Seattle University to host meet on building bridges with India

Seattle University is hosting Seattle-Setu on September 6, a conference that showcases Seattle’s pivotal role in building economic and political bridges with India.

Seattle-Setu is scheduled just prior to the G20 gathering of global leaders in New Delhi on September 9.

Seattle-Setu will bring together a variety of high-level speakers for engaging and thought-provoking conversations. Pramila Jayapal, who represents Washington in US Congress will speak on “Opportunities for Seattle’s Engagement with India.”

Other speakers include senator Manka Dhingra, Deputy Majority Leader of the Washington State Senate, Avik Bhattacharya, Director, Global Strategy and Market Development, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Samir Kumar, Vice President, International Consumer, Amazon, Raj Shah, Founder, Shah Safari, Anand Swaminathan, Executive Vice President and Global Industry leader, Infosys Communications, Media and Technology, Pratibha Jain, General Counsel and Head of Strategy, Everstone Group, Pallavi Mehta Wahi, co-U.S. and Seattle Managing Partner, K&L Gates, Pallavi Shroff, Managing Partner, National Practice Head, Dispute Resolution, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co, Anurag Varma, Head of Global Government and Policy, Infosys, Meenakshi Rishi, Professor, Department of Economics, Seattle University, Prakriti Poddar, Global Head, Mental Health and Wellbeing, RoundGlass Foundation, Dilip Wagle, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company; social entrepreneur and philanthropist, Arun Lakhani, Chairman & Managing Director, Vishvaraj Group, Ankur Vora, Chief Strategy Officer, Gates Foundation, Sasmit Patra, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and Sunny Singh, Founder, Edifecs.

“As both India and the United States struggle with common challenges – such as climate change and threats to our democratic institutions – there is a great deal that we can learn from one another,” said Eduardo Peñalver, Seattle University’s President.

“Our hope is that the Seattle-Setu conference will highlight the importance of India to this region and position Seattle University as a convenor for conversations about India and U.S.-India relations and as a bridge between the greater Seattle community and the world’s largest democracy,” he said.

The conference will highlight the benefits Indian companies bring to Washington state’s economy and investments flowing from the state to India.

Distinguished legal experts from both India and the United States will share valuable insights on facilitating cross-border business partnerships.

Seattle has also become a center for philanthropic activities and leading social entrepreneurs from the region will discuss the social impact of their initiatives.

There would be panel discussions encompassing:

Global Collaborations: Embracing Opportunities and Overcoming Challenges.
This panel showcases the strong connections between Indian and US businesses, emphasizing the bilateral nature of their relationship.

While Indian businesses significantly contribute to the economic prosperity of the Emerald City, Seattle continues to provide opportunities for growth and success for Indian enterprises.

Speakers will explore their global collaborations, discussing both obstacles and promising prospects as they envision the future.

Navigating the Legal Landscape: Empowering Businesses for Transnational Success.
Leading US and Indian-trained lawyers will share their expertise on the intricacies of Indian law, providing essential guidance to businesses venturing into transnational activities between the two countries.

The panel will explore the legal hurdles that Indian corporations may encounter while establishing corporate entities in the United States.

Topics will include the evolving legal education in India to satisfy the demand for globally trained lawyers, the remarkable growth of corporate law firms within India, recent regulatory changes concerning foreign law firms operating in India, the shift toward arbitration as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism and the challenges posed by US immigration laws.

Empowering Change: Impact on Social & Economic Development in India.
As the Indian diaspora in Puget Sound flourishes, focus has shifted towards driving social and economic progress in India.

A plethora of Seattle-based organizations actively leads initiatives in the subcontinent supporting health, education, sustainable businesses, property law reform and more.

In addition, social entrepreneurs in India, collaborating through public-private partnerships, are dedicated to fostering economic and social development.

Esteemed leaders in the field will discuss their transformative work, philanthropic approaches and how they assess social impact and create ripple effects of positive change.

Other topics include Democracy, Development and Dialogue: Three Pillars of India-US Relations and Philanthropy and the Indian American Community.

During the dinner program, the RoundGlass India Center at Seattle University whose mission is to serve as a bridge between India and the United States, will be inaugurated.

“The RoundGlass India Center will convene important political, economic and scholarly dialogue about India in the Pacific Northwest and will strive to promote rule of law and economic growth in both countries said Sital Kalantry, who is a Professor of Law and Associate Dean at the Seattle University School of Law as well as Executive Director of Seattle University’s new RoundGlass India Center.”

For more information on the conference, panelist bios and registration, visit Seattle-Setu.