Washington, DC
September 14, 2010

The Indian Council of Overseas Employment (lCOE) today signed a memorandum of understanding with the Migration Policy Institute (MPI), an independent think tank in Washington, D.C. that carries out research and policy development on international migration worldwide. ICOE is an autonomous institution established by the Government of lndia's Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) to lead empirical, analytical and policy related research on international migration.

The memorandum establishes a basis for cooperation between the two institutions on topics ranging from international migration issues and migration policy to the impact of labor migration on economic development in source and destination countries. Both institutions have an interest in promoting multilateral debate on international migration issues.

Signing the memorandum of understanding for ICOE, its chairman, Dr. A. Didar Singh, said, "India's 5,000-year history of migration has led us to a deep appreciation of the importance of migration to India's development as a modem economy and to its relations with countries around the globe. ICOE's collaboration with MPI will help us to enlarge our exploration of the ways in which India can benefit from globalization."

Dr. Demetrios G. Papademetriou, MPl's president, added, "India is a major force in international migration dynamics and represents one of the largest and most successful immigrant communities in the United States. MPI looks forward to a vigorous program of joint research and policy exploration of global trends in migration."

The memorandum of understanding has a term of three years and can be renewed on the agreement of both parties.