R-Day: Cyrus Mistry-led CEOs set to meet US counterparts

NEW DELHI: The reconstituted group of Indian CEOs for the US-India CEO Forum led by Tata Group Chairman Cyrus Mistry and comprising who’s who of Indian business world – Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, Shashi Ruia, Sunil Bharti Mittal, Vishal Sikka, Deepak Parekh, Chandana Kochhar, Kiran Majumdar Shaw, among others — will meet US counterparts in their maiden meeting on January 26.

The Indian CEOs comprising 17 members also includes Hari Bhartia Co-Chairman & MD Jubiliant Sciences Ltd, Anand Mahindra, Arundhati Bhattacharya, SBI Chairman, B Prasada Rao, chairman and MD BHEL, Sudhir Mehta, Torrent Pharma, Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairperson Apollo Hospitals, Anurag Kumar, Director, Indian Institute of Science and D K Saraff, Chairman & MD of ONGC.

The Indian CEOs of the Forum met among themselves on Wednesday night at a top city hotel to discuss the issues to flag off at the meeting with their US counterparts and with President Barack Obama, sources said. The US President and Indian PM will also meet the Forum that will be followed by a mega meeting of US and Indian business leaders.

US CEOs team at the Forum will be led by Honeywell International Chairman and CEO Dave Cote, who is the co-chair of Forum along with Mistry. The US list includes names like Indira Nooyi, Harold McGraw, Chairman McGraw Hill Financial and Ajay Banga, CEO Mastercard Sources indicated the forum is likely to discuss critical issues including visa impediments for professionals as well as totalisation pact.

Indian CEOs will raise concerns about issues such as the “Buy American” legislation passed by several US states as well as harsh treatment of pharmaceutical companies by the US FDA , sources said.