ASSOCHAM Centenary Celebrations 2 Vol
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Vol No.44, Issue No.12 December 2019 This Issue is of 68 Pages Single Copy Price Rs.90 100 YEARS OF THE KNOWLEDGE CHAMBER Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi with ASSOCHAM President, Shri Balkrishan Goenka at ASSOCHAM’s Centenary Celebrations. ASSOCHAM Centenary Celebrations 2 Vol. No. 44 • Issue No. 12 • December 2019 100 YEARS OF THE KNOWLEDGE CHAMBER Celebrating 100 Years From the President’s Desk… would like to begin by wishing you heartiest Sea- ASSOCHAM’s endeavours in nation building and I son’s Greetings and a Happy New Year 2020 ! enhancing inclusive growth. As we conclude another successful year in the In order to consolidate the strengths of ASSO- journey of ASSOCHAM, I would like to express my CHAM, collective efforts have gone into bringing profound sense of privilege and honour at having about a transformation in the structure, approach led an organisation embodying such stature, legacy and operations, to provide greater sharpness and and stellar contributions to nation building. My focus in aligning with government agenda. AS- tenure with ASSOCHAM has been truly remarka- SOCHAM’s sector-specific councils have been ble, stimulating and fulfilling in many ways. re-oriented and made contributions participative, resulting in numerous successful policy recommen- When I assumed office, I had inherited the contri- dations to the government. Our economy stands on bution that the distinguished visionaries before me robust structural ground, from which many disrup- had made to industrial progress. I had the onerous tive ideas and newer ventures are emerging. I am task of building on the achievements and take the pleased that these start-ups have been nurtured and platform even higher. The challenge was to make guided towards growth. the voice of industry even more focused and fu- ture-oriented yet retain its inclusiveness. ASSOCHAM also continues to widen its national and international reach. Heeding the clarion call However, my task was made simpler through the of our Hon’ble Prime Minister, ASSOCHAM has Hon’ble Prime Minister’s mandate to economy opened its regional office in Jammu & Kashmir, of achieving the USD 5 trillion mark. This has with industry’s commitment to contribute to the enthused industry and given rise to a renewed region’s welfare and progress. ASSOCHAM has energy in moving towards national goals. I have earlier spearheaded sizeable participation in initia- been privileged also because my tenure gave me tives such as Vibrant Gujarat and Emerging North- the opportunity to witness India’s transition from East to forge greater state-level development. an emerging to a progressive economy due to the government’s reformist policies. The government’s At the international level, various interactions such initiatives and reforms have elevated India’s stature as ASSOCHAM Diplomacy Business Initiative have and influence in the economic, political and interna- commenced and are underway. Partnerships have tional spheres. been forged with renowned organisations such as Asian Business Leadership Forum to recognise com- As a primary step towards aligning ASSOCHAM mendable businesses. with national socio-economic objectives, the jour- ney gave me the opportunity to envision a guiding Apart from hosting eminent dignitaries such as the philosophy of 4-Sight, encompassing the four pillars Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh, leading a of Entrepreneurship, Digitization, Sustainability strong Indian business delegation accompanying and Women Empowerment. The initiatives con- the Hon’ble President of India to Iceland, Lithuania, ceived and implemented for these and many other Latvia, Estonia, accompanying Hon’ble Chief Min- segments have been instrumental in reiterating ister of Gujarat to Uzbekistan and holding detailed ASSOCHAM Bulletin 1 100 YEARS OF THE KNOWLEDGE CHAMBER interactions with the diplomatic community in Presidents of ASSOCHAM along with Senior Vice India, ASSOCHAM has forged stronger internation- President, Vice President, Managing Committee al linkages. It is hoped that these would expand Members, Chairs and Co-Chairs of National Coun- ASSOCHAM’s global footprint significantly. cils. I wholeheartedly express my sincere gratitude to all of them for their guidance and support. In the process, I have sincerely strived to help ASS- OCHAM transform as an organisation and become My tenure was made fulfilling with the opportuni- more streamlined and future-ready. Having begun ties provided to me by the senior representatives its future journey after a glorious centenary, ASSO- of our Political Leadership and Government at the CHAM is positioned at the vantage point from where central and state levels, to represent the concerns of the future beckons