Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | April 19, 2024

ORF America and ORF, in collaboration with the City Hall of Rio de Janeiro, organized a one-day conference on Digital Inclusion: From Ideas to Action. The event brought together policy makers, researchers and practitioners from the government, academia, research institutions, civil society and the private sector to reflect on the challenges and outline strategies to bridge the inclusion gap in the Global South.

The discussions brought out clearly the need to focus on ‘meaningful inclusion’ in the context of the ongoing digital transformation. Even with the rapid diffusion of digital technologies such as cellphone networks and digital payments, gaps in connectivity, financial inclusion and digital skills still exist, both within countries and across much of the Global South. These gaps are strongly correlated with poverty, remoteness and social exclusion, and therefore need to be urgently addressed as a development challenge more broadly.

The speakers emphasized the importance of solutions to promote digital inclusion emerging from the Global South through effective exchange of knowledge and practice. This is especially critical in the context of new technologies such as artificial intelligence. Countries of the Global South are often passive consumers and not pro-active participants in innovating and regulating these emerging technologies. With Brazil and India taking the lead within G20, there is an opportunity to shape the future course of digital transformation to one that reflects the priorities and addresses the needs of the Global South, and accelerates progress towards achieving the SDGs.  

Speakers:

• Cristina Kiomi Mori, Vice Minister, Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services, Federal Government of Brazil

• Lucas Padilha, Head of International Relations and Cooperation, Rio de Janeiro City Hall

• Luisa Cruz Lobato, Adjunct Professor and Coordinator of the Digital Humanities Laboratory, PUC-Rio

• Denise Direito, Researcher, Institute of Applied Economic Research, Brazil

• Ramiro Albreu, Principal Researcher, South American Network of Applied Economics (Rede Sur), Argentina

• Lorrayne Porciuncula, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Datasphere Initiative, Brazil/Europe

• Paula Guedes, Researcher, DataPrivacy.br, Brazil

• Juliana Moura Bouno, Manager, Public Policy and Government Affairs, Google, Brazil

• Raphaël Pouyé, Lecturer, SciencePo, France

• Rajeesh Menon, Head of Strategy, Foundation for Interoperability in the Digital Economy (FIDE), India

• Fabricio de Paula, Founder, AmazoniaLab, Brazil

On Thursday, March 28th, ORF America hosted a group of young professionals for an after hours discussion with Michael Singh and Dr. Hussein Ibish. Mr. Singh is currently the Managing Director and Lane-Swig Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute, and a former senior director for Middle East affairs at the National Security Council. Dr. Ibish is a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute. He previously served as a senior fellow at the American Task Force on Palestine, and as executive director of the Hala Salaam Maksoud Foundation for Arab-American Leadership.

The purpose of this edition of Briefings & Beer was to explore the drivers, outcomes, and future of geopolitical transformations in the Middle East. Rather than focusing on immediate developments involving Israel and Gaza, the conversation focused on how longer term security, development, and energy trends are going to be affected, and what their implications are for relations with the United States, Europe, China, and India. It also covered the emerging strategic and economic interests of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. Questions from the audience addressed Qatar’s diplomatic partnerships and prospects for peace talks in the region. 

This was the sixth convening of the Briefings & Beer series, which is organized by ORF America for young professionals in Washington, DC. The series offers young professionals the opportunity to informally engage with distinguished foreign policy experts,  as well as a platform to network with peers. Participants come from the U.S. Government, Congress, think tanks, graduate programs, and the private sector.

ORF America launched the inaugural cohort of the U.S. - India Emerging Climate Leaders Program, an effort to strengthen the energy and climate relationship between the United States and India in 2024. The network of 20 young leaders from the U.S. and India will raise awareness of climate challenges, propose and develop joint climate solutions, and identify and elevate diverse voices. The nine-month professional development program will include: seminars with notable experts, writing workshops, as well as a five-day in-person study tour to India.

In a virtual induction, ORF America Executive Director Dhruva Jaishankar welcomed the cohort by emphasizing that the U.S. - India Emerging Climate Leaders program is part of the bet on the long-term U.S. - India partnership. Deputy Assistant Secretary for India at the U.S. Department of State, Nancy Jackson, reflected on President Biden’s remarks calling the U.S. - India relationship “the defining partnership of the 21st century.” While recognizing the efforts between both countries on an intergovernmental level, she highlighted the importance of efforts such as the ECL to further secure the partnership through collaborative dialogues between stakeholders in non-policy circles such as media, finance, technology, and the private sector. Karthik Iyer, a Counselor at the Indian Embassy in Washington D.C. and the first Designated Officer for Climate Change, stressed the need for civil society and private sector partnerships to develop climate change solutions at scale.

Following speaker remarks and program overview, participants introduced themselves and shared the specific topics they wished to explore further over the next nine months. 

