Sustainable Tourism in India: U.S. Speaker Kelly Bricker Lends her Expertise through the U.S. Speaker and Specialist Program

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Meeting with Faculty and Mr. Yugabrata 'Bubu' Kar, the Founder of the NGO Barefoot at St. Xavier's High School.

Since Fall 2013, Meridian International Center, in partnership with the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, has had the pleasure of implementing the U.S. Speaker and Specialist Program for India, a program designed to connect U.S. experts with Indian audiences and institutions; to promote an understanding of U.S. strategic priorities, policies and institutions; and to discuss the political, economic, social, and cultural context from which they arise. To date, through the program implemented by Meridian, some 45 American experts have traveled to India to engage with audiences through lectures, workshops, and seminars; through appearances in...

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Bringing American Expertise and Excellence to India – U.S. Speaker Program

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Tiffany Williams, National Coordinator, National Domestic Workers Alliance engaging with audinces in Hyderabad

Since Fall 2013, Meridian International Center has had the pleasure of working with the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi implementing the U.S. Speaker Program for India. Sponsored by the Public Affairs Section, the program is designed to connect U.S. experts with Indian audiences and institutions; to promote an understanding of U.S. strategic priorities, policies and institutions; and to discuss the political, economic, social, and cultural context from which they arise. Continue  

Meridian International Center from the Eyes of an Intern

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Meridian Interns Sarenna Cech and Elizabeth Westbrook with Meridian employees

For the past semester, I have been extremely fortunate to intern in the GlobalConnect department of Meridian International Center. While I am still a bit in denial about the fact that the semester is almost over, this post will be an opportunity to reflect over the past couple of months and give my thoughts about interning at Meridian. First and foremost, for anyone who is interested in applying to intern in one of the many departments at Meridian International Center, I recommend it wholeheartedly. This internship has been a fantastic opportunity: I have been introduced to great people from...

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U.S. Speaker Program in India Focuses on Variety of Opportune Topics

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David Waskow Director of the International Climate Action Signature Initiative at the World Resources Institute meeting with officials in India as part of his U.S. Speaker Program on the impact of climate change.

Meridian International Center, in conjunction with the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi (NDPAS), has created the U.S. Speaker and Specialist Program in India. The program, which started in November of 2013, has already sent eight representatives from the United States to different locations around India to speak on various policy-related topics. To ensure topics were discussed as competently and fully as possible, speakers chosen are U.S. citizens with the best expertise and qualifications in their respective fields. The program was organized by Meridian Program Officer Bogdan Banu and Program Associate Tai Ford, and will include two additional speakers in the next month. Continue  

The Importance of IP in India As Bollywood Doubles Hollywood’s Movie Production

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Michael Schlesinger meeting with Indian officials during his visit there as part of the U.S. Speaker program

When most individuals think of the Indian film industry, Bollywood immediately comes to mind — Bollywood, the behemoth business that produces over 1,000 films a year, or twice the number Hollywood produces. These theatrical and spectacular productions have given Bollywood its reputation as a giant in the international world of film and media, especially due to the sheer volume of films produced by the Indian industry. However, in comparison to the U.S., whose film industry brings in $51 billion a year, Bollywood’s revenue is only about $4.5 billion. Why the extreme discrepancy? While many reasons can explain the lack of revenue garnered by Bollywood, one of the main reasons is the amount of—and lack of regulation against—piracy in India.

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