Los Angeles was host to the 2015 Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention (RPBD) on November 14 and 15. This global initiative, organized by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, provides a platform for prominent industry leaders from the Indian-American community to congregate and contribute to Indian diplomacy. The theme for this year’s gathering was “The Indian Diaspora: Defining a New Paradigm in India-U.S. Relationship,” a message designed to capture the changing dynamics of this bilateral relationship. 

Among the speakers was Pacific Council member Manpreet Anand, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. Mr. Anand served as a panelist during a discussion on American and Indian ventures in innovation and entrepreneurship.

Mr. Anand has led a distinguished career in both the private and public sectors. He previously worked with Chevron Corporation, where he served as a Senior Policy Advisor and provided policy analysis and guidance on emerging geopolitical and socioeconomic issues. He has also served as the Senior Policy Advisor for South and Central Asia issues on the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, and has worked in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Most recently, he was the Deputy Assistant Administrator in the Asia Bureau of the United States Agency for International Development. In his current role at the State Department, Mr. Anand represents the United States in all matters related to India. Read his full biography.