From correspondents in Maharashtra, India, 11:35 AM IST
As India's booming technology sector positions the country to become a center of Cleantech technology innovation, the Cleantech Group™, founder of the Cleantech investment category, today announced its inaugural Cleantech Forum® in India.
Held October 7-9th 2008 in Mumbai, Cleantech Forum XIX will provide an opportunity for policymakers, investors and corporate leaders to convene with Cleantech entrepreneurs for three days of unparalleled analysis, networking and deal flow aimed at breaking down market barriers and accelerating the growth of India's Cleantech economy.
"Cleantech Forum XIX reflects a growing focus in India to advance technological innovation and entrepreneurship, and to position the country as an emerging global leader in Cleantech," said Ravi Viswanathan, partner, New Enterprise Associates and a member of Cleantech Group India's Advisory Board. "The Cleantech Group has been influential in driving interest and deal-flow in India's growing Cleantech marketplace. The Cleantech Forum in Mumbai will bring together business leaders from India and abroad to explore the opportunities and set the direction for India's rapid Cleantech expansion."
At Cleantech Forum XIX, companies will present investors and Indian policy-makers with technologies that address issues related to emerging resource constraints, as well as agriculture, transportation, water, manufacturing and clean energy challenges.
Cleantech Forums are the world's premier Cleantech investment platforms exclusively designed to facilitate the financing of emerging clean technology companies and broader market-based solutions. Cleantech Forums have been held throughout North America, Europe, China and now India.
Since the initial Cleantech Forum in 2002, presenting companies have raised over USD1.4 billion in capital. India in particular is showing substantial growth in clean technology, with 2007 investments up 58 percent from 2006 and continued growth in the first half of 2008.
In the keynote address, Shri Vilas Muttemwar, the Minister of State for the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, will outline the strategic approach to shaping the Cleantech market. Mr. Muttemwar, appointed in 2004, has focused on building India's wind energy, small hydropower, and bio power generation, and has set a goal for renewable energy to provide over ten percent of the country's power generation by 2012.
"India's inaugural Cleantech Forum will bring capital and innovation together to address some of India's most pressing challenges and to chart the course of a new industry," said Jaswinder Kaur, India country director, Cleantech Group. "The Forum is an opportunity for investors to get involved early and connect with the people and companies that are laying the groundwork for India's new Cleantech economy."
Leading companies participating at the event include BP, Unilever, Ernst & Young, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., Tata Power, Moser Baer Photovoltaic Ltd., MPPL Renewable Energy Pvt. Ltd, REVA, Greenko Group, Deeya Energy and Waterhealth Global.
Top-tier venture capital and investment firms participating include Sequoia Capital, Global Environment Fund, IDFC Private Equity, Kenda Capital, Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers, Acumen Fund, Crossover Advisors, Sail Venture Partners, Nexus Capital India, Barings Private Equity India, and Aavishkaar India Micro-Finance, Emergent Ventures, Nomura, New Enterprise Associates, SUN Group and Khosla Ventures.
Full information on the Cleantech Forum XIX conference, including agenda, is available at http://cleantech.com/indiaforum.
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