with hope and radiance. We were industry. I am delighted that these concerns have privileged to have our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri been considered and addressed favourably. The Narendra Modi ji along with five eminent Cabi- media in our country is lauded as one of the most net Ministers at our Centenary Celebrations and liberal in the world, to which I credit depicting a Annual Conference on 20 December 2019, wherein comprehensive illustration of ASSOCHAM’s initia- the expectations from industry have been outlined tives in general and my Presidentship in particular. in the framework to building a USD 5 trillion economy. The task is daunting, but the momentum The ASSOCHAM Secretariat merits my highest has been built to navigate the roadmap for achieving endorsement as a coherent and vibrant unit which even brighter economic prospects. I am confident has spearheaded innovative and pertinent initiatives that Indian industry is poised to fulfilling these ex- effectively to align the organisation with national pectations. goals. Industry representation is in very capable hands and is confident of maintaining impetus to- I derive immense fulfilment at having laid the foun- wards the future. dation of a focused, streamlined, robust and vibrant ASSOCHAM, readying it for a future commensurate As ASSOCHAM embarks upon its future journey, with India’s growing stature as a rising economic I extend my continued best wishes and am pleased power. The membership base of ASSOCHAM has that the chamber is more vibrant, focused, nimble and been strengthened and represents a cross-section of driven with renewed energy towards a bright future. active industry segments. ASSOCHAM is now well positioned to manage growing challenges of econ- Best wishes, omy, industry, global trade and growing national expectations. In my journey during the past one year, I was priv- ileged to have the support of the distinguished Past Balkrishan Goenka 2 Vol. No. 44 • Issue No. 12 • December 2019 100 YEARS OF THE KNOWLEDGE CHAMBER Celebrating 100 Years Sr. Vice President’s Message trainees across the Board, skilling the rural youth, Vision for the future providing vocational training for jail-inmates, juvenile What is expected of an industry body like ASSO- homes, child rescue homes, providing school and col- CHAM, is to be the forerunner in establishing the in- lege circular augmentation program, setting up skill terest of various share-holders of the organization in upgrading centers in industry clusters and setting up tandem with the government’s vision for the future. of a special knowledge-sharing forum for bringing ASSOCHAM has been at the forefront as the propel- women into the organized workforce. ler of change for the last 100 years. Sustainable Development What India needs at this juncture is to consolidate its Our thrust would be to enable sustainable develop- position as the fastest-growing economy in the world. ment through reducing carbon footprint by adopting The cast for that has been dyed in the last five years green technologies, conserving nature & habitation, by way of many reforms and changes in the way we safeguarding rivers & water bodies, improving the do business or run our economy. We had been part- standard of lives, creating sustainable cities and nering with the visionaries at every step and in every communities, striving to generate affordable & clean aspect to propel the economy towards the Prime energy and clean water & sanitation facilities. Minister’s vision of the ‘New India’. Under my leadership in the future, we would like to Improving Infrastructure channelize the efforts in the following manner: To ensure the establishment of World-Class Infra- structure like roads, Metro Rail, Highways, Airports, Equitable Growth Ports, Inland Water Ways, IT Parks, Digital & IT Infra we would aim at ensuring equitable growth through all across the country by lending support to the gov- generating employment opportunities, ensuring ernment’s initiatives. favorable ease of Doing Business Environment for all the stakeholders, provide equal opportunities for Encouraging Innovations & all, strive to get better policies for best governance, Entrepreneurship resolve the country’s agrarian crisis, ensure food The growth of the nation lies in free-spirited entre- & water security, address the issue of urban-rural preneurs. The onus would be on us for encouraging divide, increase women power into GDP, ensure busi- innovations & entrepreneurship. ASSOCHAM would ness with responsibility and finally promote private assist in fostering innovation, help Start-Ups, provide partnership in public infrastructure. financial aid to small ventures, set up micro-financing for rural women for small business & self-employ- Enhancing the Skill and ment, set up knowledge centers for MSME and final-