Speakers:

• Dhruva Jaishankar, Executive Director, ORF  America

• Nancy Izzo Jackson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for India, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, U.S. Department of State

• Karthik Gurunanthan Iyer, Counselor (Political), U.S. Embassy of India, Washington D.C. 

• Moderator: Shayak Sengupta, Fellow,  Energy & Climate, ORF America

Background

On 3/14, ORF America hosted a closed-door roundtable discussion with Armenia’s Minister of Labor and Social Affairs and the Foreign Policy Head of the Civil Contract party Dr. Narek Mkrtchyan. He was a professor at the Yerevan State University before being appointed as a Member of Armenia’s National Assembly. In 2021, he was appointed as the Minister for Labor and Social Affairs. Dr. Mkrtchyan has also participated in various Track 2 and Track 1.5 dialogues in the US, Germany, France, Norway, Iceland, Estonia, Georgia.

Summary

The roundtable featured a discussion on geopolitics in the Caucasus region including the ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the role of Russia and the Central Security Treaty Organization, and other regional players like Turkey and Iran. Participants also exchanged perspectives on North-South connectivity between the regions of Caucasus, Indo-Pacific, and Europe. To that end, Armenia has launched a set of principles called the “Crossroads of Peace”. Furthermore, the discussion extensively touched upon Armenia’s growing ties with India, France and the U.S. Three factors namely military and security cooperation, trade and supply chains; and the role of diaspora and people to people ties are broadly driving Armenia’s new ties with India and the West. The roundtable was attended by officials from the Indian and Armenian Embassies, media, trade bodies, think tanks and diaspora groups.

Event Summary

ORF America hosted a one-day workshop of Indian energy and climate experts in government, civil society, and private sector to discuss actionable strategies for India to expand cooperation with the United States in energy and climate. A successful state visit from India to the United States in June 2023 has encouraged greater energy and climate cooperation in the next several years. 2024 is a crucial year in both countries to leverage and expand upon the strategic convergences in climate finance, electric mobility and diversified clean energy manufacturing from the state visit. The preceding two years have shown that each country has started initiatives on their own based on respective interests, and the state visit has framed the beginnings of how these initiatives may overlap, complement, or synergize each other, especially given convergences between the United States and India in areas other than energy and climate.

The focus of this event was to gather perspectives from Indian stakeholders to articulate India’s emerging needs for its energy transition in its relationship with the United States. In this closed door, invite-only workshop, panelists discussed several crucial topics, including (1) critical minerals and clean energy supply chains; (2) climate finance; (3) climate resilience and adaptation; (4) green hydrogen, green steel, and fertilizer; and (5) clean and electric mobility.

Speakers:

• Keynote: Dr Hanif Quereshi, Additional Secretary (Automobiles Division), Ministry of Heavy Industries

• Shuva Raha, Head - New Initiatives, Council on Energy, Environment and Water

• Aaran Patel, Director – Climate, The Nand and Jeet Khemka Foundation

• Dr. Abhinav Jindal, Senior Faculty – Power Management Institute

• Avantika Goswami, Programme Manager, Climate Change, Centre for Science and Environment

• Dr. Dhruba Purkayastha, India Director, Climate Policy Initiative

• Dr. Vikrom Mathur, Senior Fellow, Observer Research Foundation

• Dr. Pooja Ramamurthi, Associate Fellow, Centre for Social and Economic Progress

• Pawan Mulukutla, Executive Program Director - Integrated Transport, Clean Air and Hydrogen, World Resources Institute India

• Hemant Mallya, Fellow, Council on Energy, Environment and Water

• Moderator: Dr Shayak Sengupta, Fellow in Energy & Climate, ORF America

Background

As part of the third Raisina Dialogue DC, the Observer Research Foundation America (ORF America) hosted a panel discussion on “Competing on Connectivity: A Strategy for Infrastructure Investment”. The discussion highlighted U.S., Japan, and Indian perspectives on development finance initiatives, overseas infrastructure including connectivity projects, and the scope for multilateral coordination between like-minded partners.

Speakers

• Tomoyuki Hirata: Chief Representative (Washington, D.C.), Japan Bank for International Cooperation

• Naz El-Khatib: Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation

• Tanvi Madan: Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy, Brookings Institution

• Dhruva Jaishankar (moderator): Executive Director, ORF America

Event Summary

The panelists described the mandates of the Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and provided sectoral and geographic examples of their overseas investments. Tanvi Madan of the Brookings Institution described India’s evolving approach to development finance and unpacked initiatives like the Export-Import Bank of India’s (EXIM Bank) concessional Lines of Credit. The speakers also underlined the importance of international collaboration and coordination between like-minded partners like the United States, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, Israel, Germany, France, etc. The discussion was attended by representatives from the U.S. government, embassies, private sector, think tanks, academia, and media.

