GOPIO NEWS BULLETIN

August 2004

NOTE: THIS IS A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF GOPIO INTERNATIONAL, BASED IN THE USA. IF YOU DO NOT LIKE TO RECEIVE THIS NEWSLETTER IN THE FUTURE, PLEASE GO TO THE BOTTOM AND CLICK THE UNSUBSCRIBE URL. IF YOU FEEL THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HERE ARE USEFUL, PLEASE FORWARD IT TO YOUR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES. ONE COULD ALSO SUBCRIBE BY VISITING WWW.GOPIO.NET AND TYPE IN THE E-MAIL ADDRESS.

CONTENTS

• GOPIO TO ORGANIZE TRADE AND INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES CONFERENCE IN BELGIUM
• INDIAN GOVT. INSTITUTES NEW TAX ON NRI INTEREST INCOME
• SOUTH ASIANS MAKING HISTORY IN 38^TH CANADIAN PARLIAMENT
• NFIA BIENNIAL CONVENTION - CLEVELAND, OHIO, USA, OCT. 29-31
• NRIs/PIOs ACHIEVE

- MALAYSIAN COMMUNITY ACTIVIST TO SPEAK IN NEW YORK

- ILLINOIS TRIBUTE TO MAHATMA

• NRIs/PIOs ACHIEVE

- FLORIDA GOV. BUSH APPOINTS DR. PIYUSH AGRAWAL

- INDIAN APPOINTED NEW HEALTH MINISTER OF CANADA

- UK NRI ARTIST TO CREATE MONOLITH FOR 9/11 MEMORIAL

- THE ILLUSION GIRL MOHINI IS IN THE US OLYMPIC TEAM

- INDIAN AMERICAN JOINS STATE DEPARTMENT

- INDIAN AMERICAN NAMED CHAIR OF US MEDICAL BODY

• PRAVASI BHARATIYA KENDRA TO BE OPENED IN NEW DELHI
• CII STUDY SHOWS NRI REMITTANCE FROM US INCREASING
• NEW RULES FOR USA VISA APPLICANTS
• SIKHS IN NEW YORK POLICE CAN WEAR TURBANS
• GOPIO LIFE MEMBERSHIP AND CHAPTER FORMATION
• EDITORIAL BOARD

GOPIO TO ORGANIZE TRADE AND INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES CONFERFENCE IN BRUSSELS

INVITATION FROM GOPIO INTERNATIONAL TO NRIs and PIOs TO GOPIO CONFERENCE IN BELGIUM

The GOPIO Belgium chapter of GOPIO International has planned a Conference on "NRI/PIO Business Networking for Trade and Investment and Contribution of Indian Diaspora" on October 4, 2004 at the ITUH Auditorium, 5, Boulevard du Roi Albert II, B 1210, Bruxelles (Belgium).

GOPIO Belgium (www.gopio-belgium.be) team has been working hard to organize an event unlike any in Europe for NRIs/PIOs ever attended, witnessed or heard of. "If a NRI/PIO is serious about growing his/her business, he/she is advised not to miss this conference in Europe. Although there is no registration fee, a prior registration is required," says Sunil Prasad, Conference Chair and GOPIO Belgium President.

The conference attendees will have the opportunity to meet dignitaries including members of European Parliament, representative of the government of India and prominent NRIs/PIOs who have achieved excellence in their chosen field. The event will provide a great occasion to network with delegates from other countries and that itself could be an experience worth treasuring and benefiting from. Many delegates with passion, posture, conviction, and enthusiasm will be looking for people to establish contacts with and plan and discuss growth of their businesses.

The conference will be addressed by business leaders, and the best and the brightest will be on stage to share their knowledge and experience. Speakers from various parts of the globe are going to share information about the opportunities that are waiting to be explored.  Hearing success stories of people of Indian origin could inspire some attendees to take their business to new heights.

"We are going to have some great content for you to sink your teeth into. If you get only one good idea from the whole event, it may be worth the cost and could save you time and effort trying to build with a missing piece.  But there are going to be so many good ideas at the conference that your challenge will be to decide what to implement first", said Inder Singh, GOPIO International President.

