The National U.S. – India Chamber of Commerce

Posted by Steve Werner, Rotary Club of Denver Southeast 
 
Building Business Relationships 
 
The National U.S. – India Chamber of Commerce (NUICC) is based in Denver. This is the only national Chamber of Commerce based in Colorado and considering the importance of India in business and geo-political affairs, it is nice to know that it is in Denver. The founder and president of NUICC is Purnima Voria and she is very positive on Rotary because her four brothers in India are all Rotarians and her daughter was an Ambassadorial Scholar sponsored by an Indian Rotary District at Oxford University in England.
 
Purnima presented the following idea to District Governor Peter Ewing, who suggested that this article be written to determine how much interest there would be from Rotarians in District 5450. The idea is for NUICC to organize a business exchange trip to India so Rotarians that would like to explore doing business in India can meet with Indian business leaders and learn how to do business culturally in India. Purnima would also organize meetings with Rotary leaders for lunch or dinner and there will be time to see Rotary-sponsored projects too. Peter Ewing suggested that a Rotary service project might be developed as part of the visit so that might be included. Of course, a visit to India wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Taj Mahal and other cultural sites. Please read the following if you would be interested in participating:
  • Purpose of the trip is to develop business relationships between India (mainly the Jaipur, Delhi and Mumbai areas) and Colorado (mainly businesses in District 5450 owned or managed by Rotarians).
  • Trip would be organized in-country by the U.S.-India Chamber of Commerce, primarily by Purnima Voria, with some logistic assistance by Steve Werner. Cost of the trip will be reasonable, since Rotarians will arrange their own travel to India and they can choose from among different hotels that Purnima can suggest. In-country expenses will be for hotels, food, and in-country travel expenses. The costs will be known ahead of time and payment will be made to the Chamber. A deposit will be collected which can’t be returned after the deadline so the Chamber knows that Rotarians are committed to the trip.
  • Trip would be exclusively for Rotarians and their spouses/guests, so they will have a chance to have fellowship and fun while also learning how to do business in India and making business connections. The trip would be marketed as a Vocational Service opportunity and many of the Indian business persons visited will be Rotarians. Dinners in each city will be arranged with Rotary leaders and many of the businesses visited will be owned or managed by Indian Rotarians.
  • The in-country trip will be between 7 – 10 days including visits/meetings in three cities – Delhi, Jaipur and Mumbai – but there will be down time for visits to local sites in each city, a side visit to the Taj Mahal, and visits to see Rotary sponsored projects.
  • The businesses visited will be in sectors that make business sense for Colorado and India, i.e., energy, communications, bio-technology and medical, tourism, software development, and others. To a certain degree, the business visits can be shaped to fit the needs of the participants if there is enough lead time for the planning.
  • The trip would take place in spring 2015 with a return trip by Indian Rotarians to Colorado in summer 2015.
  • There would be no cost to District 5450 to organize this trip and this is an optional trip for interested Rotarians. If a minimum number of Rotarians don’t commit, then the trip won’t move forward and no one will be out any money except for the time expended.
Interested Rotarians should send an email or call Steve Werner at steve@stevewernerconsulting.com or (303) 809-8986.