Chambers of Commerce present compendium on business teams accompanying president on state visits

New Delhi, June 18 (ANI): The three leading business Chambers of Commerce in the country, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) jointly presented a Compendium on Business Delegations titled, "Engaging the World", to the President of India, Pratibha Devisingh Patil, at Rashtrapati Bhavan here today.

The compendium is a reference guide for the work and achievements of the business delegations that accompanied Smt. Patil on her State Visits to 21 nations from 2008 to 2012.

The business delegations accompanying the President of India on her State Visits enhanced the level of bilateral engagements on these visits by including the economic agenda.

Issues of concern to Indian industries were raised. Memoranda of Understandings (MoUs) were signed and in general trade and investment prospects of Indian industry were addressed.

In her remarks at the function, the president emphasized the need for industry and agriculture to engage together so that high economic growth levels can be achieved in the years ahead.

She said that the rural economy also has to grow and the fruits of development have to reach the last man and this would only be possible if industry and agriculture work hand in hand.

Patil said that she felt pains when she heard that farmers are committing suicides. Like industrialists, they also are entrepreneurs, as they take risks when they sow their crops and are instrumental in feeding the nation.

Speaking on the occasion, the Secretary General of ASSOCHAM, D.S. Rawat, said the business delegations on these visits had a clear agenda and issues were discussed and implemented with the guidance of the President of India.

The Director General of CII, Chandrajit Banerjee, said the inclusion of business delegations helped Indian industry to receive exposure and allowed access to persons in high positions.

The Secretary General of FICCI, Dr. Rajiv Kumar, said the inclusion of the business delegations in state visits is a sign of the times, as the world expects India to engage with it.(ANI)