Vice President calls India to be more active in global standard setting forum

by Suman Gupta 

India must capitalize on its human resources and technical competence for developing global standards.

December2016: “The global technology standard has become the source of core competitive edge for industrial development. Compatibility of products and services to global standards enhances India’s access to global market,” said Hon’ble Shri M. Hamid Ansari, Vice President of India, while delivering the 6th M. Visvesvaraya Memorial Lecture on ‘Enhancing Indian Productivity: Role of Indian Standards’ at World Trade Centre Mumbai.

The lecture series, which commenced in 2009, was instituted to commemorate the outstanding contributions of Bharat Ratna Dr. M. Visvesvaraya who envisioned MVIRDC World Trade Centre Mumbai.

Hon’ble Shri Ansari, however, cautioned that the global standard process must be transparent enough for the interested parties to understand better potential competitive effects of particular standards. He concluded by suggesting that India must be more active in global standard setting forum and adopts these standards to enhance its access to global standards.

During the event, Hon’ble Shri. Ansari conferred the WTCA Award of Honour on Smt. Rajashree Birla, Chairperson, Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development. The award is presented to eminent Indian business leaders or organizations that best represent World Trade Centers Association’s vision of peace and stability through trade. Some of the recipients of this award in the past include Sir Ratan N. Tata, Chairman, Tata Group, Mr. Aditya Puri, Managing Director, HDFC Bank, Mr. Bharat Taparia, Chairman, Bombay Hospital Trust and so on.

Smt. Birla received this award for creating a difference in the lives of millions of people through her exemplary contribution to social work under Corporate Social Responsibility, both in India and abroad.

Smt. Birla is also the recipient of several accolades, which include the much coveted Padma Bhushan Award (2011) from Government of India, Global Golden Peacock Award for CSR (2010), Rajiv Gandhi Award for Eminence in Social Field (2009) and so on.

Smt. Birla, while delivering her award acceptance speech, said, “I believe that we truly practice compassionate capitalism. Service to society is at the very heart of our value system. We are fully committed to inclusive growth and we are in sync with Prime Minister Shri Modiji’s vision of India. In order to bridge the skill gap in India, we have planned six vocational Educational Centres in Raipur, Udaipur, Nagpur, Vadodara, Kanpur and Bhopal. Only if all of us work together – corporate, individuals, academia and the government, we will be able to resolve the problems of poverty.”

Shri. Vinod Tawde, Hon'ble Minister for School Education, Higher and Technical Education, Minority Development & Wakf, Sports & Youth Welfare, Cultural Affairs and Marathi Bhasha, Government of Maharashtra was the Guest of Honour of the event.

Mr. Ghazi Abu Nahl, Chairman, World Trade Centers Association, said, “India is a great economy with great people and it has ample growth potential. It is delighting to note that the network of World Trade Centers is expanding in India. World Trade Centre Mumbai is a pioneer (in India) in linking Indian business community with the network of 330 World Trade Centers across the world. World Trade Centers Association is committed to create more jobs, enhance investment and improve the competitiveness of the Indian economy.”

Mr. Kamal M. Morarka, Chairman, World Trade Centre Mumbai said, “World Trade Centre Mumbai is committed to the vision of Dr. M. Visvesvaraya to promote India’s international trade and support innovation in industry. Trade is very important for India in a liberalized economy. Earlier, the trend was aid; now the trend is trade. Trade is bilateral. World Trade Centre Mumbai received around 60 delegations last year. We must grow trade with exchange of information and this would enhance competitiveness.”

Mr. Vijay Kalantri, Vice Chairman, World Trade Centre Mumbai, proposing vote of thanks for the event, said, “We express our gratitude to Hon’ble Shri M. Hamid Ansari, Vice President of India for visiting World Trade Centre Mumbai and delivering the memorial address. We also thank Mr. Nahl for honouring us by attending this event. Our sincere gratitude also goes to Shri. Vinod Tawde, Hon'ble Minister of School Education, Government of Maharashtra. Let us hope the Indian industry adopts the global standards for products and services and thereby improve its competitiveness in the international market.”

Other dignitaries who attended the event include Mr. Sharad Upasani, Vice Chairman, World Trade Centre Mumbai and Capt. Somesh Batra, Vice Chairman, World Trade Centre Mumbai.

Photo 1 - Photo Caption: (L to R) - Mr. Sharad Upasani, Vice Chairman, World Trade Centre Mumbai, Mr. Vijay Kalantri, Vice Chairman, World Trade Centre Mumbai, Shri Vinod Tawde, Minister for School Education, Sports & Youth Welfare, Higher & Technical Education, Marathi Bhasha, Cultural Affairs, Minorities Development & Wakf, Goverment of Maharashtra, Hon'ble Shri M. Hamid Ansari, Vice President of India, Smt. Rajashree Birla, Chairperson, Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development, Mr. Kamal Morarka, Vice Chairman, World Trade Centre Mumbai, Mr. Ghazi Abu Nahl, Chairman,World Trade Centers Association, New York, Capt. Somesh Batra, Vice Chairman, World Trade Centre Mumbai, Mr. Y. R. Warekar, Executive Director, World Trade Centre Mumbai

Photo 2 - Photo Caption: (L to R) - Smt. Rajashree Birla, Chairperson, Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development, Hon'ble Shri M. Hamid Ansari, Vice President of India, Mr. Kamal Morarka, Vice Chairman, World Trade Centre Mumbai.

 Photo 3 - Photo Caption: (L to R) - Mr. Vijay Kalantri, Vice Chairman, World Trade Centre Mumbai, Hon'ble Shri M. Hamid Ansari, Vice President of India, Mr. Kamal Morarka, Vice Chairman, World Trade Centre Mumbai.