Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) head Mukesh Ambani and Boeing chief James W. McNerney will receive the United States-India Business Council (USIBC) leadership award for "Global Vision" 2007 in Washington on Wednesday. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will also be honoured with the USIBC distinguished service award.

The awards will be given at the two-day USIBC 32nd anniversary summit at the US Chambers of Commerce, a statement from Washington Sunday said. US Commerce Secretary Carlos Guteirrez will deliver the inaugural speech at the summit that US Trade Representative Susan Schwab and Indian Commerce Minister Kamal Nath will also attend.

Rice will deliver the keynote speech on "Uniting Two Great Democracies for 21st Century", the statement said. Kicking off the summit Tuesday will be the 32nd Anniversary Cultural Recital and Gala Dinner at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts with a sarod recital by maestro Amjad Ali Khan, whose sons Amaan Ali Khan and Ayaan Ali Khan will accompany him. Meanwhile, sources here said Ambani would meet three top US officials, including Rice, at the event and was likely to hold discussions on a range of issues like outsourcing and energy security. "Discussions are also likely on alternative energy sources in the wake of growing international concerns over global warming," the sources added.

The Washington headquartered USIBC, a premier advocacy organization, promotes economic reforms to deepen trade relations and broaden commercial ties between the two countries. "USIBC formulates an annual work plan that targets specific issues important to its 250 member-companies, compiled from progress on-the-ground and to devise strategies and prepare representations to advance sector-specific reforms in India," council president Somers said in the statement. Toward this, USIBC has partnered with premier Indian business organizations like the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the American Chamber of Commerce in India (AmCham India), National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM), The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), and the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC).

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