(Image source from: Deccanchronicle.com)

Indian-American Appointed As New Prez Of USIBC:- According to an official announcement, Nisha Desai Biswal, has been appointed as the new president of US India Business Council (USIBC). She had earlier served as the assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia in the US Department of State from 2013 to 2017.

Biswal, in her tenure, spearheaded the India and South Asia policy of the previous Obama Administration. The USIBC said yesterday, with effect from October 23, Biswal will join the US chamber.

She will replace Mukesh Aghi, who quit USIBC in July. Mr. Mukesh quit USIBC due to the differences he had over the working and imposing style of US Chambers of Commerce, which tried undue interfere in the independent working of the US India Business Council. The entire board of USIBC moved out of it and have now created US India Strategic and Partnership Forum. Mr. Aghi is the head of the forum.

Recently, Biswal was a senior advisor with the Albright Stonebridge Group. She helped expand the firms India and South Asia practice.

“She is a driven, visionary leader who has a strong record of advancing United States business across the growth markets of Asia and throughout India. Under her strong leadership, were confident the US-India Business Council will play a critical role growing commercial partnership, investment, and innovation across the world’s oldest and largest democracies,” said Myron Brilliant, US Chamber executive vice president and head of International Affairs.

During a period of unprecedented cooperation, the US-India strategic partnership was overseen by Biswal, including launching the US-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue. The prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award was awarded to Biswal by the President in January 2017. At the US Agency for International Development (USAID), Biswal served as Assistant Administrator for Asia.

Serving as staff director on the State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee and the Foreign Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives, Biswal, also spent over ten years on Capitol Hill.

“As one of the most significant and fastest growing markets, India is an important economic partner for the United States. Likewise, Indian companies are investing in ever greater numbers here in the United States,” Biswal said.

“I am proud to be part of an organisation which will play such a critical role in shaping US-India relations, and I am thrilled at the chance to help our companies deliver a brighter, more prosperous future for the citizens of the United States and India,” she said.

SUPRAJA