India Leadership Conclave Felicitates India’s Top Business Achievers

India Leadership Conclave an initiative of Wockhardt Foundation in association with ASSOCHAM at a grand ceremony today awarded India’s top corporate for their contribution to the Indian economy. The Guest of honor at the conclave was Shri Salman Khurshid, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Corporate Affairs & Minority Affairs along with Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, Former President of India.

The awards which were given under the various categories felicitated Indian leaders and successful businesspersons of India Inc who have made an impact on the economy. The awards were decided by a distinguished panel of judges which has been formulated by picking up the think tanks from all walks of life.

The revolutionary leader of modern India was given to Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi for his contribution towards the Indian politics while the Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Mr. Ratan Tata, Chairman TATA Group and Mr. K V Kamath, Chairman ICICI Bank. The India Corporate citizen of the year was awarded to Mr. Mukesh Ambani, Chairman, Reliance Industries Ltd, India’s best Airlines was awarded to Dr. Vijay Mallya’s Kingfisher Airlines,

The Young Business Leader to Mr. Uday Kotak, Executive Vice Chairman & MD, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Brand of the Year to Mr. Lalit Kumar Modi, Chairman and Commissioner,IPL, Business Women of the Year to Ms. Chanda Kochhar, CEO, ICICI Bank Ltd, Bank of the Year to M.D. Mallya, CMD, Bank of Baroda, India’s most Admired Bank to Shri O.P. Bhatt, Chairman, SBI Bank, India's most Promising Web-based Solutions Company to Pankaj Jaiswal, Chairman/MD, Dotcom Services (I) Pvt Ltd, Lifetime Achievement Award to Yash Chopra, Producer, Director, Yash Raj Films, India’s Upcoming Biogroup CO to Sanjay Bawsay, Chairman, Synergy Diagnostics Pvt Ltd, Innovation in Blood Products in IV/IG to R. Muthukrishnan, Chairman, Elshaddai Biologicals Ltd, India’s most Admired Electronics Brand to Venugopal N. Dhoot, CMD, Videocon Industries Ltd, Technically & Scientifically Most Advanced Biotech Company to Gunvantlal Shah, Chairman, Samarth Pharma Pvt Ltd, Upcoming Pharma retail chain to MD, Trust Chemists & Druggists, Youngest & Dynamic Enterpreneur Award to Nikunj Kirtibhai Kanakia, Chairman/MD, Lifeline Industries Ltd, Infrastructure Co. of the year to Sanjay Reddy, Vice-chairman of GVK Industries & MD of Mumbai International Airport Ltd, CSR Woman of the year to Ms Sudha Murthy, Chairman, Infosys Foundation.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Huzaifa Khorikawala, CEO-Wockhardt Foundation said “We are pleased to receive the response from corporate India who have come out in full support of Wockhardt Foundation. At a time when the economy world over is witnessing rapid changes, The India Leadership Conclave ’09 witnessed India’s top business leaders gather to discuss the issues concerning the Indian economy, which played along the day’s topic – Will resilient Indian economy bounce back by 2010?”

The highlight of the event was the CEO Spotlight, a Panel Discussion on – “The Mind of the Leader, What makes them tick.” which will be aired as an NDTV PROFIT Special Episode. Moderated by Mr. Shivnath Thukral, Managing Editor, NDTV PROFIT - the panelists for the discussion included Mr. Uday Kotak, VC & MD, Kotak Mahindra Limited, Chanda Kochar, CEO, ICICI Bank Ltd, Mr. Sucheth Rao - CEO, Neuland Laboratories, Mr. O P Bhatt, Chairman, SBI, Dr. Swati Piramal, Incoming President, ASSOCHAM, Mr. R Jaganathan, Editor, DNA and Mr. Habil Khorakiwala, Chairman, Wockhardt Group.

India Leadership conclave is a major step towards bringing quality events/Conferences under the Banner of India Social Events, an initiative of Wockhardt Foundation. Our objective is to share the success stories of various charitable organizations and help them serving the week, needy and poor. The money raised from the conclave will be used by Wockhardt Foundation to fund its various initiatives

The resilience displayed by Indian industry in dealing with slowdown, Industry experts point out that, the country’s economy is likely to find an upturn by 2010. The present downturn is temporary. Our growth rate is expected to be well over seven percent, notwithstanding that despite downturn in global scenario, India has managed to achieve seven percent growth. This is attributed to domestic consumption and demand. Commending the performance of Indian business and industry during the global downturn. India stood out as a “shining example” of a resilient economy, when the world was engulfed by economic gloom.