Leaders in India is the inaugural Indian chapter of the world’s largest series of business leadership events to which thousands of CXOs make an annual pilgrimage. With recent speakers including Sir Richard Branson, Kofi Annan, Al Gore, Philip Kotler, Edward De Bono and Ricardo Semler speaking in cities including London & Dubai, “Leaders” command audiences of 1000s of CXO’s every year and has built an indisputable track record of providing the most meaningful, timely and balanced information.

Brussels witnessed one of the biggest Trade and Business Summits ever held in Europe. The theme of the Summit called “India - Europe Business Partnership Summit”, within the framework of “India Calling 2009” was held from 30th September to 2nd October 2009, and was attended by more than 250 business leaders and young entrepreneurs from India and Europe. The Conference was being organized by the Indian Merchants’ Chamber in partnership with the Europe India Chamber of Commerce and was held in the Hotel Conrad, Brussels, Hotel Sheraton, Brussels and in the Hotel Hilton Tower, Brussels.

On the invitation of the American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union, EICC corporate member Mr. Sushil Handa joined as a panelist in the WTO Public Forum 2009 took place in Geneva on September 29th 2009. The panel was entitled “Protectionism - What does it mean for foreign direct investments? Implications for global governance”. The AmCham had asked EICC to nominate a dynamic “Senior Executive speaker” of a company of Indian parentage facing foreign direct investment issues as a panelist on the AmCham-EU panel. The Session addressed issues such as the current and anticipated protectionist barriers to FDI in various sectors and across different regions or countries; what is the business impact of such measures; which global solutions can address these global challenges to ensure sustainable recovery and long-term economic growth, and what the implications for global governance? The panel was composed of business representatives from the EU, the US and a developing country as well as a representative from an EU institution, and was moderated by a representative from the AmCham EU Trade and External Affairs Committee. This session related to the first sub-theme of the forum (Finding global solutions to global problems: The way forward towards better global governance) by providing global business perspectives and solutions to the global problem of FDI restrictions affecting world trade in goods and services. The event was a major branding opportunity for companies and an opportunity to draw attention to particular issues that need to be addressed. It also provided a chance to network with stakeholders present at the WTO Public Forum hosted by WTO Director General Mr. Pascal Lamy.

EICC in association with the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) organised a talk on the "importance of creative growth in times of economic uncertainty", of CEO of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Mr. S Ramadorai on 9 June 2009 in the VUB University campus, at the debate on "India, Europe and the Prospects for Creating Growth". The Dy. Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Belgium and Indian Ambassador to Belgium and EU also spoke at the Forum.