Conference for Energy Security on 13th Oct 2016

Conference Program

13 October 2016

Samrat Hotel, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi

1200 – 1330 Hours	Inaugural Session: “Role of BRICS in Energy Security”
	Energy security is the association between national security and the availability of natural resources for energy consumption. Access to cheap energy has become essential to the functioning of modern economies. However, the uneven distribution of energy supplies among countries has led to significant vulnerabilities. Rapid deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency, and technological diversification of energy sources, would result in significant energy security and economic benefits. India is also taking various steps to bolster its energy security and recently to enhance the petroleum and hydrocarbon sector, Government of India has introduced initiatives like the Hydrocarbon Exploration Licensing Policy (HELP), Marketing and Pricing freedom for new gas production, grant of extension to the Production Sharing Contracts and assigning the Ratna offshore field award to Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) for development. BRICS Countries can surely contribute towards each other’s energy security. With the foregoing theme, attendees and Policy makers shall deliberate the ways and means for BRICS coordination so that better synergy can be developed in the Oil and Gas front. Indian Diaspora plays a prominent role in the polity and business of their respective countries. Even among BRICS nations, the Indian Diaspora has steadily gained prominence. Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi has in his visits to South Africa, Russia, China and Brazil met with Indian Diaspora and seeks their engagement in driving their countries and their private businesses to partner with Indian PSUs and private enterprises. We seek to utilize the BRICS conference and attendance by our Chapter Coordinators and members to hasten this clarion call by the Hon’ble Prime Minister.
	Welcome	Shri Sushil Pandit, Working President, PIOCCI
	Address	Shri Naresh Kumar, Chairman – Deepwater Drilling & Industries
	Special Address	Shri K D Tripathi, Secretary – Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
	Address	Amb. (Retd.) Virendra Gupta, Former High Commissioner of India to South Africa & President – ARSP
	Diaspora Viewpoint	Shri Munish Gupta International Coordinator – PIOCCI
	Special Address – Setting the tone	Shri Raj Kumar Bhatia, Patron – PIOCCI
	Special Address	Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi, Member of Parliament
	Keynote Address	Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Hon’ble Minister of State (IC) of Petroleum and Natural Gass
	Vote of Thanks	Smt. Renu Sharma, Vice-President – PIOCCI
1330 – 1430 Hours	Networking Lunch

1430 – 1600 Hours	Session – 2
	Panel Discussion – “Opportunity and Challenges for Energy Security” Energy Securities and successful global partnerships. Considering the recent crash in Oil and Gas market it become imperative for BRICS countries to come closer and increase their cooperation in Oil and Gas sector. Russia is a major exporter of Oil and Gas, whereas India, China and South Africa are the biggest importers and consumers of Oil and Gas. Session will highlight the Opportunities and Challenges for the Energy Security.
	Welcome	Shri Chandra Shekhar Randev, Secretary – PIOCCI
	Moderator	Shri S C Chopra, Chancellor – Petroleum University
	Participants	Amb. R K Rai, Former Ambassador of India to Thailand Shri D K Sarraf, CMD – ONGC Shri Sanjiv Singh, Director (Refinery) – IOC [Chairman Designate] Shri Sunjay Sudhir, I.F.S. JS (IC) – Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri B S Negi, Former Director – GAIL & Former Member PNGRB Shri R S Butola, Former Chairman, IOC Shri S P Garg, Former Director (Finance) – OVL
	Concluding Remarks	Shri Vinod Painuly Technical Advisor – PIOCCI
	Vote of Thanks	Shri Sanjay Ganjoo, Secretary – PIOCCI
	Session Concludes

1600 – 1630 Hours	Tea Break

1630-1800 Hours	Session 3
	Diaspora & the new Indian Economic Order Indian Diaspora has come of age. 2017 will mark 100 years of abolition of indentured labor globally, a historic milestone for tens of thousands of the Indian Diaspora that was lured more than 200 years ago by Colonial rulers to far lands west, east and south across the globe in the search of opportunity. The 20th and 21st Centuries are marked by the Rise of the Indian Diaspora as affluent, a knowledge powerhouse, scientists and researchers, small, medium and multinational businesspersons who make a big difference in the socio-economic-polity of the countries they live. India throws up a new breed of NRI migrants across the world as India demonstrates a resilient economy with stable growth. A new Indian economic order has lured the Diaspora to extend their engagement beyond the emotional connect to economic partnership. The next generation of Youth NRIs and PIOs presents a unique opportunity for India to develop a special and unique bond with these global leaders of tomorrow. The Indian Diaspora discusses its aspirations and experience in this panel discussion.
	Welcome	Shri Abhay Aggarwal, Secretary General, PIOCCI
	Heralding a new era in Partnership – Diaspora hails Modi Government’s initiatives, seeks more	Shri Munish Gupta, International Coordinator, PIOCCI
	PIO aspirations- Indentured Labourers to Indispensable Indian Flag Bearers	Smt. Rita Abraham, Coordinator-South Africa, PIOCCI
	BRICS & South American Opportunities	Shri Shoban Saxena, Coordinator-Brazil, PIOCCI
	NRIs to PIOs – Diaspora breeds new migrants	Shri Sunil Hali, Co-Coordinator-USA, PIOCCI
	Fast & Vast New Frontiers -Youth Diaspora – A Vital link for the future but with Unique needs	Sushri Utkarsha Sharma, Youth Coordinator- Russia, PIOCCCI
	Engaging the Diaspora in India’s Cleantech Innovation	Sushri Amrit Raj, National Project Coordinator – UNIDO Global Cleantech Innovation Programme
	Guest of Honour – Defining the Paradigm Shift in the Diaspora relationship	Dr. Vijay Chauthaiwale, Head – BJP International & Overseas Friends of BJP
	Vote of Thanks	Shri Mukesh Aggarwal, Vice President, PIOCCI
	Session Concludes

