The Hindu Business Line : Assocham sets up offices overseas

IN an effort to foster global relations, the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) has set up branch offices in China, the US and the UAE. These branches would help facilitate trade ties between India and the respective countries.

The chamber is also in the process of setting up offices in Germany, Moscow, the UK and Africa. These new offices would be set up by the end of the current year, said Mr D. S. Rawat, Assocham Secretary-General.

The new offices would help business houses in those countries to identify areas of investment in India. They would also act as a bridge between businessmen in those countries and the Union Government to facilitate trade talks.

The chamber is also in the process of expanding its list of patron members. While the Anil Ambani Group joined Assocham four months ago, in the past two months, the chamber has added to its list Jindal Steel, Biocon Ltd, Suzlon Energy Ltd, McDowell and Company Ltd, and Punjab National Bank. This brings its patron membership to 65 from around 40 at the start of the current fiscal.

"The chamber has seen very good response from some of the biggest corporates, specially in the recent past. We are in the process of obtaining patron membership from one of the largest public sector undertakings in the steel sector, among others, soon," said Mr Rawat.

The chamber is also adding to its corporate membership, with the current number of corporate members at 1,200.

Going global also involves more international conferences on the chamber's agenda. In April, the chamber will organise the SAARC Renewal Energy Summit in association with the Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources.

"While all SAARC countries have confirmed participation in the summit, Germany, France and Canada will also participate to display their energy saving products," said Mr Rawat.