WION is hosting the special edition of its Global Summit, in association with the Deepak and Neera Raj Center on Indian Economic Policies at Columbia University. The Global Summit coincides with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States as well as with the United National General Assembly, 2019.
The Summit will consist of two 30-minute panels and a fireside chat on issues critical to both India and the global economy. The topics of the panels will cover India’s foreign policy, economic growth and climate change. Each panel will be moderated by WION Executive Editor and Senior Anchor, Palki Sharma Upadhyay.
Session 1: Climate Change: Stewarding A Common Goal
Eric Solheim, Executive Director of United Nations Environment Programme-UNEP
Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator
- David Sandalow, Inaugural Fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy and co-Director of the Energy and Environment Concentration at the School of Public and International Affairs (SIPA), Columbia University (Tentative)
Global leaders are gathered in New York to discuss the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal No. 13 which focuses on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impact. The first session will explore the global nature of climate change. Worldwide, greenhouse gas emissions have been rising and the effects are being felt. For emerging economies such as India, what are the economic effects of climate change and how can they be managed and reduced? How can governments, businesses and NGOs address the challenge of climate change and manage risks posed by it in the future? Can policy solutions such as banning the use of single use plastic produce the desired impact in a timely manner?
Session 2: Fireside Chat with Arvind Panagariya on the Indian Economy and Reforms
Professor Arvind Panagariya will be in conversation with Palki Sharma Upadhyay to discuss the current state of the Indian economy and what reforms are required going forward. Recently released GDP numbers highlight a slowdown in India’s economic growth. This is taking place in the backdrop of a global trade war and broader economic slowdown. In this context, what are the prospects for the Indian economy? What reforms are needed for India to successfully enhance and sustain growth going forward? How can India create enough well-paying jobs to help India achieve a $5 trillion economy?
Session 3: Brand Modi 2.0: Reimagining India's Foreign Policy Landscape
Sanjay Puri, Founder, and Chairman of United States India Political Action Committee, CEO and president of Alliance for US India Business
Vijay Chauthaiwale, Foreign Affairs Department, BJP
In addition to New York, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also visiting Houston, Texas this month. In the runup to his visit, more than 50,000 members of the Indian American community are already signed up to attend his talk in Texas. In this backdrop, it is relevant to discuss how does India continues to engage with the rest of world and its diaspora. How important is soft power in the current global context? How has India’s foreign policy evolved over the first term of PM Modi and how is it changing going forward?
