Mistry to head US-India CEO Forum; Anil Ambani included

Days before US President Barack Obama's high-powered visit here, the US-India CEO Forum has been reconstituted with Cyrus Mistry replacing Ratan Tata as its co-chairman and inclusion of industrialists like Anil Ambani.

Mistry, Chairman of Tata Sons, will lead the Indian side to the forum of top chief executives from India and US.

David M Cote from Honeywell will co-chair CEO forum from US side. The CEOs forum meet on January 26 afternoon and will be addressed by Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sources said.

Mukesh Ambani, Chairman, Reliance Industries, Sunil Mittal of Bharti Enterprises and ICICI Bank CEO Chanda Kochhar continue on the Forum while former Infosys CEO S Gopalakrishnan has been replaced by Vishal Sikka, the firm's new head.

Anil Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Group, has been included in the Forum from India's side.

Adani Group head Gautam Adani, Shashi Ruia of Essar, Mahindra & Mahindra Chairman Anand Mahindra, Hari Bhartia of Jubiliant, Biocon Chairman and Managing Director Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Sudhir Mehta of Torrent Pharma are all part of the 17-member forum.

State Bank of India Chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya, Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) Chairman and Managing Director Dinesh K Sarraf and BHEL head B Prasada Rao too are part of the forum.

The US team includes Indira Nooyi of Pepsico, Harold McGraw, Chairman McGraw Hill Financial and Ajay Banga, CEO Mastercard. Obama, who arrives here on January 25, and Modi will address the meeting and are likely to interact with CEOs, sources said.

The forum is likely to discuss bilateral business ties particularly in light of US being a major potential source of manufacturing investments.

Critical issues including visa impediments for professionals too may be discussed. Meeting is significant in light of Make-in-India initiative and government bid to make the country a hub for manufacturing, design and innovation.