On February 6, ORF America and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Renewing American Innovation project co-hosted a private roundtable with representatives from government and industry as well as policy experts to assess the current state of the U.S.-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) and discuss how the initiative's next iteration should tackle issues and facilitate progress for different stakeholders in the relationship.

Participants shared information on opportunities and challenges covering ongoing investment and programming initiatives, policy engagements, supply chain management, talent skilling, and R&D cooperation, for semiconductors, telecommunications, IT services, and STEM research collaboration between the United States and India. The conversation also included analysis of India’s emerging technology strategy and a rundown of U.S. government strategic cooperation.

Washington DC | December 18, 2023

On December 18th, the Observer Research Foundation America (ORF America) hosted its Annual Dinner with representatives from industry, U.S. government, think tanks, academia, foundations, media, and embassies. The dinner featured the following special guests:

• Amb. Sripriya Ranganathan, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India to the United States

• Ebtesam Al-Ketbi, President, Emirates Policy Centre, UAE

• Carl Bildt, former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sweden

• Stephen Harper, former Prime Minister, Canada

• Sunjoy Joshi, Chairman, Observer Research Foundation, India

• Jane Holl Lute, former Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, United States

• Marise Payne, former Foreign Minister and Defense Minister, Australia

• David Victor, Professor, University of California San Diego, United States

• Samir Saran, President, Observer Research Foundation, India (moderator)

The program began with a keynote speech followed by opening remarks on recent developments in U.S.-India relations and India’s G20 presidency.

The panel discussion highlighted the present state of global politics namely developments in the Trans-Atlantic alliance, climate change negotiations, and military tensions in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific regions. Previewing trends for 2024, speakers highlighted how elections in the U.S., Europe, India, and other Indo-Pacific countries will impact global politics, economics, and trade for the foreseeable future.

Dubai | December 10, 2023

Background

Observer Research Foundation America (ORF America) hosted a panel discussion (in-person) at COP28 in partnership with Observer Research Foundation, UNOPS, Energy Transition Partnership, and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), and PepsiCo Foundation.

Renewable Energy will be a key driver of the energy transition. Nevertheless, the financial resources and technologies required for scaling up these energy sources remain predominantly concentrated in the Global North, while the greatest potential for expanding their adoption lies in the Global South. Going forward, resolving this dichotomy will be essential to achieve the Paris climate goals.

In a world committed to achieving climate targets, Asia stands at the forefront of the electric revolution, with unprecedented opportunities in renewable energy supply chain manufacturing. Revised NDCs, Long-Term Strategies and Energy Transition Plans in the APAC region underscore the importance of low-carbon power systems and regional manufacturing capacity. 

How can Renewable Energy be harnessed not only to green the grid but also to address energy accessibility challenges in Global South countries, and especially in Asia? What are the key barriers that continue to hinder their growth? How can the technological and financial divide between the Global South and North be resolved such that the developing world can fully reap the benefits of wind and solar energy?

This event serves as a platform for countries, experts, and institutions to explore ambitious pathways for renewable energy deployment and regional supply chain strengthening, bridging the gap between theory and action. We attempt to uncover evidence-based strategies for power interconnection and manufacturing supply chain empowerment on the road to a net-zero future.

Discussion Brief

Panelists first discussed the role of the private sector in enabling renewable energy adoption in developing countries. Corporate targets to fulfill electricity demand from renewables form a key part of how the private sector can spur renewable energy adoption; however, this is more challenging in developing regions due to lack of transparency in electricity contracts and lack of enabling policy environments. Moreover, for companies whose greenhouse emissions stem predominately from non-energy sources, like agriculture, renewable energy adoption would offer limited ways to reduce corporate emissions footprints.

The role of contracts and enabling policy environments remained consistent themes of discussion. Likewise, panelists indicated stronger power grids in developing regions will enable renewable energy supply to meet electricity demand. Without sufficient power grid capacity, there is a potential for renewable power supply to outpace demand, thus wasting valuable energy. Several topics of discussion fell under the purview of enabling policy environments. These include having adequate market structures that price electricity more precisely according to supply and demand, consistent power demand to give signals to renewable energy project developers, and issues of land and local stakeholder consultation. To address these challenges, developing countries in southeast Asia for example, could better leverage their strengths and benefit from technical assistance from philanthropic and public sources. The discussion concluded with a recognition that renewable energy deployment offers opportunity for developing regions to simultaneously address development and climate goals.

Speakers included: 

• Shayak Sengupta, Fellow in Energy & Climate, ORF America

• Irina Lazzerini, Principal Specialist, Clean Energy, SEforALL

• Wael Ismail, Vice President for Corporate Affairs for Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, PepsiCo

• John Cotton, Senior Program Manager, Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership 

• Monika Merdekawati, Research Analyst, ASEAN Centre for Energy

• Gan Gan Dirgantara, Head of Environmental, Social and Technical Evaluation Division, PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (Persero)

• Liz Wharmby, Asia Pacific Lead, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, UK Government

Despite recovering from the lows of the pandemic years, the global economy continues to face significant structural challenges emanating from climate change, geoeconomic fragmentation, and stretched public finances. The resulting debt crisis is particularly becoming a critical challenge for policymakers in the Global South and needs urgent attention. As the fifth largest economy, India’s macroeconomic performance is critical for global stability and therefore of considerable interest for policymakers, analysts and investors around the world.  

