U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Will Speak at a Luncheon Hosted by the Largest Indian American Associations

Business Wire, July 8, 2006

ATLANTA -- On July 10, 2006, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will speak at an inaugural unity luncheon hosted by the two largest Indian American membership associations in the United States.

The inaugural unity luncheon is being co-hosted by the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) and the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), which represent more than 50,000 Indian American physicians and hoteliers here in the United States. The luncheon is a celebration of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the two organizations for purposes of working together on issues and activities of common interest. The luncheon will be held at the Capital Hill Hilton hotel in Washington, D.C. on July 10, 2006 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

As the keynote speaker, Secretary Rice will be discussing the importance of the relationship between the United States and India, including the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative. As the U.S. Congress prepares to vote on legislation involving the Initiative, this will provide an opportunity for Secretary Rice to describe the impact that this Initiative will have on U.S.-India relations and U.S. foreign policy overall. Other featured and invited speakers at the luncheon will include the India Ambassador to the United States, Ronen Sen; and the India Caucus Co-Chair, U.S. Congressman Gary Ackerman (D-NY). The U.S. Ambassador to India, David Mulford, and the Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Richard A. Boucher, also will be in attendance.

"As Asian Americans who moved to this country and worked hard to establish their businesses, and who want to give back to their communities, the members of AAHOA and AAPI share many goals," said AAHOA President Fred Schwartz. "We welcome this opportunity to come together and lobby for legislation that enables the United States and India to move forward on this historic agreement for the benefit and welfare of these two great democracies."

AAHOA Chairman Mukesh Mowji said, "AAHOA values the chance to unite with other Asian American organizations to show its support for the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Initiative. We want to send a strong message to the White House and our Congressional delegates that we will to work with them to assist in developing a strategic partnership with India, and formulate policies and initiatives for the good of Indian Americans here and abroad."

AAPI President, S. Balasubramaniam, remarked that "AAPI is very excited about our new relationship with AAHOA. We are excited to have the U.S. Secretary of State join us in inaugurating this relationship and we look forward to working with the our government to do our part as physicians across America in ensuring that Indo-U.S. relations continue to grow."

About the Asian American Hotel Owners Association

Representing over 8,300 members, AAHOA is one of the leading forces in the hospitality industry and one of the most powerful Asian American advocacy groups. Together, the members own more than 20,000 hotels, which have over one million rooms, representing over 50 percent of the economy lodging properties and nearly 37 percent of all hotel properties in the United States. The property value of the hotels is estimated to be more than $40 billion.

About the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin

With a constituency of over 41,000 doctors and 10,000 medical students and residents, AAPI is the largest ethnic medical association in the United States and is the largest Indian American professional association in the United States.