For P.K Sinha of Astric Computers, Patna, it was a fascinating learning experience during his 21 day meeting and interaction with various stake holders moving around various US states on Cross Border Entrepreneurship. It was a Sub Regional Project for economic development focused on SAFTA treaty for Afghanistan, Pakistan and India on the successful model of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement).
"We had an overview by the State Department officials and visit to important places around like White House, Capitol building and Lincoln Memorial. We had a series of meetings with some of the great scholars, representatives of various chambers of commerce and industries to understand the global changing scenario and US proactive plans to ensure the leadership position. We also spoke to few experts on US constitution and state laws and how US politics runs. This gives me an idea that some political parties in India are also interested to experiment some of the US practices especially in the ongoing election and thereafter. But I am sure that the consequences will be different as India's socio-political and education culture are different. We were privileged to be hosted by US State Department at the Department HQ. We stayed there the whole day, had meetings and lunch with reputed officials and met several important people," says Sinha.
His meeting with the directors of California Chamber of Commerce is of particular significance. The chamber is an association comprising of several stakeholders, including a separate Chamber for immigrant entrepreneurs. The main task of the chamber is to explore, identify, promote trade and market access to the member companies globally. Chamber also arranged meetings, organises conferences and brings trading patterns together. It's a unique platform facilitates a get to gather to all business communities. In conferences, it also brings the knowledge community as well. Under Asian-Pacific chamber we suggested to establish a desk to deal with New Silk Route initiative, covering the three countries India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The total market of the grouping is around 17% of the world population.
Sinh expressed his gratitude to US department of State for giving him this unique opportunity to interact with various stake holders and experts on emerging knowledge and technology exchange with US and SE Asia. "After the series of meetings and insights I firmly believe that social, cultural, ethnical or language barriers can be overcome by a sense of trust between communities that allow exchange of idea, thus paving towards a number of collaborations including Cross Border alliances. Our conclusion is the learning that Business to business is the real way forward for economic development in this region to ensure peace, progress and prosperity based on the NAFTA model, " explains Sinha.
According to Sinha, the focus should be on Innovation-led entrepreneurship to bring smaller companies on to the global platform and we need to replicate US model Academia - Industry and Research alliance. "We have identified Collaboration in Green Energy, Infrastructure, Pure water and sanitation, Capacity building and Entrepreneurship Development to create masses of new jobs which will give impetus to consumer industries driving investment and growth. One per cent rise in GDP roughly adds 1.5 Million direct jobs; each job creates three indirect jobs, and each job supports five people. This means 30 Million people are impacted by one per cent growth," adds Sinha.