My dear Members,

I have just taken over the reins of Presidentship of the Association from my good friend and colleague Mr. Subhash Khandelwal and ASIAFORGE 2008. I am extremely grateful to my colleagues in the Managing Committee for this confidence reposed in me. I am sure that this would not have been, but for the blessings of the Almighty and the goodwill of all of you who have stood behind the Association and its office bearers through thick and thin. I am sure your good wishes and support will stand me in good stead during my tenure and guide me through the challenges that this dual responsibility places on me.

All of us in the Association and I personally, are indeed grateful to Mr. Subhash Khandelwal for the personal interest he has taken in each of the developmental and other initiatives taken by the Association in strengthening our efforts and to make our international counterparts recognize our technical and business capabilities. I propose to carry this legacy forward. Please accept my greetings and good wishes.

I have been meeting and interacting with most of you in our various meetings, both as Vice-President and as a Managing Committee member and I have found this experience very rewarding and enriching. As you all know, the future holds a lot of promise and challenge for us in the forging industry who dare to dream especially since the world is eyeing us as a potential manufacturing hub as also a very good market. Of course any opportunity also brings with it some inherent challenges like rising costs, alarming attrition rates, energy crisis, appreciation of the rupee and environmental concerns and many more, to which we need to be alert and responsive. We have in the past, found our very own unique ways to tackle these issues. I am sure, we will continue to innovate solutions in the future.

As you all must be knowing by now our Association is hosting the ASIAFORGE 2008 between 17-19th March,2008 to showcase our capabilities. The members of the MC are spending a lot of their valuable time planning and coordinating to make this a grand success and showing the world the ‘metal’ we are made of!! Please lend your wholehearted support to this huge activity of the Association (which is also a big opportunity for us all). There is a little of everything for everyone of us in this event. The Secretariat is there to give you any information or assistance, in case you require it. The Managing Committee and I look forward to your valuable suggestions and your patronage in the form of sponsorships and maximum participation (delegates) from your organization.

Besides the ASIAFORGE, at the Association we have also arranged a visit of members to the China Forge Fair 2007 held between 18-22 November 2007. We also booked space at the China Forge Fair 2007 and AUTOEXPO of which you all must also be aware. I propose to have many more such initiatives during my tenure. I trust you will lend your ready cooperation in these and other endeavors of the Association also as you have always done!

Good luck and best wishes and thank you all once again for your support !