The New York chapter of the  Jain International Trade Organization, USA (JITO USA) recently conducted its Entrepreneurship and Innovation Conference at the Jain Center of New Jersey. The event attended by 400 people from 20 states and 4 countries brought together over 20 industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and academic luminaries.

According to a release shared by the organization, the participants and speakers shared knowledge, inspired one another, and identified areas for socio-economic growth within the Jain community as well as the shared global community.

In his welcome remarks, Rajeev Pandya, JITO USA treasurer and New York Chapter chairperson, who served as the event organizer, shared the journey of Jains in NY and the US along with how the community has expanded. He highlighted the that the task at hand for the following generations is to continue fostering the Jain network.

Introduced by Dr. Neeta Jain, founder and president of the International Ahimsa Foundation, Consul General of India in New York, Randhir Jaiswal, spoke about the importance of bilateral trade and collaborations between India and the United States and highlighted the significance of the Indian Diaspora in America in furthering bilateral ties.

Prominent academician and professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), S.P. Kothari, in his keynote address shared valuable insights into the latest trends in technology and its impact on business and society with the audience. The finance keynote was presented by Rushabh Kapashi, senior partner at McKinsey, who shed light on the changing landscape of the financial industry, and offered strategic perspectives and actionable insights for financial professionals and organizations.

According to a release, a technology keynote speech was delivered by Mukesh Chatter, the CEO of NeoNet while Chintu Patel, founder of Amneal Pharmaceuticals presented the Healthcare/Pharma keynote. The release stated that apart from the keynote speeches the conference included interactive panel discussions that brought together industry experts, thought leaders, and successful entrepreneurs.

The tech panel, moderated by Kamlesh Mehta, Founder, CTO, and VP of Engineering of nSolutions, focused on emerging trends and the pervasive growth of AI with panelists. The finance panel discussion covered innovative strategies in the business world with the conversation being led by Apurva Shah, CTO of Launch Potato and the panel centered around the healthcare and pharmaceutical sector highlighted the importance of affordability and innovation in the field. The discussion was led by moderator Dipak Doshi, CEO of Protocol Link.

Experts across panels included Prem Jain, CEO of Pensando, Dr. Raj Bhayani MD, ENT and Facial Plastic Surgeon, Naveen Shah, Founder and CEO of Navika Group of Companies and Blue Sky Hospitality, to name a few.  “The JITO conference served as a catalyst for collaboration, learning, and innovation,” said Prem Jain. “It provided a unique platform for industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals to come together, exchange ideas, and explore opportunities for growth.”

The event also featured several speakers from JITO leadership including JITO USA president Dr. Sushil Jain and members of various chapters. The members shared their valuable insights on various topics in their speeches as well as highlighted the importance of Jain values and ethics in everyday life. The event concluded in a workshop, led by Yogendra Jain, for educating and motivating aspiring entrepreneurs.

"The panel discussions and entrepreneurship workshop were valuable highlights of the JITO USA conference," said Pandya. “We believe that this conference will serve as a catalyst for many future events that foster collaboration, innovation, and professional growth within the Jain community in New York, New Jersey and across the US."