Harry Dhaul: chair of the Securing Asia Steering Committee
Welcoming delegates on the first day of the Asian Homeland Security and Counter Terror Summit was the chairman, Security Watch UK  (SWUK) & Global Energy, Harry Dhaul, chair of the Securing Asia Steering Committee.
Speaking on the sidelines of the conference, in an exclusive interview with the Gulf Times,  Dhaul, the founder and director general of the Independent Power Producers Association of India (IPPAI), praised Qatar’s “world vision”, describing it  as “amazing and inspiring”.
He also spoke about relations between Pakistan and India, in the context of developing mutually fruitful trade relations.
“It makes very little economic sense to find there are goods and services that Pakistan needs from India, and vice-versa,” he said. “Pakistan can access one of the world’s biggest markets right on its doorstep for its goods and services, and thereby generate employment and create wealth in their country,” he ventured.
Moreover, he added: “I see no reason why India can’t export electricity and make sure that large parts of Pakistan that are suffering from blackouts today are well lit up, thereby encouraging industry, commerce and businesses to grow. I think it’s absolutely logical.”
He emphasised that the countries had much in common. “Culturally we are almost absolutely the same in terms of our thinking, our food, music and history,” he said.
“People are concerned about jobs, about food security, education and future of their children, more than anything else,” he observed.
Commenting on the Middle East, Dhaul, said: “I think the Arab region is very important. If you look at our cultural history, we are very closely knit with the Middle East. The mindset and culture are very similar and we feel very much an integrated whole.”
Speaking of Qatar, he said; “Qatar is one of the foremost catalysts in moving forward in terms of their business thinking, world vision and investments across the world. I think it is amazing and inspiring and I think others should follow their example.”
Concerning his organisation, he said: “The role we want to play is that of a ‘neutral capitalist’, where people can come together and do business and prosper. Our biggest reward would be if someone came up to us and said that he had benefited by attending these events.”
He concluded by saying that summits such as these enable the global participants to “step out of a situation and look at it dispassionately and see where is the greater good for the people”.