To understand India’s current macro-fiscal outlook, ORF America’s Global Economics and Development program hosted Dr. Poonam Gupta, Director General of the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), India’s premier economic research institution, to present the Mid-term Review of the Indian Economy, an independent assessment of India’s economic performance at the half-way mark during the current fiscal year (2023-24). 

An analysis of the data on the national accounts, public finance, balance of payments and nearly 50 high frequency economic indicators suggests that the Indian economy has been doing relatively well compared with other emerging market and developing economies. It is projected to grow at 6.5 percent this year with an inflation rate of 6 percent, a current account deficit of 1.5 percent of GDP, and a comfortable level of foreign reserves of nearly $600 billion. The overall assessment is one of macro-fiscal stability underpinned by an enabling policy regime that should minimize the downside risks even as the global economy faces significant uncertainty in the coming years. 

One area of concern is India’s high debt-to-GDP ratio, which now stands at nearly 90 percent. This is possibly due to the lingering effects of the fiscal stimulus provided during the global pandemic. While there are valid arguments to bring it down, Dr. Gupta highlighted that the composition of India’s public debt mitigates the risk of fiscal instability. It is held mostly domestically with only 5 percent in foreign currency, the portfolio consists largely of long-term fixed rate government securities issued by the Reserve Bank of India, and the demand for bonds remains high. India’s public debt, therefore, is qualitatively different from other countries facing a debt crisis brought about by predatory lending, short term maturity and exposure to foreign exchange and interest rate risks. 

Following the presentation, there was a lively discussion with the attendees which included economists, policy experts, donor organizations and the private sector. It highlighted other challenges such as the underperforming manufacturing sector, the slow growth in revenue share in GDP, the potential global headwinds for the Indian economy including high oil prices, long-term elevated interest rates especially in the US, and climate related disruption that can affect agricultural output and consequently, food security. The overall assessment was that India’s macro-fiscal performance is a beacon of stability in a turbulent world economy but policymakers need to remain vigilant to stem any threats from the uncertain global scenario.  

Speakers: 

• Dr. Poonam Gupta, Director General, National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER)

• Moderator: Anit Mukherje, Senior Fellow in Global Economics & Development, ORF America

ORF America’s Energy and Climate Program hosted a panel of experts from the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of State, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and First Solar to discuss strategies to diversify solar supply chains. Eighty to ninety percent of solar photovoltaic (PV) production capacity is housed in the People’s Republic of China, with some segments heavily concentrated in certain regions, companies, or single facilities. The country dominates capacity due to innovation, economies of scale, and concerted, consistent industrial policy over the preceding decade. This in part has decreased the global prices of solar PV technology, facilitating decarbonization of the power sector. However, several economies including the United States, India, and the European Union, look to grow their share of solar PV manufacturing to mitigate the risks of a heavily concentrated supply chain. Energy security, domestic employment, geopolitical interests, human rights concerns, and decarbonization motivate these efforts. Consequently, national governments have offered incentives to increase respective shares of manufacturing capacity of solar PV components.

Panelists discussed several aspects of these efforts, including challenges of incentive design, solar manufacturing tax credits by the United States, international cooperation to align incentives, and non-cost factors such as employment and social standards that motivate diversification strategies. Data limitations to estimate costs associated with producing solar PV components are especially relevant for geographies that have no current supply chain for solar. This in turn poses challenges to design incentives like subsidies to spur domestic manufacturing capacity. The United States Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) tax credits have spurred announcements of reestablishing solar manufacturing capacity in the United States, with the most in finished solar modules and less upstream of the supply chain. Other tools offered by the United States government for domestic manufacturing include debt financing and technical assistance. International cooperation will be key to align incentives, and the U.S. government welcomes efforts by partner countries to offer similar incentives to build private sector manufacturing capacity and diversify supply chains. Lastly, factors beyond cost such as social and governance standards along with employment creation should motivate incentives. Discussion among participants followed panelist remarks. In summary,  discussion concluded the several themes related to diversifying solar supply chains. Industrial policies to spur solar manufacturing capacity rely  on imperfect information and incentives, especially in settings without the requisite manufacturing ecosystems. Cost is not the only factor behind diversification, likewise subsidies and tariffs are not the only tools available. Proponents of current efforts by national governments including the United States and India cite the need to level the playing field and reduce the risks associated with concentrated solar supply chains in China. The incentives have the potential for “learning by doing” in terms of solar technology and innovation. However there are challenges and uncertainties associated with current approaches due to the pace of change in global solar markets. Open questions still exist on the degree of success of such policies in reducing supply chain concentration. The United States and India offer a case study of these kinds of efforts playing out and the international cooperation underpinning them.

