Seminars on ADB Projects
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At Delhi: Mr. Ajay Sahai, Director General, FIEO addressing the gathering. On dias from left, are Mr Omar H Tiwana; Mr Shigehiko Muramoto; Mr Subhash Goyal; Mr Robert Rothery, and Dr. R K Dhawan. |
ADB has approved loans worth $2.1 billion for new projects in India and has achieved contract award of $1.4 billion during 2007, said Mr. Shigehiko Muramoto, Head, Project Administration Unit, ADB, while addressing a Seminar on ‘Business Opportunities with ADB.’ The Seminar was organized by FIEO in association with Exim Bank at Niryat Bhawan on 12th December. A large number of representatives from Indian companies in construction, infrastructure, financial services and consultancy sectors joined the seminar besides diplomats from some of the foreign Missions in Delhi.
The ADB official further said that the total credit disbursal by the Bank for the year 2006 was $37 billion, out of which $7 billion was spent on projects in India. ADB assists projects in developing member countries in Asia through loans, grants and technical assistance.
The ADB official was of the view that India is currently witnessing infrastructure boom which is likely to continue for the next few years. He hoped that the Seminar would provide better understanding of ADB projects, procurement procedures and consultant recruitment policy and would thus encourage Indian participation in these projects.
Dr R K Dhawan, Chairman, FIEO (Northern Region) also shared the view that the Seminar would provide detailed information about the business opportunities offered by ADB and help Indian companies in the services sector to undertake ADB projects more effectively.
Dr. Dhawan pointed out that India’s services sector was increasingly getting global acclamation as the country was blessed with a large pool of professionals who were competent enough to handle all kinds of projects launched by international institutions like World Bank and ADB.
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AT KOLKATA: Mr. S K Jain, Chairman, FIEO(ER) addressing the welcome address. On the dais from right, are, Mr. Alenander Fox; Mr. Omar H Tiwana; Mr. Robert Rothery and Resident Representative & Chief Manager, EXIM Bank, Mr. Joginder Singh. |
Initiating the proceedings of the Seminar, FIEO Director General Mr. Ajay Sahai observed that ADB had been instrumental in catalyzing the growth of infrastructure in India, particularly in rural areas of states like Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir and Jharkhand. He added that ADB had floated about 100 projects worth $ 16.46 billion in India by December 2006 and most of the projects focused sanitation, health and agriculture in rural areas. According to him, ADB could be a key player in improving social governance in the country.
Earlier, Mr Subhash Goyal, Convenor, FIEO Committee on Services, pointed out that India’s services exports were rapidly increasing during the last 4-5 years and reached US$ 73 billion in 2006 from US$ 16.3 billion in 2000. Besides, said Mr. Goyal, India’s share in world services trade now accounts for 2.7%, which is much higher than its share in world merchandise trade. He is of the view that India is potentially very strong in services and offers world-class services in various sectors, especially engineering, construction and infrastructure.
Senior Principal Procurement Specialists from ADB Manila Mr. Robert Rothery and Mr. Omar H Tiwana made detailed presentations on ADB operations. Later, these specialists had informal meetings with the participants who sought specific information about various projects assisted by ADB.
While proposing a Vote of Thanks, Mr. Sandeep Gupta, Director (Services), FIEO observed that the Seminar was a good beginning towards making Indian business community aware of the projects sponsored by ADB
Another Seminar on the business opportunities offered by ADB was organized by the Eastern Region office of FIEO at Kolkata. The two-day Seminar beginning 14th December was organized jointly with the Exim Bank. Around 90 participants comprising of consultants and procurements agencies took part in the Seminar. The seminar aimed at disseminating information among consultants, contractors, suppliers and manufacturers on the projects assisted by ADB, both in India and abroad.
In his opening remarks, the Eastern Region Chairman of FIEO Mr. S K Jain, highlighted that the Federation had nearly 2000 service providers as Members who were actively engaged in providing consultancy services in construction, infrastructure, healthcare, tourism, etc. He hoped that the Seminar would expose the Members towards various projects funded by ADB and also help them getting empanelled with the Bank as consultants, contractors, suppliers or manufacturers.
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A view of the participants at Delhi |
| At Kolkata, Mr. Ghulam Geelani, Asst. Project Manager,J & K Economic Reconstruction Agency, Govt. of J&K inviting Consultants and Procurement specialists from West Bengal to Jammu & Kashmir. |
The presentations commenced with an introduction by Mr. Robert Roherty on ADB and its objectives, its constituents in the Board and its funding sources and funding patterns. The presentations then proceeded in two separate halls with a presentation made for consultants by Mr. Omar H. Tiwana, Principal Procurement Specialist, ADB, Manila in one hall and another presentation for procurement agencies by Mr. Robert Rothery, Principal Procurement Specialist, ADB, Manila in the other hall. The specialists informed the participants about the funds being provided by the Bank in various focus sectors for the coming three years.
Towards the end of the day one, the participating consultants and procurement agencies presented their credentials and sought clarifications on various points from ADB officials in a one-to-one meeting with them.
