GOPIO NEWS BULLETIN
March 2005
NOTE: This is a monthly newsletter of
GOPIO International, based in the
CONTENTS
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NRI ADOPTION OF CHILDREN IN
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FIVE PIOs APPOINTED TO US
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US REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE AWARD GOES TO SURESH KUMAR
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THREE PROMINENT INDIANS HONORED IN
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GOPIO CHAPTER NEWS
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GOPIO –
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GOPIO – CHICAGOLAND TSUNAMI FUNDRAISER ON MARCH 5
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NEW SIMPLIFIED FORM FOR DUAL CITIZENSHIP
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NEWS OF INTEREST TO NRIs AND PIOs AROUND THE WORLD
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NRI GIRL WINS A POT OF GOLD
-
-
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NRIs IN GULF COUNTRIES SEND $9.5 BILLION TO
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SURVEY SHOWS SOUTH AFRICAN PIOs SUPPORT PRESIDENT MBEKI
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INDIAN BUDGET 2005 - NO TAX ON NRE DEPOSITS
GOPIO LIFE MEMBERSHIP AND CHAPTER FORMATION
EDITORIAL BOARD
PIO WORLD SYMPOSIUM IN
GOPIO BUSINESS COUNCIL GOPIO is a worldwide organization of people of Indian
origin (PIOs) established in 1989 in
PIO*
World Business Symposium
(Proposed program subject
to change!)
*PIO
= People of Indian Origin
Networking PIO Businesses Worldwide with businesses of
AND
Fourth Global Indian Entrepreneurs Conference
July 9 -12, 2005
Organized
by Business Council of GOPIO Intl. (
The Symposium will be held in English!
Expected
participants:
PIO businesses worldwide, PIO politicians such as prime ministers,
ministers/opposition leaders including members of the House of Lords (GB),
apex-bodies and EU/ German/ Indian businessmen and authorities, business
organizations, research institutions etc., Indian business forums and Chambers
of Commerce from countries with large PIO population such as Mauritius,
Guyana, Surinam, India, United Kingdom, Singapore, Malaysia, USA and India.
Day 1 – Saturday 9 July 05 – for PIO & Indian
Businesses
Tabletop
exhibition: 9 – 18 h
0900: - Arrival
of participants and registration
- Interaction of PIO business people
1400:
Opening session
Focusing on strength and investments of PIO/ NRI businesses worldwide
1600:
Inauguration of PIO World Business Session - Opportunities and problems of PIO/
NRIs in the host countries and with
1900: Cocktail reception (proposed)
Day 2 – Sunday 10 July 05 – German & EU
participants also to participate
0930: Coffee
1000:
Technology opportunities offered by PIO business in selected fields
1300: Presentation
by Indian state governments
1330: Lunch
break
1430: Presentation
by different Indian states
1615: Presentation
by various government authorities - ministries, Reserve Bank of India –
on investment procedures and new issues arising from the latest budget 2005/2006
1900: Reception and Dinner (proposed)
Day 3 – Monday 11 July 05 – for all participants
including German/European companies:
0830: Registration
by non-PIO participants
0915: Inauguration
of PIO World Business Symposium:
- plenary session & welcome
- Speeches by PIO/ NRI, Indian, German and European
Ministers; speech by President of BGA
1015: Presentation
by Invest in
1045: Presentation
by BWI - investment possibilities in various projects
in BW
1100:
Infrastructure and other projects in
1230: Lunch
break
1400: Product
session
- environment technologies
- engineering services
1600: Machine
building & Plant
·
automation
·
Information
Technology Enabled Services
- chemicals
1900: Cocktail reception (proposed)
Day 4 – Tuesday 12 July 05:
0830: Coffee
0900:
Plenary session
- speeches by various ministers
- speeches by Reserve Bank of
Banking and finances
- financing projects in
- financing projects in
1100:
"How to establish a company in
- Helping authorities for investments in
1230: Lunch
break
1400:
Product session
- renewable energy
- traffic and transport
- construction
- match making
1600:
Valedictory session
1800: End of the Symposium
**
Patrons & Supporters
(as on February 16, 2005)
The
following organizations have agreed to be either patrons or supporters for the
PIO World Business Symposium, which will take place in
1.
BGA, Federation of German Wholesale and Foreign Trades (German apex body as
patron of this event)
2.
Indian Merchants’ Chamber (IMC),
3.
Asia Pacific Forum of German Businesses (APA of BDI),
4.
Invest in Germany Berlin (German Investment Promotion Authority
5.
Ministry of Economics and Works (State of
6.
Baden-Württemberg International (state business promotion authority)
7.
City of
8.
Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
9.
Several industry specific German associations are also joining and supporting
this symposium
10.
