SCI attends business lunch at Asia House.

ASIA HOUSE PLAYED host to SCI and 30 business leaders at a luncheon meeting on 31 March 2008.

Ram Vilas Paswan, Indian Minister of Chemicals, Fertilizers and Steel, talked about the importance of recognising business opportunities across the sectors he represents, which include pharma, chemicals (including petrochemicals) and steel.

The event was attended by SCI's Honorary President John Beacham CBE, Board of Trustee Chairman Sandy Gray and Chief Executive Andrew Ladds, who were delighted to meet up again with Kumaresh C Misra, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals. Mr Misra, who had been present at the opening of SCI India back in November 2007, gave an informative presentation on the fast growing economy of India, high-lighting a GDP growth of 9.4% during 2007.

The reception was a recognition of the special relationship between SCI and the Ministry of Chemicals, Fertilizers and Steel, which has been further strengthened through its long association with SCI India Executive Chairman Pradip Dave in the agricultural field in India.

Global Innovations Imperatives

SCI is expecting the Minister of Chemicals, Fertilizers and Steel, or a senior official from the ministry, to grace its Global Innovations Imperatives (Gii) Global Water Solutions conference. It will be held on 19 and 20 June in Delhi at the headquarters of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Further information on the Gii venture, which is in collaboration with the American Chemical Society, can be found at www. thegii.org/gii/.