St. Petersburg physician Dr. Akshay Desai was recently sworn in as one of 15 members of the President�s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The event was held at the White House Conference Center, Washington D.C.

Ronald Langston, national director of Minority Business Development Agency, swore in Desai, an Indian American. Welcoming the new commissioners and guests, Eddy Badrina, executive director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) said that new commission brought in significant experience in business and community development work on the mandate of the Commission.

The commission�s initiatives cover the Americans from India, China, Japan, Korea, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Commonwealth of Indonesia, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Commonwealth of Miranda Islands, Tonga, Tahiti, Micronesia, Palau Islands, Fiji and other Pacific Islands.

Among the commission�s responsibilities are advising the president on (a); initiatives to improve business opportunities and community development ensuring participation in federal programs and public- sector/private sector partnerships; (b) ways to promote increased business diversification of AAPI; and (c): foster research and data collection on AAPI businesses and their participation in the national economy and their own community development.

�I am honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve this great nation,� said Akshay Desai at the swearing-in ceremony. �I am thankful to President Bush in his efforts to reach out and bring diversity in his administration and recognize the dynamism and great contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in al walks of life.