"The GOPIO Belgium team has dedicated their time, energy and money to plan the program that features some really unique dynamics. It's not that you need convincing from us, but we think that you should come, meet and interact with dignitaries and delegates some of whom could be inspiring you with success stories in business and politics", says Dr. Thomas Abraham, GOPIO International Chairman.  "Everybody at every level needs their belief bucket filled. This conference is absolutely going to be the key for giving a great momentum."

Those interested to attend the conference may register by telephone 0032-2- 469 2677/ 224 0203, fax at 0032-2- 469 2677 or by email: sunil.prasad@coditel.net or sunil.prasad@icftu.org . The organizers have negotiated a special tariff for those who want a hotel accommodation and the recommended hotel is Comfort Art Hotel Siru, 1, place Rogier, 1210 Brussels (Web: www.comforthotelsiru.com E-mail: art.hotel.siru@skynet.be Tel: 00 32 2 206 12 85/Fax: 00 32 2 206 12 86). The hotel would charge Euro 70/per room, double occupancy for "GOPIO conference" registrants.

GOPIO International can be contacted at gopio-intl@sbcglobal.net or by telephone (818) 708-3885/(203) 329-8010.

INDIAN GOVT. INSTITUTES NEW TAX ON NRI INTEREST INCOME

In the new budget introduced in the Indian parliament, Finance Minister P. Chidabaram, announced the withdrawal of tax exemption on income earned by way of interest on non-resident (external) deposits. Earlier, all interest earned on NRE deposits in banks in India was tax-free. This, however, will no longer be the case from 2005-06.

Over the last few years, NRE deposits were hugely popular investment options with NRIs. Not only did the deposits earn substantial interests, but were also tax-free and fully repatriable.

Thanks to a swelling forex kitty, NRE deposits fell out of favor with the central bank, which gradually cut down rates. The rates on NRE term deposits are no better than those available in global markets. The rates on NRE savings account deposits are also capped and thus are no longer an attractive option. Even the inflation rate, which is higher both in India and in the US, works against it.

The government has also not rescinded the tax on income from outside Indian, which the previous government had instituted two years back. Earlier GOPIO had written letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister Chidabaram to remove this clause and restore it as it was before, i.e. no tax for nine years.

Those who like to continue on this campaign with GOPIO may contact GOPIO President Inder Singh in USA, Tel: 818-708-3885, E-mail: indersingh@sbcglobal.net or Mr. I.P. Shah in India, Tel: 91-11-2627-2989, E-mail: ipshah@yahoo.com

SOUTH ASIANS MAKING HISTORY IN 38TH CANADIAN PARLIAMENT

Ten South Asians/South-Asian origin have been elected to the Canadian Parliament. They have been elected not just by South Asian voters but all voters, based on the party they represented.

Ujjal Dosanjh, has made history again. He has been appointed Health Minister in the new Canadian cabinet. He was the former NDP premier of British Columbia, the first non-white to become premier in Canada.

Navdeep Bains, 26 years, has made history by becoming the second youngest person to become a legislator in North America. He will join Gurbax Malhi as the second 'turbaned MP'.

Nina and Gurmant Grewal have become, in Parliament's 137-year history, the first ever couple, and they come from Punjab, India.

Gurmant Grewal has been elected to the Parliament for the third time. He was first elected in 1997. Gurmant was Deputy House Leader of the Official Opposition from 1998 to 2000.

Ruby Dhalla, another Martin 'appointee', has won from Ontario.

With Nina Grewal from BC and Yasmin Ratansi from Ontario, Ruby forms a 'trio' of first South Asian women in Parliament.

Wajid Khan, who had refused to become a candidate in earlier elections, is the first ever Canadian of Pakistani origin to be elected as MP.

Gurbax Malhi, "the turbaned MP" has retained his seat for the third time. He has been Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labor (Human Resources Development) and then recently Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry with special emphasis on Entrepreneurs and New Canadians.

Deepak Obhrai is a pro in the Parliament. This is his third term. He was first elected to the Parliament in 1997.

