“Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was a visionary who endeavoured to establish a network of Honorary Consular relations for Post-Independent India with Central and Eastern European countries during his historic visit to Vienna in 1933. The Polish Embassy in Vienna was very much impressed with his ideas and facilitated his visit to Warsaw to discuss with the Polish officials about this subject. Netaji proposed the then Polish government to launch direct trade relation with India in a list of select commodities. He was well ahead of time when he proposed the idea of establishing Polish-India Chamber of Commerce and explore import of cotton, sugar, cement, paper, agriculture machineries, locomotives, rail carriages, spirits and other items from Poland,” said Mr. Marek Moroń, an accomplished Polish author and Former Diplomat at the talk on ‘Visit of Subhash Chandra Bose to Poland in July 1933 – New Documents, New Conclusions’. The event was organized by World Trade Center Mumbai and All India Association of Industries (AIAI).

Referring to the official documents of the Polish government, Mr. Moroń pointed out,” Netaji’s visionary ideas of strengthening trade with Poland coincided with the Polish government’s efforts to establish diplomatic presence in the South Asian region. In 1933, Polish government established Consular Office in Bombay. Netaji’s vision for India-Polish trade relation received support from Polish Embassy in Vienna as well as the Consular Office in Bombay. However, the prevailing political condition at that time was not favourable for the Polish government to go ahead with establishing direct trade relationship with India.”

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Dr. Vijay Kalantri, Chairman, MVIRDC WTC Mumbai pointed out, “Netaji formed the Hind Sena for Independence of India and was an Architect of the Independence Movement. He was also a true visionary who advocated promotion of overseas trade relationship with European countries. Many other leaders are remembered but finally by installing the statue of Netaji at India Gate we have done some justice to his contribution towards Independence Movement. WTC Mumbai and AIAI have been advancing the vision of Netaji to promote trade and investment with Poland. When Mr. Moroń was Consul General of Poland in Mumbai, WTC Mumbai led a 178-member trade delegation, the largest such delegation from India to any country, to develop trade and investment relation with Poland. Since 2010, bilateral trade with Poland has grown more than three-fold to USD 3.8 billion from hardly USD 1.05 billion.”

The event was attended by Mr. Mateusz Reszczyk, Vice Consul, Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Mumbai, members of trade & industry and academia.

Capt. Somesh Batra, Vice Chairman, MVIRDC WTC Mumbai proposed vote of thanks for the event.