February 2019, Volume 1, No. 2
iPINews
A Forum for Indian Businesses in North East USA
(Covering states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont)
Visit to Welspun
Sandeep Chakravorty, Consul General visited the New York Headquarters of the Company and met with Julie McKenzie, CEO & Milan Gandhi, CFO.

Welspun USA, operating out of multiple locations in the US, Indian corporate, market leader in Home Textiles, creating Jobs & Value in the US.
Ambassador
Harsh Vardhan Shringla
Harsh Vardhan Shringla: is a career diplomat and a member of the Indian Foreign Service since 1984. Ambassador Shringla has held a variety of positions in New Delhi and abroad. He has served as High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh and Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Thailand. He has also served in France (UNESCO); USA (UN, New York); Vietnam (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City); Israel and South Africa (Durban).
Ambassador Shringla assumed charge as Ambassador to the United States on January 9, 2019. He presented his credentials to the President of United States H.E. Donald J. Trump on January 11, 2019.
Ambassador meets
iPIN Members

IPIN (Indian Professionals & Investors Network) members along with Bank of Baroda, New York welcomed the new Ambassador Shri Harsh Vardhan Shringla. 

Ambassador Harsh Vardhan Shringla met with members of the Indian Professionals and Investors Network (iPIN) at Consulate General of India, New York on February 6, 2019. He commended the dynamism shown by the Indian Business community in the U.S. and called them a strong pillar of India-US bilateral relationship. He also interacted with representatives of State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Air India and other Indian companies. At this interaction, Ambassador Shringla spoke about the strong fundamentals of Indian economy and large canvas of mutuality of interests, both economic and geo- political, between India and the U.S. He invited business leaders to fully utilize the investment opportunities available in India.

During his day-long visit Amb. Shringla had a hectic schedule interacting with a cross section of business leaders, professionals and think tank community. He participated in a Forum with business leaders including Mr. Ajay Banga, CEO, Mastercard; Mr. Purna Saggurti, Chairman of Global Commercial & Investment Banking, Bank of America Merrill Lynch; Mr. Charles R. Kaye, Co -Chief Executive Officer, Warburg Pincus; Darlene J. Rosenkoetter, Global Head, Government Affairs and Public Policy, S&P Global; Mr. Nik Deogun, CEO of the Americas and U.S. Senior Partner, Brunswick Group; Mr. Nalin Miglani, Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer, Exl Service Holdings; Mr. Harit Talwar, Head of Digital Finance, Goldman Sachs Bank USA; Mr. Mike Narula, Founder, President and CEO of Reliance Communications LLC and Mr. Chintu Patel, Co-Chairman, Amneal Pharmaceuticals.  President and CEO of US India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), Dr. Mukesh Aghi called on the Ambassador and briefed him about the activities of USISPF. Ambassador Shringla also met Mr. Stephen Schwarzman, Chairman of Blackstone, whose firm has significant investments in India. During his visit to the NYC Tech Hub of MasterCard, Ambassador Shringla was briefed about initiatives of MasterCard to promote financial inclusion. With Mr. Fareed Zakaria, noted journalist and author, Amb. Shringla exchanged views on global affairs, recent developments in India and India-US ties. He also met Richard Haass, President of Council on Foreign Relations. Ambassador Frank Wisner, former Ambassador of the US to India, hosted Ambassador Shringla for an interaction with members of the New York business and investment community.



Panel Discussion on GST
Consulate General of India, New York in partnership with US India Business Council (USIBC) & Grant Thornton LLP conducted a panel discussion on ‘GST (Goods & Services Tax) and its Impact on Doing Business with India’ on Monday, January 7, 2019 at the Consulate. 
Know iPIN Member :
Obeetee is one of the oldest and largest manufacturers of fine handmade rugs in India. Highly reputed in the rug industry, Obeetee was the first handmade rug company in the world to be awarded Woolmark, Wools of New Zealand and SA-8000 certifications. The company strongly believe in community welfare and sustainability, and have been pioneers in bringing the much needed changes in the rug industry. Obeetee rugs are sold around the globe by top retailers and custom rug houses, and can be found in many palaces and prestigious hotels. Obeetee turns 100 years next year.  www.obeetee.com.
What's Next
Upcoming events
  February 25, 2019 : Meeting with Community Investors in Boston

March 1, 2019  : Discussion on Formation of Credit Union at the Consulate