Speakers: 

• Dr. Brittany Smith, Solar Techno-Economic Analyst, Strategic Energy Analysis Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

• Jake Higdon, U.S. Manufacturing Advisor, U.S. Department of Energy 

• Dr. Courtney Downes, Energy Officer, Bureau of Energy Resources, U.S. Department of State

• Karen Drozdiak, Director of Global Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) and Sustainability , First Solar

• Moderator: Shayak Sengupta, Fellow in Energy & Climate, ORF America

Abu Dhabi | November 12th, 2023

Background

On November 12, 2023, ORF America and Observer Research Foundation (ORF), as the Secretariat of the Think20 (T20), in partnership with the Emirates Policy Centre, COP28 UAE, T28, hosted From G20 to COP28: Energy, Climate and Growth in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The conference brought together over 100 delegates from 63 countries to discuss solutions to issues expected to be at the forefront of deliberations at COP28, including energy access, climate and health, climate technology, and climate finance. It identified synergies between the Indian G20 Presidency’s outcomes on climate action and priorities at COP28 with the ultimate goal of formulating a more effective global response to the issues that impede the rapid and equitable progress of climate action.

Speakers included:

• Ebtesam Al-Ketbi, President and Founder, Emirates Policy Center, UAE

• H.E. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 President-Designate, UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change, and Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, UAE

• H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, Director General of the Prime Minister's Office, UAE

• Kate Hampton, CEO, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation

• Samir Saran, Chair, T20 India Secretariat & Member, T20 India Core Group; President, Observer Research Foundation, India

• H.E. Sunjay Sudhir, Ambassador of India to UAE

ORF America hosted a group of young professionals for an after hours discussion with Stephen Ezell and Dr. Andreas Kuehn. Stephen is currently vice president for global innovation policy at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) and director of ITIF’s Center for Life Sciences Innovation. Dr. Andreas Kuehn is currently a senior fellow at ORF America and leads research on the cyber and tech governance program. 

This fifth edition of the series, on semiconductors and technological alliances, covered a range of issues that explored the drivers, outcomes, and future of American tech alliances with young professionals in international affairs. The passage of huge pieces of legislation, increased bilateral cooperation, and international reconfiguration, made this a timely discussion. Panelists emphasized several solutions including minilateralism, safeguarding intellectual property rights, and implementing a rules based system. On semiconductors, panelists noted important challenges to the implementation of critical U.S. legislation, including readiness of countries to ‘friend-shore’ as well as attracting and retaining talent crucial to this industry. 

This was the fifth convening of the series hosted by ORF America for young professionals in Washington, DC. The series offers participants the opportunity to informally engage with distinguished foreign policy experts,  as well as a platform to network with peers. Participants include Washington, DC’s best and brightest from the U.S. Government, Congressional Staff, think tanks, graduate programs, and the private sector.

On November 8, ORF America hosted the fourth Chips for Breakfast, a private roundtable to facilitate frank conversations among a select group of U.S. and foreign government officials, industry representatives, and policy experts about the current state of U.S. semiconductor policy, technology leadership, and collaboration with like-minded partners to strengthen international commerce and security.

With numerous countries seeking to attract semiconductor investments at home through various “Chips Acts,” a preeminent challenge arises: the operation of new semiconductor manufacturing facilities will require a stable supply of skilled human resources, technical experts, and STEM talent. The United States alone will need 115,000 new personnel to drive chip design and operate new front-end and back-end facilities as new capacity comes online, 67,000 of these jobs are estimated to go unfulfilled given current constraints. 

Challenges on talent and workforce development include how to stimulate interest in STEM broadly, but also the semiconductor industry specifically, and how to mesh local and regional undertakings with national and international initiatives. In the United States, key institutions including universities, engineering schools, and community colleges, chip companies, state and federal government, as well as the National Science Foundation, have stepped up their efforts in addressing the projected workforce shortfalls. Despite U.S. executive branch efforts to leverage existing immigration pathways, congressional action on immigration policy is required to fill much needed talent in the short term. Crucial in these efforts are aligning local, regional, national, and global contributions, ranging from training to certification to attracting underrepresented talent and communities to meet the demand in the U.S. and globally.

Background

On October 11, the Observer Research Foundation America (ORF America) hosted a closed-door roundtable with Dr. Anit Mukherjee discussing Indian military and defense policy reforms with stakeholders from the U.S. government, academia, think tanks, media, and the private sector in Washington D.C. Dr. Mukherjee is the Deputy Head of Graduate Studies and an Associate Professor at the Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS-NTU) in Singapore. He is also the author of The Absent Dialogue: Politicians, Bureaucrats, and the Military in India (Oxford University Press) and a former Indian Army officer. He obtained his PhD from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University.

