India Meeting Asia Meeting US Meeting
AIMA was one of the partners of the Horasis India Meeting held in Adelaide, Australia, which brought together CEOs, leaders, and senior professionals from some of India's and Australia’s most recognised organisations to discuss Indo-Pacific opportunities from 26th to 27th November 2023.
AIMA's high-profile delegation of speakers, including Mr Nikhil Sawhney, President, AIMA and Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Triveni Turbine Ltd; Mr Rajive Kaul, Past President AIMA and Chairman, Nicco Engineering Services Ltd; Mr R Mukundan, MD and CEO, Tata Chemicals; Mr Richard Rekhy, Entrepreneur, Board Member & Former CEO of KPMG in India, and Ms Rekha Sethi, Director General, AIMA, amongst others. 13 CEOs from the AIMA Young Leaders Council also joined the delegation.
AIMA organised a special plenary session on 'India, Australia and the World Economic Outlook'. The speakers included Mr Nikhil Sawhney; Ms Rekha Sethi; Mr Anton Roux, CEO, ADC Forum and Mr Nicholas Johnson, CEO, Economists without Borders. Speaking at the session, Mr. Sawhney underscored the transformative nature of India's business scenario and shared that Indian firms are currently evolving into true multinationals, emphasising, “We are at the forefront of globalisation". Ms. Sethi highlighting the potential for collaboration in higher education said, “India's appetite for higher education can tap into Australia's capacity, while Australia can benefit by partnering with India's top institutes”. The speakers explored strategies for India and Australia amidst a challenging global economic outlook, discussing ways to safeguard GDP growth from inflation shocks and leverage shifts in global supply chains for economic resilience.
In a fireside chat on 'Repurposing and Advancing Skill Development', Mr S Ramadorai, Former Chairman, National Skill Development Agency - NSDA, India discussed critical thinking skills and redesigning curriculum to encourage future generations to be critically enquiring, innovative and entrepreneurial. Speaking at a session on ‘Reaching out to the Global Markets’, Mr Richard Rekhy highlighted India's potential for high growth noting immediate advantages in sectors incentivised by India's Production-linked Incentive Scheme.
In addition, a special plenary session was held under the Tata Consultancy Services-Horasis initiative 'Race To Zero', where Mr R Mukundan, observed that the world is facing a tumultuous time, “We entrepreneurs need to navigate towards hope” he opined. Mr. Rajive Kaul succinctly summarised the meeting, emphasising a favourable opportunity for organisations in Australia, especially in Adelaide, to access new knowledge, discern trends, and collaboratively build socio-economic ties with India.
On the sides of the meeting, the AIMA delegation also visited the Adelaide Oval to watch a women’s cricket match between the teams of Adelaide and Perth.
Now in its 15th year, the Horasis India Meeting has become the foremost annual meeting of Indian business leaders and their global counterparts. Over 250 delegates from India, Australia and the rest of the world attended this year’s meeting in Adelaide.
AIMA participated in the Horasis USA Meeting held virtually on 4 March 2022, organised by Horasis: The Global Visions Community. The meeting held on the theme ‘Shaping America’s Role in the Post-COVID World’ focused on the future of the United States of America and its influence on the rest of the globe. The meeting gathered 750 speakers over more than 150 sessions. Many senior leaders from government and business – from the US and elsewhere – participated and proposed ideas on how to shape America’s and the world’s agenda. AIMA hosted a special digital plenary session on ‘The US and India: Partnering for the Post-virus Era’ moderated by Mr Sunil Kant Munjal, Chairman, Hero Enterprise. The panellists included Mr Suresh Prabhu, Member of Parliament and Former Cabinet Minister; Mr Harry Broadman, Partner and Managing Director, Chair - Emerging Markets Practice, Berkeley Research Group LLC; Mr R Mukundan, Managing Director, Tata Chemicals Ltd. Ms Rekha Sethi, Director General, AIMA introduced the session. Sharing his views on the India-US collaboration on climate change, energy conservation etc, Mr Suresh Prabhu said, “India and the US must look at a long term vision – as climate change is not immediately about financial policies but a long-term philosophy.” Speaking at the session Mr Munjal said, “For too long the US and India have not talked at surface evel. Despite this, India and US pharma did a great job on Covid.” Mr Broadman opined that the US administration has not been developing Indian links; and suggested that India take the initiative when it takes the chair of the G20. Mr Mukundan suggested further cooperation in the area of transition to net-zero - especially on nuclear energy and green hydrogen. Ms Sethi delivered the introductory remarks and set the context of the session. AIMA has been a co-organiser of the Horasis India Meetings and Horasis Asia Meetings held every year, as well as a regular participant at the Horasis Global Meetings.
AIMA was a co-organiser of the Virtual Horasis Asia Meeting held on 26 November 2021. Over 400 of the foremost business and political leaders from Asia and the world gathered to discuss how to shape the path forward through Asia’s big transitions and how to adopt innovation to build towards a resilient post-COVID Asia. The sessions mainly focused on rebooting economic activity, how jobs in the region will look going forward, and how more sustainable development can occur in Asia in a post-coronavirus world.
A special AIMA session was held on ‘The great game: India’s place and role in new Asia’ moderated by Mr Sunil Kant Munjal, Past President, AIMA and Chairman, Hero Enterprise; and introduced by Ms Rekha Sethi, Director General, AIMA. The speakers at this special session included Mr Suresh Prabhu, Member of Parliament and former Cabinet Minister; Mr Pramod Bhasin, Chairman, Clix Capital and Mr Harshavardhan Neotia, Past President, AIMA and Chairman, Ambuja Neotia Group. The speakers discussed how India’s security and economic interests are being impacted by a churn in America’s Asia strategy and China’s growing assertiveness; and how it is imperative for India to reassess its position and strategy. The Horasis Asia Meeting is Asia’s premier gathering of the region’s most senior leaders from business and government. Through the course of the programme, participants were given a systemic view of activities affecting the drivers of Asia’s economic success and how Asian businesses interact regionally as well as globally.
Contact Us:
Anita Sood
Office of the Director-General
All India Management Association (AIMA)
Tel: 91-11-24635012 (D); 4312 8100, 24645100 Extn-244
Email:- asood@aima.in