On behalf of the organizers of the Wharton India Economic Forum (WIEF) and The Wharton School, we are pleased to welcome you to our Eleventh Annual Conference - "Realizing the Indian Dream".

The WIEF 2006 conference takes a special significance given that it is Wharton's 125th anniversary. The preparation of the conference began almost a year in advance and has given us an opportunity to put together one of the finest conferences thus far.

For the past decade, India has been at the forefront of the global business and political landscape. So what is it that drives India? Is it the prowess in information technology? Is it the foreign investments and favorable economic policies? Or is it its billion people who help create and consume global products? It is perhaps all of these, and a bit more - It is the Indian Dream.

India has a dream for itself. A dream that inspires the entire nation to be forward looking, innovative and hard working. A dream that is shared by many across all socio-economic frontiers. The ever rising power of middle class and the common masses has put 'economic' development at the center of the Indian Dream. WIEF 2006 will be a strong platform for celebration as well as healthy debate among the various stakeholders who share the Indian dream - Professionals, Businesses, Government, and Global citizens.

The thought-leaders, entrepreneurs, and policy makers that you will hear over the course of the day will highlight not just the Indian success stories and India's growing clout in the global marketplace, but also the ground realities and non-market forces that can pose challenges to new business ventures in India.

We are confident that you will enjoy the conference and benefit from the experience and wisdom of our speakers. WIEF has always enjoyed record attendance and is a great venue to network amongst like minded professionals. We hope that you will actively participate in the discussions and freely share your opinions and ideas to enrich the experience of your fellow attendees.

Sincerely,

Ashish Khemka (MBA Co-Chair)
Raj Pandey (MBA Co-Chair)
Piyush Jain (Undergraduate Co-Chair)
Sameera Chilakapati (Undergraduate Co-Chair)