New Delhi, NFAPost: The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) announced its fourth Annual Leadership Summit, titled “Looking Ahead: Strengthening Resilience, Expanding Prosperity,” which will convene virtually this year from September 29-October 1.
The programme will include a range of strategic discussions between USISPF’s board members, including Fortune 500 CEOs and senior government officials from both countries.
On Thursday, USISPF will honor Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Executive Chairman of Tata Sons, Punit Renjen, CEO of Deloitte Global, and Rajesh Subramaniam, President, COO and Director, FedEx Corp., with the USISPF Global Leadership Award 2021 for leading the corporate community in their heroic efforts of responding to India’s second wave of Covid-19.
As part of these contributions, Punit Renjen led Deloitte’s efforts in donating oxygen concentrators to the Indian Red Cross and initiating an innovative program named “Sanjeevani Pariyojana” (the life project) to expand the hospital ward, helping patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 recover at home so hospitals can be freed up to treat the most critically ill.
FedEx donated three Boeing 777F charter flights of oxygen concentrators, PPE, and other critical supplies to India in May and June 2021. Under Raj’s leadership, the FedEx charters flew into Mumbai and New Delhi. In all, FedEx moved more than 50,000 oxygen concentrators to India in collaboration with non-profit partners and customers.
Natarajan Chandrasekaran led Tata in procuring medical equipment from other domestic and international sources. Tata Sons procured and distributed 1300 ventilators, 11,250 oxygen concentrators, in addition to many other medical supplies. Overall, Tata Sons committed Rs 1,000 crore (over USD $135 million) expenditure to COVID-19 response and related activities.
Congratulating the awardees, USISPF Board Chairman John Chambers said the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all of us in so many ways since the start of 2020.
“When the U.S. experienced the height of the pandemic, India stepped up to help us, sending critical medicines to Americans. It was amazing to then see that help reciprocated during the second wave of COVID in India. Partnership is built on trust, collaboration, and people-to-people connections. This year’s three awardees exemplify qualities of true leadership, as demonstrated by their tremendous individual efforts to help India in their time of need earlier this year. We are incredibly grateful for their courage, integrity, and hard work during this time of uncertainty, and are inspired by their actions to build a stronger U.S.-India partnership and more resilient global community,” said John Chambers.
Tata Sons Executive Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran said he is honored to accept the USISPF Global Leadership Award 2021 on behalf of my colleagues in the Tata Group working tirelessly on the Covid frontlines.
“I would also like to compliment my fellow award recipients for their contributions during the pandemic. USISPF has demonstrated remarkable leadership, strengthening the US-India partnership through a pivotal moment for our generation,” said Natarajan Chandrasekaran.
CEO of Deloitte CEO Punit Renjen said he is deeply honored to be recognized by the Forum and to be included among such an esteemed and select group of honorees.
“Business leaders in the United States and elsewhere are near unanimous in their belief in India’s future and are eager to invest in its people and productive capacities. This can be attributed largely to the Forum and their work amplifying India’s message and communicating its strengths to the business community in the U.S. and beyond,” said Punit Renjen.
FedEx Corporation President, COO and Director said Rajesh Subramaniam said uniting with the broader business community to mobilize COVID relief for India was a deeply meaningful experience that willstay with me forthe rest of my career.
“More than anything, thisrecognition from the USISPF honors the FedEx team members who have worked tirelessly in the U.S., India, and throughout our network to keep the world moving through the pandemic,” said Rajesh Subramaniam.
Together, the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum and its members mobilized the US-India Friendship Alliance, to donate 31,026 oxygen concentrators to 28 states and 8 union territories, along with 2 million rapid antigen tests and countless other medical supplies during India’s second wave of Covid-19.
The awards ceremony will take place on Thursday, September 30th beginning at 10:20 a.m. ET/7:50 p.m. IST
About the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF):
The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) is committed to creating the most powerful partnership between the United States and India. As the only independent not-for-profit institution dedicated to strengthening the U.S.-India partnership in Washington, D.C. and in New Delhi, USISPF is the trusted partner for businesses, non-profit organizations, the diaspora, and the governments of India and the United States.