Summary

The roundtable featured the distribution of a joint report titled “Momentous Changes: Defense Reforms, Military Transformation, and India’s New Strategic Posture” published by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in New Delhi and RSIS-NTU in Singapore. The report captures various debates within India about recent changes in military strategy and defense policy after the 2020 India-China clashes along the Line of Actual control.  

These ongoing reforms include enhancing India’s military posture in its eastern frontiers, reforming the Defense Ministry, fostering jointness through theater commands, and exploiting opportunities for defense diplomacy with external partners. The Indian defense private sector is also expanding due to improvements in domestic manufacturing and technology. Though challenges remain like the lack of civilian expertise in defense matters, unclear procurement policies, vague command and control structures, and long-standing security threats from Pakistan and the western border. Participants also discussed other strategic challenges pertaining to the Indian military like professional education, recruitment, emerging technology, and the India-Russia defense relationship.

Overall, these opportunities and challenges create greater room for dialogue, coordination and collaboration with the U.S., and like-minded partners. Recent developments like the U.S.-India state visit in June 2023, and the U.S.-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET), indicate a positive direction for U.S.-India military ties and strategic cooperation.

The ORF-RSIS joint report is available here.

ORF America hosted a group of young professionals for an after hours discussion with Paola Ridolfi and Vinay Chawla. Paola Ridolfi is currently a climate change advisor with the Climate Change Group at the World Bank, and a lead for the Bank's COP28 engagement this year. Vinay Chawla is currently senior advisor to U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, and advisor to at the White House on the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment.

This fourth edition of the series, on COP28 and Climate, panelists covered several topics relevant for global climate talks at COP28 in Dubai in November 2023. Chief among these topics was the need to lower the cost of financing for climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing countries. Panelists highlighted greater private sector investment in climate for emerging markets as a potential solution to address this need. Incentives to increase private sector involvement must align fiduciary responsibilities for returns to private investors with adequate management of investment risk in these low and middle income countries.

This was the fourth convening of the series hosted by ORF America for young professionals in Washington, DC. The series offers participants the opportunity to informally engage with distinguished foreign policy experts, as well as a platform to network with peers. Participants include Washington, DC’s best and brightest from the U.S. Government, Congressional Staff, think tanks, graduate programs, and the private sector.

Background

ORF America partnered with the Women’s Foreign Policy Group (WFPG) on a program exploring the current state of the U.S.-India relationship and its trajectory. This exclusive event, hosted at ORF America, consisted of an off the record panel discussion featuring prominent experts in the field followed by a networking reception.

WFPG empowers and advances women's leadership in international affairs through global policy programs. Attendees included women across business, government, journalism, diplomacy, and academia.

Discussion Summary

The panel discussed how the U.S.-India partnership is of growing importance and is expanding across all fronts. The panelists explored the commercial, defense, people-to-people, and geopolitical ties that underpin the U.S.-India relationship. A key takeaway from the discussion is that we are at a moment of ambition for the relationship and that India is a natural partner in combating global challenges. It, however, remains to be seen how much can be achieved and how quickly.

The event featured the following speakers:

Welcome Remarks

• Sharon Stirling, Chief Operating Officer, ORF America

• Alexa Chopivsky, Executive Director, Women's Foreign Policy Group

Panel Discussion

• Nancy Izzo Jackson, Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, U.S. Department of State

• Persis Khambatta, Director of Global Government Affairs for India and South Asia, Walmart

• Tanvi Madan, Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy, The Brookings Institution

• Humeyra Pamuk, U.S. State Department Correspondent at Reuters (moderator)

Washington, D.C.

8:30 to 9:00 am EST (breakfast) | 9:00 to 10:30 am EST (panel discussion)

Background

The India-U.S. strategic partnership has seen considerable progress over the past few years, including in two leader-level summits held in 2023. In a new report, experts from the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in New Delhi and the Hoover Institution, Stanford University analyze and assess different aspects of the relationship and chart a path forward.

Discussion Summary

Panelists discussed a newly-released report by the Hoover Institution and Observer Research Foundation (ORF) focused on U.S.-India strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. The report focused on five areas: governance, trade, security, energy and technology. Of particular significance was the U.S.-India defense technology partnership, including recent announcements from the two leader-level summits in 2023, and ongoing economic and energy cooperation. Panelists described how people-to-people ties are a significant yet under-appreciated factor driving U.S.-India relations. The panelists highlighted the strategic implications of better mobility between the two countries’ workforces. Growing alignment in threat perceptions, frequent interactions and, widening habits of cooperation have enabled greater U.S.-India coordination in third regions too. Questions pertained to subjects such as the Indian Ocean region, BRICS and the Global South countries, and the Quad. Panelists described the Quad’s evolution and its significance for the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region.

