BGA President and CEO Ernie Bower and BGA India Managing Director Ratan Shrivastava wrote an op-ed on how the United States and India can leverage the Quad for public-private partnership. The piece was published in Hindustan Times on May 25 amid Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to the United States.

In the piece, they argue that Washington and New Delhi should build on their two-way collaboration during Covid-19, which includes key contribution from corporations and industry associations in both countries, to support their respective government initiatives in fields such as Covid-19 vaccine and drug development and production. Doing so would capture the spirit of the Quad beyond defense – dating back to its founding role in supporting relief efforts following the 2004 Asian tsunami – and also provide an avenue for collaboration ahead of the upcoming in-person Quad Summit as well as a platform to build on to provide support to other countries in need.

“Building on the momentum of Jaishankar’s visit this week, the time is right to take this US-India relationship innovation regional, particularly elevating the private-public level cooperation to Quad,” Bower and Shrivastava argue in the piece, suggesting that key members of the private sectors of the Quad countries should be invited to join a discussion with the leaders and prepare for the upcoming in-person Quad summit with their government counterparts. “This new level of public-private coordination is a win-win strategy for all stakeholders in the U.S.-India relationship.”

You can read the full piece here.

A small ginko leaf

President & CEO

Ernie conceptualized and built BGA. His company springs directly from his understanding of the people that lead Asia’s governments, companies and key institutions and those that build and run the world’s leading companies. His career has focused on helping promote prosperity and security by finding ways to align the needs and aspirations of people, communities and institutions in Asia and the goals, capabilities and potential of the world’s top companies. A rugby player who grew up in northeastern Pennsylvania, his approach is direct, humble and personal. He is a builder and a listener. Not surprisingly, the company he built reflects ... Read More