Several chambers of commerce and industry of PIO have agreed to cooperate in
holding this symposium. GOPIO Business Council is in contact with several
Chambers of Commerce and Associations in
**
Contact:
Dwarkesh Shah, Indo-European Foundation, and GOPIO Business Council,
Julius-Hölder-Str. 46, 70597 Stuttgart/ Germany, Tel.: +49 (0) 711 722 2071,
Fax: +49 (0) 711 722 2939; www.gopio.net;
E-Mail: info@gopiobiz.com or
info@imexma.com
The
National Federation of Indian-American Associations (NFIA) was founded at the
First National Convention of Asian Indians in
The NFIA (www.nfia.net)
has been serving the Indo-American community for the last 25 years. NFIA
membership comprises all people, irrespective of their religious, regional,
professional, or political affiliation. NFIA had taken up several issues
affecting the community and has successfully campaigned on legislative issues
such as immigration to the
With the
theme, “Building on the Past, Shaping the Future,” the event will
provide a great opportunity to reflect on 25 years of service to the Indian
American community and chart out a course for future. The program will start
with the inauguration on Friday, May 27 evening at the Crowne Plaza LaGuardia
Hotel in
The New
York Celebration Committee Chairman is Lal Motwani who is also the Vice
President of NFIA. The program committee is chaired by NFIA founder president
Dr. Thomas Abraham.
Sponsoring
opportunities are available for businesses and professional practitioners.
Contact:
Lal Motwani, Tel: 718-470-1026, E-mail: lmotwani@nyc.rr.com or NFIA President Dr. Rajen S. Anand
(562) 537-1077, E-mail: ranand2@csulb.edu
NRI
ADOPTION OF CHILDREN IN INDIA
The
government of
GOPIO has
been demanding the repeal of the new VCA clearance rules for adoption of
orphaned children from
There are over 44 million destitute children and over 12
million orphan children in
GOPIO
CONTINUES TO RAISE FUNDS FOR REHABILITATION OF TSUNAMI VICTIMS
The
world's most powerful earthquake in more than 40 years struck deep under the
The GOPIO
has set up a Tsunami Rehabilitation Fund and appeals to everyone, the NRIs/PIOs
in particular, to open your hearts and wallets and help the unfortunate victims
of Tsunami during this challenging phase of coping with the tragedy.
Please
send your donation check to GOPIO (Tsunami Relief Fund) at
For more
information, please contact the GOPIO secretariat by telephone at 718/939-8194
or by email: ramsaran@aol.com
US
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASS BILL TO NAME
The US
Congress has passed a legislation to name a postal office building after the
late Dalip Singh Saund in his former congressional district in
Congressman
Issa, who sponsored the bill (HR 120) to name the post office after Saund,
said, "The Dalip Singh Saund Post Office building will honor an American
who followed his dream to the United States, broke barriers, and served as a
representative of the people. This Act of Congress will preserve Congressman
Saund's legacy and honors the success of all immigrants from
The legislation
will now go to the Senate for voting, and then to President Bush for his
signature to become the Dalip Singh Saund Post Office Building Designation Act.
Newly elected Congressman Bobby Jindal, who is the second Indian-American after
Saund to enter the US House of Representatives, co-sponsored HR 120.
The Global
Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), which lobbied Congressmen for
honoring Saund, has thanked the House for naming the post office after the late
Indian American Congressman. "Congressman Issa's support of HR 120, the
Dalip Singh Saund Post Office Building Designation Act is highly appreciated by
the Indian-American community. This honor for the late Saund is long overdue.
And it is also a great honor for the 2.5 million-strong Indian-American
community,'' said GOPIO president Inder Singh.
In
January 2002, GOPIO had organized the first major gathering including Saund's
family members, to honor Saund at a program in
Fiji
Indian community has announced the establishment of the
The
University was established under the organisational lead of the Arya Samaj, but
is run by a collective of representatives of a wide range of stakeholders in
education in
In line
with most Indian Fijian endeavours in education, the
With the
support of stakeholders in
Class at
the University begin on 14 March 2005. Initially, focus shall be on offering
degrees, diplomas and certificates in Commerce (Accounting, Management),
Economics, IT/Computing, Maths and Arts. During 2006, the
An added
attraction of the University is that it has decided to establish two
specialized Institutes. It shall be starting an Institute for Indigenous
Studies and an International Centre for Studies in Indian Diaspora. The
Committee for the International Centre is chaired by the internationally
reknown scholar Professor Brij Lal. The University, therefore, would provide
the first major international center for the study of Indian Disapora in a
developing nation.
Further
information on the University could be obtained from the Interim CEO of the
University, Dr. Ganesh Chand, phone (679) 6650292/6640600; mobile 9955709 ; fax
6640700, or email: unifiji@connect.com.fj
Expressions of support and suggestions from the global Indian community would
be appreciated and welcomed.