1930 – 2230 Hours	Networking Cocktail and Dinner

Media Coverage

Indian Embassy organises business forum - Times of Oman

Continuing its efforts to promote bilateral trade and mutual investments between India and Oman, the Indian Embassy in Muscat convened the fifth edition of the India Business Forum at the embassy on November 28, 2017.

The India Business Forum has been convened twice a year and has emerged as a useful platform for the Indian business community. Some 200 Indian businesspersons, senior management and professionals attended the forum. For the first time, Sarmila Parajuli Dhakal, Ambassador of Nepal to the Sultanate, was invited to brief the participants about the opportunities for investments in Nepal. During the discussion, various issues of relevance to enhance bilateral trade and investments between India and Oman were discussed.

In his keynote speech, Indra Mani Pandey, Ambassador of India to Oman, underlined the centrality of business relations in India’s strategic partnership with Oman. He pointed out that bilateral trade and investments between the two countries had been sustained by the geographical proximity, port and airport connectivity, as well as mutual familiarity of the businesspersons with the business environment.

Pandey reiterated the highest priority accorded by the Government of India (GOI) and the Indian Embassy in Muscat to promote bilateral trade and investment. While expressing satisfaction that there had been a small increase in bilateral trade in the 2016-17 period, which reached $4 billion, and in the momentum of mutual investments which had been sustained, the ambassador drew attention to the huge untapped potential for bilateral trade and investments between the two countries.

He briefed the participants about the various initiatives of the embassy to realise this potential, including support to visits by trade delegations, roadshows and B2B meetings, and called for encouraging the participation of Indian companies in key sectors prioritised by the Government of Oman, such as minerals and mining, logistics, oil and gas, solar power, tourism, services, innovation, entrepreneurship and skill-development.

He informed the participants about the formation of the People of Indian Origin Chamber Of Commerce and Industry (PIOCCI) Oman Chapter under his patronage and the forthcoming visit of a large business delegation from Gujarat, comprising 45 companies, the next edition of ‘Invest in India Seminar’ (January 30, 2018) and the India-Oman Start-up Forum, likely to be scheduled in February 2018.

Pandey emphasised the key role played by the Indian community of businesspersons and professionals in Oman in promoting bilateral trade and mutual investments, by encouraging visits by delegations from various states of India and regional chambers, and the participation of the Indian companies in various priority sectors.

He called upon the Indian community in Oman to contribute to the success of GOI’s flagship initiatives such as Make in India, Digital India, Skill India, Clean India and Start-Up India, among others, and to join the government’s campaign to build a New India by 2022. The participants expressed their commitment to taking all the possible steps to enhance bilateral trade and mutual investments, besides supporting the various initiatives of the embassy towards achieving this goal.

Indian Embassy organises business forum - NewsDog

Business Forum seeks to promote trade, investments between Oman and India - Oman Observer

Continuing its efforts to promote bilateral trade and mutual investments between India and Oman, Indian Embassy in Muscat convened the 5th edition of the India Business Forum on Tuesday. The India Business Forum has been convened twice a year and has emerged as a useful platform for the Indian business community. Around 200 Indian businesspersons, senior management and professionals attended the Forum. For the first time, the Ambassador of Nepal to the Sultanate of Oman, Sarmila Parajuli Dhakal, was invited to brief the participants about the opportunities for investments in Nepal. During the discussion, various issues of relevance to enhancing bilateral trade and investments between India and Oman were discussed.

Indian Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey, in his keynote speech, underlined the centrality of business relations in India’s strategic partnership with Oman. He pointed out that bilateral trade and investments between the two countries has been sustained by geographical proximity, port and airport connectivity, and mutual familiarity of businesspersons with the business environment.

He reiterated the highest priority accorded by the Government of India and Indian Embassy in Muscat to promoting bilateral trade and investment. While expressing satisfaction that there has been a small increase in bilateral trade in 2016-17, which reached $4 billion, and the momentum in mutual investments has been sustained, Ambassador Pandey drew attention to the huge untapped potential for bilateral trade and investments between the two countries. The ambassador briefed the participants of the various initiatives of the embassy in realising this potential including support to visits by trade delegations, roadshows, and B2B meetings and called for encouraging participation of Indian companies in key sectors prioritised by the Government of Oman — minerals and mining, logistics, oil & gas, solar power, tourism, services, innovation, entrepreneurship, skill-development, and so on.

He informed the participants about the formation of PIOCCI Oman Chapter under his patronage and the forthcoming visit of a large business delegation from Gujarat, comprising 45 companies, the next Edition of ‘Invest in India Seminar’ (January 30, 2018) and India-Oman Start-up Forum, likely to be scheduled in February 2018.