Rahim Jaffer was the first youngest legislator when he was elected in 1997.

NFIA BIENNIAL CONVENTION, OCTOBER 29-31, 2004

The 13th Biennial Convention of the National Federation of Indian American Associations (NFIA) is scheduled to be held on Friday October 29 through Sunday October 31, 2004. The event is being hosted by the Federation of Indian Community Associations (FICA) of Cleveland, FICA president Satish Parikh is the convener of the convention. It will be held at the SHERATON Cleveland City Center. The program will be filled with stimulating seminars, youth and women sessions and an exhilarating entertainment program. Invitations are being sent to political leaders from the United States and India, Indian diplomats and movie stars from Bollywood. Please save the date and plan to come with your family and friends. Let us make it the largest and most meaningful gathering of ALL Indians irrespective of their religious, regional, professional or political affiliation. A truly an INDIAN Convention that represents the values of India.

Contact: NFIA Preisdent Niraj Baxi, Tel: 408-973-9161, E-mail: nbaxi@nfia.net; NFIA President-Elect Dr. Rajen Anand, E-mail: ranand2@csulb.edu; NFIA Executive Vice President Radha Krishnan, E-mail: RK4155@aol.com or FICA President and NFIA Convention Convener Satish Parikh, E-mail: satish.parikh@wgint.com.

GOPIO CHAPTER REPORTS

MALAYSIAN COMMUNITY ACTIVIST TO SPEAK IN NEW YORK

GOPIO has scheduled a dinner/reception/talk with Dr. Denson Jayasooria, Executive Director, YAYASAN STRATEGIK SOSIAL (yss98.com), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in New York on August 5th. Dr. Jayasooria will speak on "Issues and Challenges of People of Indian Origin in Malaysia." Dr. Jayasooria has been researching on the Indian Diaspora issues for the last one decade and has been working for Yayasan Strategik Sosial (YSS). Established by the Malaysian Indian Congress, YSS has developed a holistic, systematic and an integrated approach in addressing the social problems faced by the Malaysian Indian community. Special guest for the evening is Mr. Selva Kumar, Deputy Chief, SE Asia, UNDP. The program will be held at Maharaja Restaurant, 230 East 44 St. (Between 2^nd and 3^rd Avenues), New York City. For registration, contact GOPIO Secretary General Ashook Ramsaran at 718-353-1900 or E-mail at ramsaran@aol.com.

ILLINOIS TRIBUTE TO MAHATMA

On July 25th 2004, a ground-breaking ceremony for the statue of Mahatma Gandhi took place at Skokie Heritage Park in the presence of about 300 people including Indian Consul General Arun Kumar and community leaders. The part is located along the banks of Chicago River on McCormick Boulevard iat Skokie, Illinois. The statue will be unveiled on 2nd October, the birth anniversary of Mahatma GANDHI.

Omprakash Kamaria, President of the Gandhi Memorial Trust Fund & Executive Vice President of GOPIO Chicagoland, explained the genesis of the project and how it was possible to start this dream project, first of its kind in the state of Illinois. There was traditional Bhoomi Pujan ceremony by a priest, followed by interfaith prayers offered by representatives of Christian, Jain, Sikh, Muslim and Zorostrian faiths followed by remarks by President Kamaria, Vice President Vip Shah and Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen.

Crafted by sculptor Jashuben Shilpi of Ahmedabad, the life size statue is in a walking posture, the lower portion of the body being covered with just a loincloth, holding a book in his hand. Bespectacled and smiling, the statue brings back to mind, the struggles and sacrifices of the man for independence of his country, and for unity, harmony and dignity of his countrymen, through non-violent means. Similar statues have been erected in New York, Milwaukee, Washington D.C. and other cities to commemorate Gandhi's work to win Indian independence from Britain through non-violent protest, a movement which inspired other leaders around the world.

For more information, please send an email to Samir Shah, President GOPIO Chicagoland at samshausa@netscape.net

PIOs ACHIEVE

FLORIDA GOV. BUSH APPOINTS PIYUSH AGRAWAL TO EDUCATION PANEL

Governor Jeb Bush of Florida appointed Dr. Piyush C. Agrawal of Weston, Florida to the Board of Directors of The Florida Fund for Minority Teachers for a term of three years beginning July 1, 2004.