The discussion was concluded by the ORF President Dr. Samir Saran, who highlighted the broader importance of U.S.-India think tank engagements. He argued that collaboration on jet engine technology signals a “conscious decision” by India to double down on its strategic engagement with the U.S. This will also amplify other trends in India’s foreign policy including India’s deepening partnership with the West that will enable India to strengthen its capabilities and shape an international order conducive to its interests and values. 

Welcome Ramarks

• Sharon Stirling, Chief Operating Officer, ORF America

Panel Discussion

• S. Paul Kapur, Visiting Fellow, Hoover Institution and Professor, U.S. Naval Postgraduate School

• Dhruva Jaishankar, Executive Director, ORF America

• Joseph Felter, Research Fellow, Hoover Institution and William J. Perry Fellow, CISAC, Stanford University

• Medha Prasanna, Junior Fellow and Program Assistant, ORF America

Closing Remarks

• Samir Saran, President, Observer Research Foundation

Please find the report on Hoover.

On September 14, ORF America hosted the third Chips for Breakfast, a private roundtable to facilitate frank conversations among a select group of U.S. and foreign government officials, industry representatives, and policy experts about the current state of U.S. semiconductor policy, technology leadership, and collaboration with like-minded partners to strengthen international commerce and security.

Against the backdrop of the one year anniversary of passing the Chips & Science Act, this meeting focused on global semiconductor supply networks and the role the United States can play to lessen supply chain vulnerabilities and shed exploitable dependencies. It sought to address pressing questions along two lines of inquiry. First, determining the role of current and future U.S. leadership along the chips supply chain in light of right shoring and de-risking efforts. Second, examining the United States’ ability to mitigate against existing vulnerabilities harmful to its interests and those of its partners and allies.

Choke points and vulnerabilities identified by ORF America through independent research include, among others, firms’ access to advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment and the limitations to manufacture advanced process nodes without it, specific processed inputs for chip manufacturing such as materials and gases, but also the availability of talent and reliable water and electricity infrastructure. The damaging effects of even short-term supply chain disruptions stand out as well. The impact of disrupted supply, due to natural disasters or a geopolitical contingency in the Taiwan Strait or Korean peninsula, can significantly affect the global semiconductor industry and the global economy. Investments in supply chain resilience are thus crucial due to multiple vectors of uncertainty, including (but not exclusively) geopolitical factors.

ORF America hosted a group of young professionals for an after hours discussion with Ryan Hass and Vikram Singh. Ryan Hass is the director of the John L. Thornton China Center and the Chen-Fu and Cecilia Yen Koo Chair in Taiwan Studies at Brookings. He is also a nonresident affiliated fellow in the Paul Tsai China Center at Yale Law School. Vikram Singh is senior advisor to the Asia Program at USIP and is also senior advisor for defense and aerospace, at the U.S. India Strategic Partnership Forum.

This third edition of the series, on Great Powers at the G20, explored how multilateral summits like the G20 offer spaces for both cooperation and competition. This year, Putin and Xi seem to be absent from many of these important conversations, and at the same time are pursuing the expansion of alternative platforms like BRICS. The discussion took advantage of the speakers’ extensive expertise in and out of government to offer some insight on what to expect in the coming months from multilateral summits.

The discussion reviewed several themes including recent high level U.S. government engagement with China, forging a consensus at the G20 summit in New Delhi, perception and misperceptions on Taiwan, as well as posturing in the Indo-Pacific. The speakers entertained questions on the relationship between economic integration and mitigating conflict, as well as the politics of leadership within the Chinese Communist Party.

This was the third convening of the series hosted by ORF America for young professionals in Washington, DC. The series offers participants the opportunity to informally engage with distinguished foreign policy experts, as well as a platform to network with peers. Participants include Washington, DC’s best and brightest from the U.S. Government, Congressional Staff, think tanks, graduate programs, and the private sector.

Background

On September 5, ORF America hosted a roundtable on the G20 Legacy, featuring policy and non-policy stakeholders from foundations, think tanks, embassies, media, and private sector representatives in New Delhi. The roundtable showcased ORF America’s research and convening relating to India’s G20 agenda including on multilateral development bank reforms, climate finance, and digital public infrastructure in the Global South. The discussion also focused on the significance of India hosting the G20 summit and concluded with remarks from H.E. Kenneth da Nobrega, the Brazil Ambassador to India, who spoke on Brazil’s upcoming G20 presidency and their priorities.

Summary

In a more contested geopolitical environment, how can developing countries achieve progress on sustainable development goals and shape the future of global governance? India’s G20 climate priorities include energy efficiency, hydrogen, biofuels, and clean energy supply chains. Countries including India are viewing clean energy transitions through the lens of economic competitiveness. Participants discussed the international implications of India’s carbon market, costs of diversifying solar supply chains, and international coordination in “green subsidies”. The G20 could be a vital forum for North-South cooperation on exchanging information and minimizing tensions relating to “green subsidies”.