NRIs/PIOs
ACHIEVE
FIVE PIOs APPOINTED TO US
The US
National Academy of Engineering's (NAE) 2005 scroll of honor contains several
foreign-born members, including five scholars of Indian-origin. Among this
year's 74 new members are:
-
Subhash Mahajan,
Chair, Department of Chemical and Materials engineering,
-
Arunava
Majumdar, Professor of Mechanical Engineering,
-
R Shankar
Nair, senior vice president, Teng & Associates, Chicago
-
Raja V Ramani,
Professor Emeritus, Mining and
-
Subhash Singhal,
Director of Fuel Cells, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory,
They have
been recognized for their work in areas such as semi-conductors, fuel cells,
nanotechnology, building technology and coal mine safety.
They join an elite list of some 2000 engineers, including around 50 Indians,
who are lifetime members of the National Academy of Engineering and the
National Academy of Sciences (NAS), the highest professional distinction
accorded to engineers and scientists in the
Among the distinguished Indian-American scientists and engineers who are
members of the NAE and the NAS are Nobel Laureates Hargobind Khorana and
Subramanyam Chandrasekshar, Amar Bose (of Bose speakers), former Bell Labs
President Arun Netravali, C Kumar Patel, also formerly of Bell Labs, Raj Reddy
of Carnegie Mellon, P. Somasundaran of Columbia University, and Tom Kailath of
Stanford University.
THREE PROMINENT INDIANS
HONORED IN
Three prominent Indians from
NCICJ Chairperson Beryl Williamsingh stated that all three recipients
represented their professions with the highest of ideals, honor and “the
traditions of the value systems of their ancestors in relation to discipline,
commitment and hard work”and the NCICJ is delighted and proud "to
wish them further success as they continue to serve our country with industry
and integrity".
Both Mahadev Dukaran and Ingrid Mangatal are attorneys and were promoted to the
Supreme Court of Jamaica. Last October Pandit Ramadhar Maragh was awarded the
National Honour of Distinction (Officer Class) for 60 years of community
service as a Hindu Priest.
US REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEE AWARD GOES TO SURESH KUMAR
NRCC Chairman Tom Reynolds (R-NY) and the National
Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) have announced that Suresh U. Kumar
has been chosen as a 2004 Ronald Reagan Republican Gold Medal Award winner.
Kumar was selected on the basis of his outstanding leadership in business and
for displaying an unyielding commitment to President Ronald Reagan's vision for
an entrepreneurial
Only an elite group of business and professional people were
nominated to receive the award before the awards selection committee reached a
final decision. Kumar is also a recipient of the NRCC’s National Business
Leaders Award in 2003.
Commenting on the selection, Congressman Tom Reynolds,
Chairman of the NRCC, said, "Mr. Kumar has served as an Honorary Chairman
of the Business Advisory Council and has provided much needed advice and
support to the Council. This award could not have gone to a more deserving
candidate.”
Suresh Kumar is currently President and CEO of NexAge
Technologies USA Inc, diversified software services firm based in
GOPIO
CHAPTER NEWS
GOPIO
–
Preparations
are in full swing for the inauguration of the GOPIO Chapter in
Date:
Saturday, 30 April 2005
Time:
13.00- 17.30hrs (Buffet Lunch provided)
ITEM 1: Formal
Welcome and Introductions by all Attendees
ITEM 2: Aim
and Objectives of First Meeting
- Overview of GOPIO –
History, Aim, Objectives and Values
- GOPIO in
- The GOPIO Network –
Countries and Membership
ITEM 3: Promoting
Business, Trade and Ventures: Opportunities between
ITEM 4: Young
PIOs: Meeting the Challenge in Education, Business and Employment
ITEM 5: The
contribution of woman PIOs to the growth, development and prosperity of the
Professions and Business in
ITEM 6: Issues
of Concern that affect PIOs in
ITEM 7: Assisting
Schools in the Tsunami-affected regions of
ITEM 8: Guest
Speaker
ITEM 9: GOPIO
The
Convener of the Conference Raj Lakha can be contacted at 0044-1474 329985 (T),
01474 329986 (F) 0044 7768 685 397 (GSM) E-mail:
r.lakah@netsite.co.uk
GOPIO – CHICAGOLAND
TSUNAMI FUNDRAISER ON MARCH 5
GOPIO
Chicagoland, Indian Dental Association, Indian Pharmacy Association and Nartan
are organizing a Tsunami Relief Fund Raising Event on March 5, 2005 at
Plainfield High School Auditorium,
http://www.gopio.net/gopio_chapters/gopio_chicago/tsunami_fund_raiser.jpg
All
donations are tax-deductible. For more information, please contact Mr. Samir
Shah, President GOPIO Chicagoland at 847-508-7426 or samshausa@netscape.net
GOPIO-NAIROBI IN THE OFFING
GOPIO
President Inder Singh has endorsed a request from Markandev Rai, an officer of
the UN-Habitat to start a GOPIO-Nairobi chapter. Those from
Markandey
Rai, Special Assignments and Inter-Organizational Affairs Officer, Office of
the Executive Director (OED), UN-HABITAT, P.O.Box 67553, Nairobi, Kenya; Tel:
+254-20-623166, Fax: +254-2-623080, E-Mail: Markandey.Rai@unhabitat.org
NEW
SIMPLIFIED FORM FOR DUAL CITIZENSHIP
According
to
Ministry
of Overseas Indian Affairs secretary, S Krishna Kumar, has said that the
earlier cumbersome procedures for dual citizenship stand withdrawn. Instead, a
new one-page simplified form will be introduced. It will be made available at
Indian missions overseas in a couple of months.