This Fund was created by the Florida Legislature during its 1997 session to create the minority teacher education scholars program -- a performance-based scholarship program for African American, Hispanic American, Asian American, and Native American students.

Since the inception of the program has provided over 3,000 Minority Teacher Education Scholarships to students attending 31 public, private or independent institutions throughout the state of Florida.

Dr. Piyush C. Agrawal, a businessman and an educator, said of his appointment I am grateful to Governor Bush for his confidence in me and I accept the challenge of increasing the number of minority teachers through this program in the state.

Piyush is a retired Superintendent of Schools and a former United Nations Expert in Education. Currently he is President & CEO of APS Technologies, Inc. located in Miami, Florida.

GOPIO congratulates Dr. Agrawal and wishes him all success in his new endeavor.

INDIAN APPPOINTED AS THE NEW HEALTH MINISTER OF CANADA

The Prime Minister of Canada Mr. Paul Martin has appointed the Indo-Candian Ujjal Dosanjh as the countrys new Health Minister. In the recent concluded election, a number of Indians have been elected from various parts of the country. The Canadian public, in recent months, have been demanding the socialized public health care system raised to a higher standard and Mr. Ujjal Singh will have a big challenge before him. Mr. Dosanjh was elected from Vancouver South riding. Ujjal Dosanjh was the First Indo-Canadian provincial leader to become B.C. premier in the year 2000. He came to Canada on Dec. 31, 1964, leaving India at the age of 17 and little did he know, think or imagine that one day he would be the health minister of Canada. There are about 700,000 PIOs and about 150,000 NRIs in Canada. Indians in Canada account about 3 per cent of the total population and 8 per cent of the Canadian economy is being run by the Indians. GOPIO congratulates Dosanjh and wishes him success in his new responsibility.

UK NRI ARTIST TO CREATE MONOLITH FOR 9/11 MEMORIAL

Award-winning NRI (Non-Resident Indian) artist Anish Kapoor will create a 20-feet-high monolith called "Unity" to be installed at the Southern end of a three-million-pound garden to be set up in Manhattan in the memory of the 67 Britons who died in the September 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre.

Kapoor has found a 60-tonne block of black granite in Zimbabwe that will form the basis of his sculpture. It will be shipped to Tuscany for him to work on before being ferried to New York, according to a report in 'The Sunday Times' (Jul 4, 2004). It said that Kapoor plans to hew out the centre of the block to create an inner chamber so highly polished that it will have a mirrored surface.

"The chamber will reflect light so as to form a column which will hover, ghost-like, in the void of the stone," Kapoor said. "The stone will appear to create within itself a reflection akin to an eternal flame."

The dead from September 11 will be honoured in 67 finials on railings flanking one side of the garden. They will be emblazoned with the country motifs for each victim: rose for English, daffodil for Welsh, thistle for Scottish, flax for Northern Irish.

THE ILLUSION GIRL MOHINI IS IN THE US OLYMPIC TEAM

The Philadelphia born Indian Mohini Bhardwaj on 18 July was named to the 2004 US Olympic team for the Athens Olympic games. Mohini (name means "illusion" in Hindi) began gymnastics at the age of 4 in 1982. For this 25-year-old sociology major from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), it has been a dramatic turnaround for the gritty young woman, who was selected after five days of training at the Olympic team selection camp at the Women's National Team Training Centre near Huntsville, Texas. In 2002 Mohini had injured her elbow at the US Nationals which almost threatened her gymnastic career. But Mohini came back, financially assisted by an endowment and in 2004 qualified to the U.S. Olympic Trials where she finished a remarkable 6th overall to advance to the selection camp in Texas. On July 18, Mohini was named to the 2004 U.S. Olympic team. GOPIO congratulates her parents Kaushal and Ms. Indu Bhardwaj and wishes her success.

