General information

Following the success of the EuroIndia Summits in Halle, Germany (October 2010), Valladolid, Spain (October 2009) and Goa, India (April 2008 and February 2007), the EuroIndia Centre has decided to hold its 5^th EuroIndia Summit in Leuven (Belgium), hometown of the oldest university in the Low Countries.

The 5^th EuroIndia Summit will take place on 13 and 14 October 2011 and will be hosted by the city of Leuven, the EuroIndia Centre, the Confederation of Indian Industry, the K.U.Leuven and imec. The focus of this year’s EuroIndia Summit is on “Smart, Sustainable & Innovative Cities”.

Participants

The Summit will be attended by top leaders of Indian and  European cities as well as their parent countries, federating states and regions, bringing to the table their respective visions of urban governance. Top representatives of leading Indian and European companies, academic & research institutions and NGO’s as well as eminent professionals related to the chosen themes will enrich the debate at the Summit.

The Indian federal Minister for Urban Development, Mr. Kamal Nath, is expected to inaugurate the Summit together with the representative of the Belgian and Flemish government, the President of the European Committee of the Regions and the Mayor of Leuven as well as the rector of the K.U.Leuven.

Indian mission

The Summit will be the culmination of a high level Indian Mission led by a leading representative of the Indian Government and consisting of corporate leaders; senior representatives of the national, federating States and civic governments; scientists and academicians; leaders of autonomous organizations and professionals in the sphere of urban governance.

From October 5^th to October 12^th, the Indian Mission will visit selected European cities showcasing their best urban practices by civic Governments and European companies.

The selected cities are Geneva (Switzerland), Grenoble & Paris (France) and Eindhoven (The Netherlands). The Indian delegates will also attend, on October 10^th and 12^th, the inaugural plenary session and selected workshops of Open Days 2011 in Brussels, the largest annual gathering of European regions, cities and companies with over 6000 participants.