Indian Foreign Secretary N. Rao to Deliver Speech on US-India Relations at Harvard Business School

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Anand Mahindra, CEO, Mahindra Group, one of India's largest diversified companies, sees the steady growth of Indian-US ties as essential for global progress. He is directing his efforts to this goal.

"Mahindra and Mahindra as a company, and the Mahindra family, have a long business and cultural connection to the United States," commented Anand Mahindra. "Therefore we are putting more of our resources behind Indian and US institutions that promote understanding between the two countries."

Mahindra's comments come on the eve of a major speech at Harvard University by Indian Foreign Secretary N. Rao. The speech is being delivered under the aegis of the Harish C. Mahindra lectureship series, endowed by Anand Mahindra in memory of his late father who was a member of the Class of '46 at Harvard College.

"Harvard is among the premier US educational institutions that understands the growing centrality of the relationship between the world's two largest democracies, as well as their increasing business and social ties," notes Mahindra. "We applaud Foreign Secretary Rao's decision to appear there."

Mahindra and Mahindra have partnered with US companies since the birth of the State of India. They have extensive business connections with US companies, including their venture with Navistar Corporation, one of North America's leading commercial vehicle manufacturers.

"As I am personally dedicated to this cause, you will see the Mahindra name attached to a variety of activities that further Indo-US understanding."

About Late Harish C. Mahindra

Late Mr. Harish Mahindra, born in Calcutta on 19th March 1923, graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Science degree and took his Master's degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, USA. Mr. Harish Mahindra was a Director of Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. and played a significant role during its early days. He was responsible for the establishment of the marketing of the Vehicles division and helped create its fabled pan-Indian network of dealerships. He was a visionary and the driving force behind what Mahindra Ugine Steel Company Ltd. is today.  He was the Founder Chairman and enjoyed unanimous support of the Board right through his tenure from the inception of the Company.

Mr. Mahindra joined the Congress Party in 1956 and served as a member of the BPCC.  From 1963 to 1967, he was the Treasurer of the BPCC and later held the post of Vice President. He was also the President and Chairman of various organizations, most notable among which were the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the Indian Merchants Chamber, and the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Mahindra was the force behind the setting up of The Mahindra United World College of India, located at Pune.  He was also the Founding President of the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce, and in recognition of his services to the cause of Indo-French relations, the French Government awarded him the Chevalier de Legion D'Honneur. Throughout his career, he retained his passion for the field of Advertising, and was most intimately associated with the rise of advertising as a discipline in India. He was the Chairman of the Indian Society of Advertisers and was recognized with the Khatau Gold Medal for Excellence in Advertising.

About The Mahindra Group

Mahindra embarked on its journey in 1945 by assembling the Willys Jeep in India and is now a US $7.1 billion Indian multinational. It employs over 1,00,000 people across the globe and enjoys a leadership position in utility vehicles, tractors and information technology, with a significant and growing presence in financial services, tourism, infrastructure development, trade and logistics. The Mahindra Group today is an embodiment of global excellence and enjoys a strong corporate brand image.

Mahindra is the only Indian company among the top tractor brands in the world. It is today a full-range player with a presence in almost every segment of the automobile industry, from two-wheelers to CVs, UVs, SUVs and sedan. Mahindra recently acquired a majority stake in REVA Electric Car Co Ltd. (now called Mahindra REVA), strengthening its position in the Electric Vehicles domain. The Mahindra Group expanded its IT portfolio when Tech Mahindra acquired the leading global business and information technology services company, Satyam Computer Services. The company is now known as Mahindra Satyam.

Mahindra is also one of the few Indian companies to receive an A+ GRI checked rating for its first Sustainability Report for the year 2007-08 and has also received the A+ GRI rating for the year 2008- 09.

SOURCE Mahindra Group