Dear Reader,

Greetings from Open Trade, a magazine committed to promote global economy in general and India's commerce with the member countries of the Trade Commissioners' Forum (TCF), Mumbai. Today, the global economy is reeling under the impact of the worst-ever meltdown in recorded history. But some countries such as India which have followed prudent monetary and fiscal policies, the present meltdown may be a blessing in disguise. Because India can introspect itself, revamp its policies against the gloom of the current economic crisis. As Justin Yifu Lin, Chief Economist, World Bank, put it recently, there are many lessons to be learned from the current crisis and not least among these is the extent to which we are interconnected. The former Professor and Founding Director of the China Centre for Economic Research (CCER) at Peking University, who is an ardent India watcher said what we are facing is a global crisis and we must, therefore, look for a coordinated and concerted global solution. The cover story of the current issue of Open Trade carries the detailed analysis of today's global calamity and the means required to overcome it as annunciated by the reputed economist. In the Focus section of the magazine, we have four articles on Germany, including an interview with Rajesh Nath of German Engineering Federation. Two of the articles deal with the importance of Hamburg, which has emerged as a gateway to European markets and a world leader in power Generation. In country reports we present Israel, Romania, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland and Vietnam and their increasing trade relations with India. In recent years, Israel and India have been quietly bolstering their bilateral trade, especially in areas such as high-tech security. We carry an interview with Elad Goz, Israeli Consul for Economic Affairs in Mumbai and also a write-up on a recent Israeli security delegation's visit to India. We have a special feature on India's eastern State of Assam, which highlights its development in the fields of horticulture and floriculture. Besides all these, Open Trade carries the regular features as usual.
Wish you happy reading

Satya Swaroop
Managing Editor
satya@newmediacomm.biz