Venkat Raman –
venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz
The Indian government is revisiting its Intellectual Property Law to make it more attractive for overseas businesses with incentives to engage with their Indian counterparts, a senior diplomat has said.
India’s High Commissioner to New Zealand Sanjiv Kohli said that a robust IP regime is critical to India’s progress as a modern economy.
“India is keen to have in place Intellectual Property Law and Rights that would encourage innovation and creativity. There is a need to have a system that is complaint with international obligations,” he said.
India Unplugged
Inaugurating the ‘India Unplugged’ series of the India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC) held at the office of the New Zealand Trade & Enterprise on March 30, 2016, he said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is regularly updating its legal and administrative framework.
“The government’s programmes are designed to ensure that the country attracts global investors and commercial entities,” he said.
Mr Kohli said that events such as ‘India Unplugged’ will help cover the information deficit that hold back businesses.
“Such initiatives will help in bridging the gap and help businesses to tap the existing and emerging opportunities,” Mr Kohli said.
NZ-Punjab link
The highlight of the programme was a speech by former Minister of State for External Affairs and sitting member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly Preneet Kaur.
As reported in our April 1, 2016 issue, she was here with fellow Member of the Assembly Karan Brar as a part of a Trans-Tasman tour to mobilise support for the Congress Party in the Punjab Legislative Assembly elections to be held next year.
“New Zealand and the State of Punjab in India have many similarities. Both are based on agriculture, proud of their hard-working people and progressive in their outlook.
“I have had the pleasure of visiting many farms in this beautiful country and meeting many people from Punjab. I noted with interest that Punjabis are among the oldest settlers in New Zealand,” she said.
Maria Gray, Marketing Manager (India, Middle East and Africa), New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE) which is supporting the ‘India Unplugged,’ said that the Series will focus on the ‘painful experiences’ of New Zealand businesses dealing with or proposing to deal with India and the information that they need for successful engagement with their Indian counterparts.
Unique Opportunity
“This is an opportunity for everyone to not only get first-hand information from people who have already established business connections with India but also meet experts to seek answers to questions on trade with India,” she said.
Former INZBC Chair and current Head of Government Relations Wenceslaus Anthony said that the Council will run workshops throughout the year to educate and inform New Zealand businesses on the nuances of establishing and furthering commercial ties with India and its public and private sectors.
“This Series aims to provide information about running a business in India. INZBC has taken the initiative with NZTE in realisation of the pronounced need for making New Zealand businesses understand the ground realities in India. INZBC will continue to lead in promoting trade and business between the two countries,” Mr Anthony said.
Council Treasurer Bhav Dhillon said that the Series was directed towards ‘destroying some myths about doing business in India.’
“India Unplugged Series is not just ‘Meet and Greet’ events but an industry-focused initiative that provides a golden opportunity for participants to learn about the mechanism of accessing and using information from industry experts that would upskill our business community and provide actionable intelligence to do better business with India,” he said.
Photo :
Preneet Kaur with Maria Gray and Master of Ceremonies Sameer Handa at the INZBC inaugural ‘India Unplugged Series’ on March 30.
