Seattle-Setu Conference: Building Bridges to India

The strategic partnership between India and the United States to promote global security, trade and investment has never been stronger. 

Seattle University is hosting Seattle-Setu on Wednesday, Sept. 6, a conference that showcases Seattle’s pivotal role in building economic and political bridges with India. Seattle-Setu is scheduled just prior to the G20 gathering of global leaders in New Delhi on Sept. 9.

“As both India and the United States struggle with common challenges – such as climate change and threats to our democratic institutions – there is a great deal that we can learn from one another. Our hope is that the Seattle-Setu conference will highlight the importance of India to this region and position Seattle University as a convenor for conversations about India and U.S.-India relations and as a bridge between the greater Seattle community and the world’s largest democracy,” said Eduardo Peñalver, Seattle University’s President.

The conference will highlight the benefits Indian companies bring to Washington state’s economy and investments flowing from the state to India. Distinguished legal experts from both India and the United States will share valuable insights on facilitating cross-border business partnerships. Seattle has also become a center for philanthropic activities and leading social entrepreneurs from the region will discuss the social impact of their initiatives.

Seattle-Setu will bring together a variety of high-level speakers for engaging and thought-provoking conversations.

Schedule of events:

7:30 A.M. TO 8:30 A.M. — REGISTRATION & BREAKFAST

8:30 A.M. TO 9:15 A.M. — WELCOME REMARKS

• Senator Manka Dhingra, 45th Legislative District (Redmond), Deputy Majority Leader of the Washington State Senate
• Mayor Bruce Harrell, City of Seattle
• Sasmit Patra, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
• Eduardo Peñalver, President, Seattle University

9:15 A.M. TO 10:45 A.M. — PANEL PRESENTATION

Global Collaborations: Embracing Opportunities and Overcoming Challenges
Over the past several decades, Washington state has emerged as a pioneer in fostering economic engagements with India. This panel showcases the strong connections between Indian and U.S. businesses, emphasizing the bilateral nature of their relationship. While Indian businesses significantly contribute to the economic prosperity of the Emerald City, Seattle continues to provide opportunities for growth and success for Indian enterprises. Speakers will explore their global collaborations, discussing both obstacles and promising prospects as they envision the future.

Moderator

• Brian Surratt, President and Chief Executive Officer, Greater Seattle Partners

Panelists

• Avik Bhattacharya, Director, Global Strategy and Market Development, Boeing Commercial Airplanes
• Samir Kumar, Vice President, International Consumer, Amazon
• Raj Shah, Founder, Shah Safari
• Anand Swaminathan, Executive Vice President and Global Industry leader, Infosys Communications, Media and Technology

11 A.M. TO 12:30 P.M. — PANEL PRESENTATION

Navigating the Legal Landscape: Empowering Businesses for Transnational Success
Leading U.S. and Indian-trained lawyers will share their expertise on the intricacies of Indian law, providing essential guidance to businesses venturing into transnational activities between the two countries. We will explore the legal hurdles that Indian corporations may encounter while establishing corporate entities in the United States. Topics will include the evolving legal education in India to satisfy the demand for globally trained lawyers, the remarkable growth of corporate law firms within India, recent regulatory changes concerning foreign law firms operating in India, the shift toward arbitration as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism and the challenges posed by U.S. immigration laws.

Moderator

• Judge Ketu Shah, King County Superior Court

Panelists

• Pratibha Jain, General Counsel and Head of Strategy, Everstone Group
• Pallavi Mehta Wahi, co-U.S. and Seattle Managing Partner, K&L Gates
• Pallavi Shroff, Managing Partner, National Practice Head, Dispute Resolution, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co
• Anurag Varma, Head of Global Government and Policy, Infosys

12:30 P.M. TO 1:15 P.M. — LUNCH

1:15 P.M. TO 1:50 P.M. — DISTINGUISHED KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Opportunities for Seattle’s Engagement with India

• S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, 7th Congressional District of Washington

2 PM TO 3:30 PM — PANEL PRESENTATION

Empowering Change: Impact on Social & Economic Development in India
As the Indian diaspora in the Puget Sound flourishes, focus has shifted towards driving social and economic progress in India. A plethora of Seattle-based organizations actively lead initiatives in the subcontinent supporting health, education, sustainable businesses, property law reform and more. In addition, social entrepreneurs in India, collaborating through public-private partnerships, are dedicated to fostering economic and social development. Join esteemed leaders in the field as they discuss their transformative work, philanthropic approaches and how they assess social impact and create ripple effects of positive change.

Moderator

• Meenakshi Rishi, Professor, Department of Economics, Seattle University

Panelists

• Prakriti Poddar, Global Head, Mental Health and Wellbeing, RoundGlass Foundation
• Dilip Wagle, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company; social entrepreneur and philanthropist
• Arun Lakhani, Chairman & Managing Director, Vishvaraj Group
• Ankur Vora, Chief Strategy Officer, Gates Foundation

4 P.M. TO 4:45 P.M. — KEYNOTE ADDRESS

U.S.-India Relations: Past, Present and Future

• Nancy Izzo Jackson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for India, U.S. State Department

5 P.M. TO 8 P.M. — SEATTLE UNIVERSITY ROUNDGLASS INDIA CENTER RECEPTION & DINNER

During the dinner program, we will inaugurate the RoundGlass India Center at Seattle University whose mission is to serve as a bridge between India and the United States.

“The Roundglass India Center will convene important political, economic and scholarly dialogue about India in the Pacific Northwest and will strive to promote rule of law and economic growth in both countries said Sital Kalantry, who is Professor of Law and Associate Dean at the Seattle University School of Law as well as Executive Director of Seattle University’s new Roundglass India Center.”

Democracy, Development and Dialogue: Three Pillars of India-US Relations

• Sasmit Patra, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha)

Philanthropy and the Indian-American Community

• Sunny Singh, Founder, Edifecs

For more information on the conference, panelist bios and registration, visit Seattle-Setu.