Another G20 priority is digital infrastructure. Participants deliberated on how digital infrastructure can have “spillover effects” for any developing country to achieve its development goals. India sees the importance of digital infrastructure for better targeting and implementation of welfare schemes; this was especially useful during the covid-19 pandemic. In future, digital infrastructure must be “designed” to work for a larger population scale and how India can enable this adoption with other developing countries based on the principles of openness and interoperability. One potential partner in this realm would be Brazil and they will hold the G20 presidency for 2023-24. Brazil expects to portray a similar “level of ambition”—like India—in crafting a G20 agenda that elevates issues of importance to developing countries. To that end, some potential agenda items include development finance, climate change, women empowerment, and reform of multilateral trade laws.

Building Resilient Solar Supply Chains: A CEM-14/ MI-8 Event

ORF America’s Climate and Energy team co-hosted an event with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) at the 14th Clean Energy and 8th Mission Innovation Ministerial (CEM-14/ MI-8) in Goa, India. The event launched ISA’s report on Building Resilient Global Solar Supply Chains as part of the Transforming Solar Supply Chains CEM workstream. The authors at the Becquerel Institute presented the key findings and results and the International Solar Alliance discussed key steps to building solar supply chains in different regions of the world. During the second half of the event there was a panel discussion with perspectives from the United States, Australia, India, and Ethiopia on next steps for policy to promote regional supply chains, including cross-border trade, supportive manufacturing policy, technology transfer and standards harmonization. Participants highlighted the growing demand over the next for the solar sector, especially with growing demand for green hydrogen. Unfortunately, there are bottlenecks and supply is overwhelmingly concentrated in China.  Short term incentives for national schemes are essential for even geographical distribution of manufacturing. Representation from the Asian Development Bank noted the importance of solar in achieving net zero, financing rooftop solar solar initiatives in India, and translating and tweaking the success of best practices between countries. These types of financing have positive spillover effects, attracting the private sector. American representation highlighted recent legislation like the IRA that has combined domestic and foreign policy objectives to offer competitive incentive packages. The need to quantify resilience of global supply chains to ensure a just energy transition was pointed out as an important objective for all forthcoming initiatives.   

Speakers:

1. John Grimes, CEO, Smart Energy Council (Australia)

2. Professor Ardeshir Contractor, Ohio State University/IIT Bombay

3. Doug Arent, Executive Director, Strategic Public-Private Partnerships, NREL

4. Tewabech Workie, CEO, Ethiopian Solar Energy Development Association

5. Dr Ajay Mathur, Director General, International Solar Alliance

6. Assem Kumar, Director, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, India

7. Miriam K. D’Onofrio, Director of Energy Transition, National Security Council

8. Pradeep Thakaran, Director, Energy Transition, ADB 

9. Dr. Paolo Frankl, Head of the Renewable Energy Division, IEA

10. Alexander Hogeveen Rutter, Private Sector Specialist, ISA 

11. Rishabh Jain, Senior Program Lead, CEEW

12. Shayak Sengupta, Fellow Climate and Energy, ORF America 

Reception for the Clean Energy Community
ORF America’s Energy and Climate team also invited partners, and friends to welcome everyone to Goa, India, for the 14th Clean Energy Ministerial, the 8th Mission Innovation Ministerial (CEM-14/MI-8), and the G20 Energy Ministerial. Attendees included representatives from the public and private sectors and civil society: the Smart Energy Council Australia, Sustainable Energy  for All, National Solar Energy Federation of India, the US India Business Council (USIBC), CSTEP, Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development, the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), SED Fund, Institute for Energy and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), CSIS, Climate Works, World Resource Institute (WRI), Council on Energy Environment and Water (CEEW), Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIIF), LanzaTech, India Climate Collaborative, Climate Trends, and many other important stakeholders.

ORF America hosted a group of climate and energy policy experts for a breakfast discussion with Observer Research Foundation chairman Sunjoy Joshi to break down the climate and energy outcomes of Prime Minister Modi’s state visit in June 2023.

Mr. Joshi anchored the state visit in the context of a climate and energy backlog in the bilateral relationship, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, COVID-19, and disruptions to global energy flows. He discussed the main issues and technological focuses of the bilateral relationship including geopolitical alignment, hydrogen, and modular nuclear reactors and emphasized the potential for expanded U.S.-India cooperation.

The discussion also explored the geopolitics of climate finance and energy security as well as templates for cooperation between the Global North and South where he sees leading roles for the US and India. Mr. Joshi and participants discussed renewable energy component supply chains like polysilicon for solar energy manufacturing, China’s role in the renewable energy technology industry, critical minerals for the energy transition, the need for governments to help mobilize climate finance, and the Global South’s increasing influence in international climate negotiations.