12 December 2008Focus on India
Focus on India, the first event in a Global Understanding Series at Hibbing Community College was a huge success.
A capacity crowd of northeastern Minnesota’s leaders and natives of India who either live or work in Minnesota attended the Thursday, December 11, 2008, event at the college.
Attendees at the one-day conference moved from classroom to classroom to learn about India’s history, cultural and social perspectives and about doing business in a global economy. Attendees also enjoyed Indian cuisine and were entertained by a Ragamala Dance Performance.
India rapidly has become a major trading partner with the United States. Bilateral merchandise trade between the two nations has increased to $41.62 billion in 2007 from $5.6 billion in 1990.
Keynote speaker, Banashri B. Harrison, Minister of Commerce at the Embassy of India in Washington D.C., said that a 2007 state trade mission led by Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, helped build a stronger trade relationship between Minnesota and India.
Essar Steel Minnesota is moving ahead with construction of a $1.65 billion iron ore, direct-reduced iron and steel mill near Nashwauk. As the largest industrial project in Minnesota, construction of the plant will require about 2,000 construction workers. It will employ 500 permanent workers. Development of the facility is being supported by the state of Minnesota and Iron Range Resources.
Essar Steel Minnesota’s parent company, Essar Global Limited, is an India-based diversified business company that has worldwide holdings in the steel, energy, power, communications, shipping and logistics and construction industries.