Aparna Doshi named co-chair of US-India Business Council solar task force

Business Wire India): Aparna Doshi, chief operating officer of Astonfield Renewable Resources, has been named Co-chair of the US-India Business Council (USIBC) Solar Power Task Force, a major new initiative to promote US-India trade and investment in the burgeoning solar power sector.

As the subcommittee of USIBC”s Energy, Environment, Enterprise (EEE) Executive Committee, comprised of more than 100 members, the USIBC Solar Task Force will be pivotal in the development of clean energy in India and beyond. Doshi”s expertise in both solar power business development and policy setting in India will make her leadership to the committee”s work invaluable.

The establishment of the task force is an important milestone in US-India collaboration and comes at a very opportune time, just prior to the upcoming November visit of US President, Barack Obama, to India.

The Government of India is seeking to become a solar power generating hub and leader in solar services and equipment in the coming years.

As a strong supporter of the development of renewable energy, President Obama”s visit should help to foster strategic relationships between the two countries on important global issues, including the topic of renewable energy. To that end, USIBC”s Solar Power Task Force will play a significant role in supporting policy formulation leading to the success of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) to provide clean energy to sustain India”s double digit growth.

The aim of the USIBC Solar Task Force is to stimulate the exchange of regulatory and policy best practices with the government of India and respective states, which should enable the development of commercially viable solar power plants while allowing India to grow into one of the largest solar power markets in the world.

Leading solar technologies and implementation practices will also be more readily exchanged through the task force. Further, by facilitating the financing of solar power products and solar equipment manufacturing in India, technology costs will no longer be a major challenge. Additionally, the task force will support the JNNSM by addressing risks and remove difficulties to bringing about the rapid, competitive implementation of effective policies for growth in the Indian solar sector.

“I sincerely believe that India will become the world leader in solar power generation and manufacturing, and I am honored to have been asked to provide leadership to this ambitious project. The USIBC Solar Task Force will be a powerful influence in the US and Indian solar sectors and I am excited to work to make renewable energy the norm in our two countries,” said Aparna Doshi.

Doshi oversees the corporate and operations strategy of Astonfield. She works with the leadership team in implementing Astonfield”s strategy and with the technical partners and the finance and operations team to ensure seamless execution of the company”s portfolio.

Astonfield has taken a leadership position in bringing affordable clean energy to emerging markets like India through strategic technology partners and increased foreign investments. Being an integral part in the formation of this taskforce is a testament to this fact.