The announcement of the NIAPPI Business Council (NBC) by the National Indian American Public Policy Institute, to increase U.S. investment in India, as well as increase trade between the U.S. and India by tenfold in the next ten years paves the way for trade opportunities, economic growth and increased employment both in India and the United States.
NBC’s mission statement reads: “we aim to serve as a platform for Indian American business leaders to foster trade and communication between the US and India.” Whereas typical investors look for the best Return on Investment with single focus on maximizing profits, Indian American entrepreneurs would have an extra element: a heartfelt desire for increased prosperity of their motherland and a common language and cultural bond.
NBC founders include some of the most successful businessmen in the US. Current U.S. leaders including Congressman Pete Sessions (Texas – R), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R), Congressman Aaron Schock, Chief Deputy Whip, and Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgersh ave been vocal supporters of both Prime Minister Modi and the NIAPPI/NBC led by Mr. Kumar, Mr. Monga, Mr. Aangrish and Mr. Amrinder Dhiman. Chairman Pete Sessions is well known in the Indian American community for launching the “Sessions – Kumar Project” in the summer of 2013 to support increasing the number of Indian Americans in the US Congress. Support of US Congress is crucial in crafting legislation in support of the targeted increase in Indo-American trade.
NIAPPI took the first delegation of high ranking US Congressmen and business leaders to visit with PM Modi in March of 2013 when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Except for Republican leaders of US Congress, US administration had banned any contact with him until on the heels of his landslide victory in May of 2014. NBC has strong relationships with the Modi administration in India as well as members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Narendra Modi has already put in place measures within India that are in great harmony with the mission of the NBC. The programs are based upon the economic legacy of President Ronald Reagan, who created 25 million new jobs in the US during his presidency and brought the United States back to become the sole super power in the world. Performance of the Indian Stock market leading up to Modi’s election on May 16th and since speaks volumes about the confidence India has in Modinomics. A second super power is on its way!
Many of PM Modi’s economic programs stem from his identification with Reagan’s model from his presidency. PM Modi campaigned on and has begun to implement some of these practices of “minimum government and maximum governance” including tax cuts, acceleration of business reforms including acceleration of privatization, rein in budget deficits and eventually have balanced budgets. Modi’s actions are matching his campaign slogan of “government has no business being in business”. India is the world’s largest democratic nation. While campaigning, PM Modi presented himself as an economic leader who would take the necessary steps to rebuild the Indian economy both internally and internationally.
Shalabh “Shalli” Kumar, founder of the NBC, CEO of the U.S. based AVG companies and Chairman of the India American Advisory Council of House Republican Conference, has been influential in promoting PM Modi’s programs. “As Indian American businessmen, we fully endorse Modi’s economic stance. Having a leader who is putting economic measures and solutions high on his agenda will be a boon to India. The U.S. will see an impact as well.”
The NBC is also leading the fight against anti-India and anti-Indian American provisions in Immigration Reform Bill S 744 that will deny India up to $30 billion annually in foreign remittances. Mr. Kumar states that if passed, the bill could “displace up to 500,000 Indian software engineers in the U.S. on H1 and L1 visas, and could put over 5000 Indian American owned small businesses in the US at threat of going out of business.” NIAPPI and FIA, the Federation of Indian Associations under the leadership of Mr. Ramesh Patel and Mr. Ankur Vaidya in November of 2013 organized a march on the Capitol Hill to educate the US lawmakers to remove the anti-India provisions of the S 744 bill, and remain vigilant so that these provisions do not make their way back into the Bill under the guise of conference compromise.
The Indian American Community in the United States is exuberant over the prospect of according a spectacularly grand welcome to PM Modi when he visits NY on September 28th. However, both NBC and FIA are opposed to the idea of a few people attempting to hijack the event to seek personal prominence. Modi is no longer just a Gujarati or the CM of Gujarat. He is the Prime Minister of all Indians from all regions of India that cut across caste, religion or social status. The welcome should reflect that in a meaningful way!