December 4, 2000 --  The Board of Directors of the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston (IACCGH) paid a courtesy call on Mayor Lee Brown last Monday, December 4. The meeting was organized by the Honorable Rinzing Wangdi, the Consul General of India, to introduce the Directors of the Chamber and to familiarize the Mayor with the Chamber's aims and objectives.

In his welcome remarks to the Chamber's Directors, Mayor Brown praised the positive contribution being made by the Indian community in Houston in all spheres of life. He invited the IACCGH to appoint a representative to serve on the Mayor's Advisory Committees, which have been set up for different regions of the world. Asked about the possibility of his visiting India early next year, Mr. Brown said that the details of his visit have yet to be finalized. He added that he had visited India on two previous occasions. Both my visits were to Delhi. But, as you know, any trip to Delhi includes a visit to the Taj Mahal,he said with a smile.

The Hon Rinzing Wangdi informed the Mayor of the forthcoming Millennium Republic Day celebrations in January, whose theme of Colors of India - Progress, Peace and Prosperity will be a joint celebration by the various Indian groups and communities in Houston. 

Dr Durga Agrawal, President of the IACCGH, pointed out that one of the most promising projects the Chamber has undertaken is its Student Internship Program and requested the Mayor's office to support the scheme by offering the Chamber a few internships. Mr. Brown acknowledged the importance of placing the emphasis on children and youth, and praised the Chamber's efforts through its Internship Program. 

Mr. Ashoke Nath, a Director of the Chamber, pointed out that the Indian community in Houston had grown from a few hundred people in the 1970s to over 100,000 at present. Mr. Nath urged the Mayor to consider linking Houston as a sister city with either Ahmedabad or Calcutta.

The other IACCGH Directors present at the meeting were Mr. Jagdip Ahluwalia, Mr. Jitendra Shah, Mr. Jagat Kamdar, Mr. Nalina Pillai, Mr. Rao Ratnala, Mr. Randhir Sahni and the Chamber's Executive Director, Mrs. Delshad Kumana. Dr Vishnu Hade, Deputy Consul of India, was also present on the occasion.

IACCGH Monthly Program Archives