Half-Day Symposium - Forging a new age in India- New Zealand Relations

The High Commission of India is hosting a half-day symposium on Wednesday 31 May at the new High Commission building in Thorndon, Wellington. The event includes sessions on Trade, Tourism, Tech, and Diplomacy each with a panel of experts for comment and Q&A. The keynote speech from the High Commissioner of India to New Zealand, HE Neeta Bhushan will be held at the beginning of the Symposium.

Symposium schedule

2:00 pm Registration

2:30 pm Part 1: Trade

3:45 pm Part 2: Tourism

4:45 pm Part 3: Technology

6:00 pm Part 4: Diplomacy presented by NZIIA

7:00 pm Dinner and drinks

Confirmed panelists will be added over the next week.

Refreshments will be provided between panel sessions with a dinner/drink following the Diplomacy panel.

This is a Free event.

For security reasons, only registered guests confirmed by 5.00 pm (NZT) on Tuesday 30 May 2023 will be able to attend at the High Commission of India.

Objective

The High Commission of India aims to facilitate focused panel discussions on Trade, Tourism, Tech, and Diplomacy each with a panel of experts for comment and Q&A, bringing the opportunities and challenges within the sector to the forefront.

Who should attend:

All stakeholders in the interest of India-New Zealand will get benefit from this event.

Commercial heads, start-ups & others thinking to do connect with India
Policymakers and think tanks.
People with an interest in Trade, Tourism, Tech, and Diplomacy.

Dress code: Business attire

Her Excellency Ms. Neeta Bhushan

Ms. Neeta Bhushan joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1994. As a career diplomat, she has served in several countries including Japan, Bangladesh, Germany and UAE (as the Deputy Chief of Mission in Abu Dhabi). Her last assignment abroad was as Consul General of India in Chicago where she was in-charge of ten States in the US midwest region.

At Headquarters she was Under Secretary / Desk Officer (Japan & Koreas); Director in the Development Partnership Administration and Joint Secretary (Parliament & Coordination). During 2009 to 2013 she was on deputation to the Ministry of Finance as Director in the Department of Economic Affairs looking after bilateral relations with Europe.

She did a stint at National Defence College as Faculty from the Foreign Service. Since April 2020 she has been Additional Secretary looking after bilateral relations with 30 countries in Central Europe.

She studied at Delhi Public School, R.K. Puram, and she has done Economics (Honours) from Hindu College, Delhi University. She also has an M.Phil. Degree from Madras University. Her Research Thesis was on “WTO:Glorious Past, Turbulent Present and Uncertain Future”.

She is married to Mr. Anurag Bhushan, also a Diplomat in the Ministry of External Affairs, India. They have a son and a daughter. Her hobbies include reading and playing piano.