INDIAN AMERICAN JOINS THE STATE DEPARTMENT

Indian-American Ash Jain has been appointed special assistant in the US State Department's Bureau of Arms Control to work on regional and strategic security issues dealing primarily with South Asia and the Middle East. Ash will serve as a special assistant in the Bureau headed by Assistant Secretary Stephen Rademaker.

INDIAN AMERICAN NAMED CHAIR OF US MEDICAL BODY

Indian American Krishna Sawhney, a general vascular surgeon from Detroit, Michigan and a noted leader in organised medicine in the US has been named president of the prestigious American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation. Dr. Sawhney, will serve the philanthropic arm of America's largest physician's association till June next year, it was announced on Wednesday. Sawhney was earlier the foundation's vice-president and succeeds Duane M Cady, who is chair-elect of the AMA board of trustees. Sawhney, who is on the staff of Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital, and serves as chief of surgery for the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, was appointed to the foundation's board in January 2001. He is also a director of the American Medical Political Action Committee (AMPAC).

PRAVASI BHARATIYA KENDRA TO BE OPENED IN NEW DELHI

A `Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra' would be opened in Delhi to promote the multi-dimensional welfare of Indian diaspora, including workers in the Gulf, Singh said.

"An autonomous institution, it will play a nodal role in addressing various issues of concern to NRIs," he said.

The Centre was "open and flexible" to the demand for attestation of educational documents of prospective emigrants in Kerala. The State Nodal Officer could attest such documents provided such authentications are acceptable to foreign embassies, he said.

The Ministry of External Affairs was also studying the feasibility of increasing the staff strength at Indian embassies abroad, especially in Saudi Arabia and UAE, Singh said.

Steps were also being taken to ensure that fee structure for one-third of 15 per cent super-numerary seats reserved for NRI children studying in the Gulf would be at par with that of Indian students.

CII STUDY SHOWS NRI REMITTANCE FROM US INCREASING

According to a study conducted by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Indias remittance income from the US is increasing at a rapid pace and touched $4.5 billion during the year 2003. This increase is largely attributed to the Indian professionals who have been increasingly making US as their career destination. The study further reveals that India had contributed the largest number of skilled professionals to the US during 1985-2000. The study further says that both countries will gain a lot from the interaction of skilled people and calls for establishment of a mechanism to set rules for an engagement in a transparent and explicit manner.

NEW RULE FOR US VISA APPLICANTS

Beginning July 26, 2004, applicants for visa to the United States will undergo the process of electronic fingerprinting. The new rule is applicable to any person coming to the USA from any part of the world. No additional fees will be charged for the process.

Children under the age of 14, adults over 79, diplomatic and official visas, and those for employees of international organisations (A-1, A-2, G-1, G-2, G-3 and G-4 visas) are exempted from this process.

SIKHS IN NEW YORK POLICE CAN WEAR TURBANS

For the first time Sikhs would serve as officers in the New York City Police Department (NYPD) with their turbans and uncut beards. On June 29, this year, New York City Commission on Human Rights issued a final decision and order calling on NYPD to allow traffic enforcement agent Jasjit Singh to serve with his turban and beard. The NYPD has not yet appealed against the decision.

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.

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 chapter in your city, please visit GOPIO website (www.gopio.net) and get details of chapter initiation (visit http://www.gopio.net/chapter_initiative.htm). 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, Tarzana, California, USA, Tel: 818-708-3885, E-mail: gopio-intl@sbcglobal.net

GOPIO Secretary General Ashook Ramsaran, Fresh Meadows, New York city, Tel: 718/939-8194, E-mail: ramsaran@aol.com

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, P.O. Box 1413, Stamford, CT 06904, USA.

EDITORIAL BOARD

v Dr. Thomas Abraham (Stamford, CT, USA)

v Prashant Gupta (Chicago, IL, USA)

v Sunil Prasad (Brussles, Belgium)

GOPIO NEWS welcomes NRI/PIO related stories from all over the world. Be a volunteer correspondent or reporter. Contact Dr. Thomas Abraham at gopio@optonline.net

Visit GOPIOs Official site at www.gopio.net or www.gopio.com