Dr. Wolfgang Gerhardt, Chairman FNF, Visits India

Dr. Wolfgang Gerhardt at 2nd SAARC Business Leaders Conclave

Getting into contact with partners of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation in "the world's biggest democracy" was of central concern for Dr. Wolfgang Gerhardt during his first visit to India as Chairman of the Foundation. From its Regional Office South Asia in Delhi, Friedrich Naumann Foundation implements a broad spectrum of projects in the areas of market economy, rule of law, civic education and conflict prevention. In his meetings with Indian Liberals, Dr. Gerhardt could get first-hand information about the activities in the Foundation's core work areas. Special references were given to the project "Prevention of Torture in India", which is co-funded by the European Union and which the Foundation implements in nine selected Indian States, and to the programmes dedicated to strengthening economic freedom which Friedrich Naumann Foundation carries out with several partner organizations.

Tempa Tsering, informing Dr. Gerhardt about the political and social work of the Community's institutions

During a visit to the Representative Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Delhi, Dr. Gerhardt ensured the Tibetan Community that the Foundation will remain engaged in its efforts to realize true autonomy and self-determination for the Tibetans. The Minister for Information and International Relations of the Tibetan-Government-in-Exile, Tempa Tsering, informed Dr. Gerhardt about the political and social work of the Community's institutions.

A. Maken (centre), B. Solinger (right) und R. Klaff (2nd from left)

India's opportunities in an age of liberalization and globalization, but also her impediments to development (bad infrastructure; problems of education and vocation; the status of the agrarian economy) were discussed in a series of political discussions. Dr. Gerhardt met Finance Minister P. Chidambaran and Minister for Urban Development Ajay Maken and several Parliamentarians. The arguments of the Communists who play an important role in India's current political structure were discussed with Nilotpal Basu, the Leader of CPI (Marxist) in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House).

Dialogue with the German Ambassador, Bernd Mützelburg

In recent years India's role in world politics has become increasingly important. Indian foreign policy and her future perspectives in international relations were the focus of a dialogue with the German Ambassador, Bernd Mützelburg. The interaction with high-ranking experts from diplomacy, military and academia during a Round Table and Luncheon Discussion was of special importance to Dr. Gerhardt. India's national interests in diverse issue areas – the relations with the United States and Europe on the one hand, and with South Asia and China on the other; the conflicts in Kashmir, Afghanistan Tibet, and Iraq – were analysed intensely.

Dr. Gerhardt: The developments in Europe which led to the creation of the EU are a good example

In Bombay (Mumbai), India's economic and financial hub, the Foundation, together with its partners SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and the Indian Chamber FICCI, organized the 2nd SAARC Business Leaders Conclave on 17th and 18th February. This conference saw the participation of more than 250 business leaders from South Asia (including five acting ministers) and was inaugurated by India's Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee. It was a highlight of Dr. Gerhardt's program. The deliberations and inputs by politicians, businessmen and specialists – among them Prof. Jeffrey Sachs and former Chairman of the US Federal Reserve Bank Paul Volcker – gave a unique overview of the economic and political situation of the whole of South Asia. In addition, Dr. Gerhardt had the opportunity to meet many businessmen from different sections of all SAARC countries and to exchange positions and viewpoints with them. In his address, Dr. Gerhardt underlined the responsibility of political leaders to create peaceful and harmonious relations as a precondition for economic and social progress in the regional context. He stressed that the developments in Europe which led to the creation of the EU are a good example for the necessity to integrate smaller states in order to guarantee security and prosperity for a whole region.

The program in Bombay also included further visits to partner organizations as well as meetings with the CEO of the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce, Bernard Steinrücke, and representatives of the German business community.