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Business Standard
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
CEO NITI Aayog B.V.R Subrahmanyam delivers impactful message at Bombay Chamber's 189th AGM; Rajiv Anand takes over as Chamber president
VMPL Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 27: The Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry held its 189th Annual General Meeting in Mumbai, bringing together eminent business leaders, policymakers, and members of the Chamber for an evening of reflection, renewal, and forward-looking dialogue. Rajiv Anand, Deputy Managing Director, Axis Bank took over as the Bombay Chamber President while Sudhanshu Vats, Managing Director, Pidilite Industries, became Sr Vice President of the Chamber. In his keynote address, B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, CEO of NITI Aayog, delivered an inspiring vision for India's future, highlighting the nation's remarkable transformation since independence. "In 1947, many doubted India's ability to survive - today we have emerged as a potential economic powerhouse, projected to become the third-largest economy by 2027." Subrahmanyam emphasised the critical role of the Bombay Chamber in driving India's growth, highlighting Mumbai's potential as a global economic hub. While taking note of the vision shared by the incoming president, he appreciated the Chamber's efforts and stressed on the need to frequently engage with the government to implement Mumbai's economic plan, focus on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and drive innovation and sustainability. Additionally, the Chamber should leverage Mumbai's position as a hub of industry, finance, and talent to drive India's leadership in frontier technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and biotechnology. The AGM started with Pinky Mehta, outgoing President Bombay Chamber and Director, Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance Co Ltd. & CFO, Aditya Birla Capital Ltd. welcoming the members and sharing her reflections on the Chamber's impactful journey over the past year. Under her leadership, the Chamber championed four key pillars--Digitalisation, ESG & Sustainability, Ease of Doing Business, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion--hosting over 100 knowledge-led events that advanced innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth. She highlighted global engagements such as the Indian delegation to Cyprus during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the country, thought leadership at the International Agri Hackathon, the third edition of the Chamber's DEI Forum and Awards, and dialogues with diplomats and regulators. She also reaffirmed the Chamber's digital and green commitments through initiatives like the CSR in the Digital Era Conclave, the Green Growth Forum, and the Smart City Leaders' Conclave. Following this, Rajiv Anand, President Designate, Bombay Chamber and Deputy Managing Director, Axis Bank, shared his vision for the year ahead under the theme 'Shaping the Future: Innovation, Inclusion, Impact.' He outlined five strategic priorities for 2025-26: catalysing sustainable economic growth, driving technology and innovation through the launch of a Centre for Emerging Technologies, empowering human capital with a focus on women and youth, deepening public-private partnerships, and modernising the Chamber for the next generation. He stressed the Chamber's mission to align closely with national priorities such as Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat@2047, and work in tandem with NITI Aayog on entrepreneurship, energy transition, and inclusive development. In his keynote address, the NITI Aayog CEO also spoke about India's ambitious goal to become a developed nation by 2047, with a targeted gross domestic product (GDP) of $30 trillion and a per capita income of $14,000. He said that this transformation isn't just an economic target, but a national movement that requires participation from every citizen. He also stressed on India's rise as a friendly, non-threatening power with relevance for developing regions worldwide. Subrahmanyam shared critical viewpoints focusing on several strategic areas. He spoke extensively on human capital development covering aspects like leveraging India's demographic dividend (median age of 29), expanding higher education to 9 crore students, increasing women's workforce participation and comprehensive skilling programs. On the economic transformation front he spoke about expanding manufacturing from half a trillion to $8-10 trillion, becoming a global services hub, developing agriculture beyond traditional cereal crops and creating global-standard financial and banking systems. Urban development, Subrahmanyam said, needs special focus wherein cities have to be prepared to accommodate 50% of population by 2047, creation of economic growth hubs and developing comprehensive urban infrastructure. Subrahmanyam called for business and industry leaders to be agents of change, working together to achieve a bold and inclusive vision for India's future. The evening also saw the launch of the "Dispute Resolution @ Bombay Chamber" website, an initiative focused on mediation as a structured and efficient tool for resolving commercial disputes. The launch was presented by Ashok Barat, Past President, Bombay Chamber and Mentor, Dispute Resolution @ Bombay Chamber & Director, Bata India, who emphasised the need for industry-led mechanisms to ease legal burdens and promote amicable solutions. Concluding the evening, Sudhanshu Vats, Sr Vice President Designate, Bombay Chamber and Managing Director, Pidilite Industries, delivered the vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to the speakers, members, and stakeholders for their continued support and commitment. He reiterated the Chamber's vision to serve as a forward-thinking, solutions-oriented platform for business leadership and policy engagement, dedicated to building an inclusive and prosperous future for Mumbai and India.
