Egmont, the Embassy of India, and the Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences have the honour of welcoming you at a conference on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Indian Independence and Belgian-Indian relations.

Programme

14.30-14.45         Welcome

Prof. Dr. Sven Biscop, Egmont Institute & Ghent University

14.45-14.50         Video message

H.E. Smt. Meenakashi Lekhi, Minister of State for External Affairs, Government of India

14.50-15.15          Keynote Speech

“Indian Foreign Policy – Recent Trends”

H.E. Mr. Santosh Jha, Ambassador of India to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union

15.15-16.30          Panel 1: India and Great Power Politics Today

Chair: Prof. Dr. Sven Biscop

• Mr. Rahul Roy-Chaudhury, Senior Fellow for South Asia, International Institute for Strategic Studies
• Ms. Garima Mohan, Fellow, Asia Program, German Marshall Fund
• Prof. Dr. Jonathan Holslag, Vrije Universiteit Brussel

16.30-17.00         Coffee

17.00-18.15         Panel 2: Indian Soft Power – from Culture to Technology

Chair: Bernard Siman OBE, Egmont Institute & Vrije Universiteit Brussel

• Mr. Abhinav Kumar, CMO Global Markets, Tata Consultancy Services and Board Member, Europe India Business Council (EIBC)
• Baron Philippe Vlerick, Chairman of the Belgo-Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BICC&I)
• Dr. Tine Vekemans, Ghent University

18.15-18.30       Concluding Remarks

Prof. Dr. Philippe De Maeyer, Permanent Secretary, Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences

18.30                     Reception

Please register by 29 April (seats are limited).

(Photo credit: Indian embassy)