According to Kumar, some changes are also required in the Citizenship Amendment
Act, 2003, following Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's decision to grant dual
citizenship to anyone who has migrated from
NEWS
OF INTEREST TO NRIs/PIOs AROUND THE WORLD
NRI GIRL WINS A POT OF GOLD
A
nine-year-old Indian girl, Shakiba Asif, originally from Kerala, has won 100 kg
of gold, worth about Rs. 60 million in India, in the world's biggest gold
promotion event at the Dubai Shopping Festival 2005. The family had obtained a
coupon for about Rs. 3,000 rupees that won the grand prize. The 10th Dubai
Shopping Festival, which ran for a month, proved to be lucky for the Asif
family from Malapuram in Kerala. Shakiba's father, Asif Naufal, works as a
timekeeper at a local construction company. The family came to
British
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, speaking on the "Growing Dynamic
Partnership" between
GOPIO has
also been campaigning for the same objective in various countries with large
PIO populations. GOPIO also passed a resolution at its last meeting in Mumbai
on January 6. The resolution reads as follows:
WHEREAS
GOPIO welcomes the reforms being discussed in the United Nations for making
this august body truly representative;
WHEREAS
since the United Nations Security Council was constituted five decades ago, the
political and economic conditions have gone through significant changes that
require appropriate representation in the United Nations;
WHEREAS
India, as a founder member of the United Nations, has played an important role
in peace, security and disarmament and also being the largest democracy in the
world and the second largest country in population, deserves to become a
permanent member of the United Nations Security Council with Veto rights.
NRIs IN GULF COUNTRIES SEND $9.5 BILLIONS TO
During
2004, NRIs from the Gulf region have sent total remittances of $9.5 billion
back home to their families in
To
check the massive outflow of funds, the Chamber recommended establishing low
rent residential zones to encourage NRIs to bring in their families and also to
encourage them to set up joint ventures in the country.
NATIONAL SURVEY SHOWS
INDIAN COMMUNITY’S SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT MBEKI
According to the latest national survey conducted by SABC-Markinor,
there is widespread support for South African President Thabo Mbeki among the
1.2 million people of Indian origin.
Dr Kiru
Naidoo, a
INDIAN BUDGET 2005 - NO TAX ON NRE DEPOSITS
In a major benefit to non-resident Indians,
INDIAN JEWS IN
An estimated 70,000 Jews of Indian origin live in
A majority of the Indian Jews hail from Maharashtra
but there are many from
The Marathi-speaking Israelis have been keeping their links with
GOPIO LIFE MEMBERSHIP AND CHAPTER FORMATION
GOPIO
Individual Life membership is open to all who believe in the mission of GOPIO.
The one-time fee is $1,000 for those from developed countries and $500 for
those from developing countries, or Rs. 25,000 for those from
GOPIO is
looking forward to opening chapters in all major cities of the world so as to
network people of Indian origin all over the world. If you do not have a chapter in your city, please visit the GOPIO website
(www.gopio.net)
for details of chapter initiation (http://www.gopio.net/chapter_initiative.htm).
The process involves sending a letter of intent to start a chapter by a
committee of five people or more. For more information, contact:
GOPIO
President – Inder Singh,
GOPIO
Secretary General – Ashook Ramsaran, Fresh Meadows,
To become
a Life member of GOPIO, visit http://www.gopio.net/membership_form.htm,
print and fill up the form and send it with a check to: GOPIO,
EDITORIAL BOARD
Chief
Editor: Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chairman, GOPIO (
GOPIO NEWS
welcomes NRI/PIO related stories from all over the world. Be a volunteer
correspondent or reporter. Contact Dr. Thomas Abraham, Tel: 203-329-8010,
E-mail: gopio@optonline.net
Visit GOPIO’s Official site at www.gopio.net
or www.gopio.com