Business Standard
20-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Bombay Chamber DEI Awards 2025 winners announced; DEI Forum drives dialogue on inclusive growth in Corporate India
VMPL Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 20: The Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry successfully hosted the third edition of its flagship DEI Forum & Awards 2025 on June 18, 2025, in Mumbai, reinforcing its continued commitment to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion within corporate India. The winners of the awards were announced at a glittering ceremony at the Taj Santacruz Mumbai. The awards ceremony, which recognised outstanding contributions to DEI across six categories, was underpinned by a transparent and unbiased evaluation event brought together prominent industry leaders, DEI champions, and stakeholders for an engaging and reflective evening focused on inclusive growth and transformative practices. In her Welcome Address, Pinky Mehta, President, Bombay Chamber and CFO, Aditya Birla Capital said, "As we stand in 2025, India finds itself at a pivotal juncture, where the ideals of inclusivity are not just aspirational but are actively shaping our institutions, workplaces, and communities. It is time now to operationalise DEI beyond policy and poster walls -- embedding it into every function, decision and layer of leadership." One of the evening's most engaging moments was a Fireside Chat on the theme "Inclusive Leadership: What Does It Really Look Like?" The panel featured four powerhouse leaders Arundhati Bhattacharya, President and CEO of Salesforce South Asia; Dr. Indu Shahani, Founding President and Chancellor of ATLAS SkillTech University; and Mansi Madan Tripathy, Chairperson of the Shell Group of Companies in India and Senior Vice President of Shell Lubricants, APAC and moderator Meenakshi Priyam, Chair, D & I Committee, Bombay Chamber and Sr VP & HR Head - Automotive Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra. Welcoming delegates to the Bombay Chamber DEI Forum which was held prior to the Awards, Sandeep Khosla, Director General, Bombay Chamber focused on the Chamber's rich 189 year history and how it is helping build bridges across industry. Setting the theme for the Forum, Nikhil Kolur, Partner, Human Capital, Deloitte, said, "Inclusion isn't policy, it's muscle memory. Built in small moments, until it becomes who we are." He spoke about how DEI spends in India's corporate world have increased by 70%, but that is just 18% of the workspace. A key segment of the Forum, titled "The Exchange - Part 1," featured former DEI Award winners - Shell India, Tata Communications and NICHEM Solutions, who shared candid insights into their DEI journeys, outlining both achievements and ongoing challenges in creating inclusive workplaces. The presentations were followed by a participatory group activity where attendees discussed the core enablers of DEI success and the barriers that continue to persist. The Forum also celebrated the participants of the Chamber's Mentoring for Enrichment Program 2025, with certificates awarded to both mentors and mentees in recognition of their dedication to fostering inclusive leadership development. Later in the evening, attendees experienced "Portraits of Progress", an immersive DEI Gallery Walk that offered reflective installations, storytelling exhibits, and interactive displays designed to prompt dialogue on the evolving nature of work through a DEI lens. In the session titled "The Exchange - Part 2," participants came together once more to share their insights from the Gallery Walk and earlier discussions, culminating in the identification of one actionable idea to take back to their own organisations. This session also encouraged peer commitments for continued collaboration and knowledge exchange, ensuring that the day's conversations would translate into tangible action. Closing the Forum, Meenakshi Priyam, Chair of the Chamber's D & I Committee and Head of HR - Automotive Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra, offered a powerful reflection: "One of our goals with the DEI Committee was to celebrate progress while also tapping into the collective energy of those driving change. We aimed to create a space where people passionate about DEI could connect and collaborate. Today, we need to reframe the conversation -- this isn't about the cost of DEI, but about the value of inclusive opportunity. While attention to DEI is waning in many parts of the world, Indian corporations are stepping up. Still, challenges remain -- especially for MSMEs, who struggle with the resources to implement initiatives like extended maternity leave. We're trying to build a community of committed individuals who will keep the conversation alive and move the needle in the right direction, because inclusive leadership is not a choice, it's a necessity." The winners of the Bombay Chamber DEI Awards 2025 across the categories were: Disability Confidence & Inclusion Award Winner: Capgemini Technology Services India Limited 1st Runner up: Godrej Capital 2nd Runner up: Future Generali India Insurance Company Limited LGBTQIA+ Inclusion Award Winner: Godrej Properties Limited 1st Runner up: Deutsche Bank Group 1st Runner up: Axis Bank Special Mention: Asian Paints Limited Gender Equality Champion Award Winner: Novo Nordisk India Pvt. Ltd. 1st Runner up: Godrej Properties Limited 2nd Runner up: Nestle India Limited Special Mention: GIA India Laboratory Pvt Ltd. Impactful DEI Program Award Winner: InterGlobe Aviation Limited (IndiGo) 1st Runner up: HDFC ERGO General Insurance Company Limited 2nd Runner up: Capgemini Technology Services India Limited Special Award for MSME Winner: HAB Pharmaceutical & Research Ltd. 1st Runner up: Harkesh Rubber LLP DEI Champion Award Winner: Godrej Properties Limited 1st Runner up: Capgemini Technology Services India Limited 2nd Runner up: HDFC Life Insurance Company Limited 2nd Runner up: Indian Hotels Company Limited
