi and during his subsequent visits as Vice-Chairman of AIG.