The 4th Convention of International Business Linkage Forum (IBLF) was held on March 16th & 17th 2007 at Taj Mansingh New Delhi.
The convention was inaugurated on the morning of 16th March by Mr. Sushil Kumar Shinde, Hon. Union Minister of Power with Guest of Honours Mr. Manohar Joshi, Member Rajya Sabha, Former Speaker Parliament, Mr. Rajitha Senaratne, Hon. Minister of Construction & Engineering Services, Sri Lanka, Mr. Taua Tavaga Kitiona Seuala, Hon. Minister of Agriculture & Fisheries, Samoa and Mr. Dileep Choksi – Managing Partner, Deloitte Haskins and Sells.
Mr. Rajiv Podar, Chairman of the forum, in his welcome address emphasized importance of IBLF and how it’s been a platform for various governments. Also that this convention had the honour of having governments of Cote d’Ivoire and Samoa making presentations about opportunities in their respective countries.
Mr. Sushil Kumar Shinde, Hon. Union Minister of Power, stressed the role of energy in the high paced growth of Indian economy and how the generation capacity in Power sector has increased multi-fold and still has appetite to grow exponentially. He also congratulated the forum for its unique approach of bringing businessmen together from countries and creating a link of friendship and trust.
Mr. Manohar Joshi, Member Rajya Sabha, Former Speaker Parliament pointed about the important aspects of IBLF and using his knowledge of internet to quote from IBLF website that it believes in the era of cooperation and collaboration rather than competition.
Mr. Rajitha Senaratne, Hon. Minister of Construction & Engineering Services, Sri Lanka spoke of the construction Industry and opportunities emerging in Sri Lanka in the economic growth that the country is witnessing.
Mr. Taua Tavaga Kitiona Seuala, Hon. Minister of Agriculture & Fisheries, Samoa presented the opportunities available in Samoa and invited the delegates to his country.
Mr. Dileep Choksi – Managing Partner, Deloitte Haskins and Sells presented the essential facts of booming Indian infrastructure market and collated it with the Indian service Industry that has been the engine of growth.
The other sessions which were held during the course of the day were
Power sector: Chaired by Mr. A. K. Lakhina, CMD, Rural Electrification Corporation and addressed by Mr. Chintan Shah, GM, Suzlon, Mr. D. P. Joshi, GM Corporate, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and Dr. K. K. Govil, Former Director, Power Finance Corporation
Road, Ports and Real Estate Sector: Chaired by Mr. Unmesh Joshi, Kohinoor Group and addressed by Mr. Govind Sharan, Additional Director General, Ministry of Roads & Transport, Mr. N. K. Sinha, World Bank Consultant , Mr. Ashok Wassan, CGM (BOT), National Highway Authority of India and Mr. Leon Benacerraf, Founder Partner, Andria Inversions Inmobiliarias, Spain
Finance Sector (Infrastructure only): Chaired by Mr. P. N. Muralidharan- Director, Podar Enterprise and addressed by Mr. S. Sridhar – Chairman, National Housing Bank, Mr. Shailesh Pathak – Head, Public Private Partnership Initiative, IDFC and Mr. Sonalal Datta – State Bank of India.
Also there was a special presentation on Challenges & Opportunities – Infrastructure & Energy Presented by Mr. Hemant BhattBhatt of Deloitte Haskins & Sells which was convention’s Knowledge Partner
The second day of session on 17th witnessed a special session on Mining that was be chaired by Mr. Ashwath Mehra – CEO, Marc Rich International and had Mr. Sisram Ola – Minister of Mines as Chief Guest as well as Mr. J. P. Singh, Mining Secretary as one of the speakers.
Also there was a Special presentation on Opportunities in Cote d’Ivoire by Ms. Aissatou Seck – Special Advisor to the President and her team from Cote d’Ivoire and by the Ministerial delegation of the Government of Samoa.
