India Inc. braces for larger share in Iraq reconstruction

Tuesday, 20 May 2003, 19:30 IST
Printer Print Email Email
A prominent Indian industry lobby group Monday said it would send a delegation to Kuwait and Jordan to asses the situation in Iraq and ensure an active role in reconstruction of the war ravaged country.

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has also decided to send a representation at the World Economic Forum, which is to hold a special session June 21-23 in Amman, Jordan. A CII taskforce met here Monday to draft terms of reference on the future course of action on Indian industry's efforts to participate in the reconstruction of Iraq "All members of CII taskforce will assist in the Iraq reconstruction efforts and work in close liaison with ministry of external affairs, ministry of commerce and Indian embassies in the Middle East region," said the chamber after the meeting. Some of the companies in the taskforce are Apollo Hospitals, Godrej and Boyce, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Larsen and Toubro, Mahindra and Mahindra, Hindustan Construction, Ashok Leyland, Tata Consultancy Services and Wipro. R. M. Abhyankar, secretary in the ministry of external affairs, called upon Indian industry to come together and present a joint plan of action on Iraq. He said there was no dearth of opportunity in Iraq and Indian Inc. should consider operating out of Jordan, since the trade environment is free there and which could also serve as a manufacturing and warehousing base close to Iraq.
Source: IANS