Said Big FM Station Head-Chennai Subramaniam, "We had Big listeners from three different points in the city converging at Gandhi Statue, at Beach Road and covered all traffic points.This is a dynamic and sensitive issue for the city and the FM station wanted to play a role in promoting awareness.We had almost 30-35 listeners participating in the bike rally."
Announcing this initiative, Mr. Pirojsha Godrej stated, "It is unfortunate that even in these modern times, the dowry system prevails in our country in various forms. It is so ironic that Indian women have made their presence felt on the global level, but still Indians haven‘t been able to entirely shake off this age-old tradition. ‘Nupur Jagruti‘, is India‘s biggest anti-dowry campaign, which will build awareness against dowry, empower women and citizens and I am glad to be a part of this valiant initiative. I am sure that this campaign will be instrumental in changing the mindsets and curbing this evil practice"
And just when the question-answer session wraps up and the duo heaves a sigh of relief, Karan announces the rapid fire round? Which two mainstream actresses would Saif like to see in a catfight? Who will he choose between Shah Rukh and Aamir? Which movie does he prefer between Omkara and Kal Ho Na Ho? Which actors would Soha like as teachers in her own "masti ki pathshala"? Which movie does she like Saif‘s performance best in? Whom does she choose out of Rakeysh Om Prakash Mehra and Aditya Chopra? Who takes the hamper home? Saif or Soha? Karan definitely has a tough time deciding the winner of the most desired possession on his show - the coffee hamper!
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Changing paradigms take centre-stage at Global Business Leaders Forum
MUMBAI: Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in partnership with Commonwealth Business Council (CBC). London organized the inaugural Global Business Leaders Forum on 12 March 2007 in Mumbai. Business Leaders from developed and emerging market convened to discuss the shift in Global business dynamics and how companies must innovate to keep ahead a competition.
Dr Mohan Kaul , Director General, Commonwealth Business Council in his welcome address and initial observations said the Forum had brought together more than 300 business leaders from India and across the globe. The Forum, he said, aimed to discuss the new competitive challenges that organizations face in the current era of globalization, thereby enabling participants to review their strategies, beliefs and principles.
Mr K V Kamath Member, CII National Council and MD and Chief Executive ICICI Bank Ltd. spoke on ‘Transformation and Innovation: Leading Change in Organizations‘. He said the best way to adapt to change was to transform, and the best way to transform was to innovate. He spoke of the ICICI Bank experience, ‘Transformation through innovation‘, and shared experiences on successful innovations leveraging technology.
The first session on Global Perspectives ? New Challenges had Mr. Jacques Lamarre chairman, CBC and President & CEO SNC- Lavalin chairing the same. Mr Lamarre said the Forum would focus on issues related to changing paradigms, new economic perspectives, new approaches to global trade, leading change in organizations and transformation and innovation.
The session addressed the larger economic and political picture, understanding the current dynamics and implied opportunity and threats for emerging and developed markets. The session also addressed the issue of global economic imbalances. It had Dr Anil Khandelwal CMD, Bank of Baroda share his thoughts on the issue. Mr Dominic Barton, Chairman Asia, Mckinsey and Mr Bryan Sanderson Fmr Chairman, Standard Chartered Bank also spoke on the subject.
The second session was on ‘Transformation and innovation ? leading change in organisations‘. Mr James Smith , UK Country Chairman, Shell who chaired the session spoke of exploring examples from leaders, how organisations had been transformed and re-invented continuously to become high-performance global companies, and the lessons for the future.
Mr Nigel Boardman partner, Slaughter and May in his presentation on ‘Transformation and Innovation ? Leading Change in Organisations‘, spoke on four changes which he thought were necessary in corporate environment: (i) Criminalisation, (ii) Balance of Board, (iii) Corporate Purpose and (iv) Pay.
Mr Jacques Lamarre, Chairman, SNC Lavalin made a pr?sentation on how th? company had adapted to the changing scenario ? whether it was the product mix or the countries they had business relations with.
The third session was on ‘Financial markets and financial flows ? different perspectives‘. Chaired by Mr Bryan Sanderson , Fmr Chairman, Standard Chartered, it looked at differing Perspectives of Financial Markets, Capital Markets, Investor protection, ownership. It also focused on structures in China / India / Asia / Europe, as also issues related to East-West takeovers, mergers and acquisitions and private equity.
Ms Naina Lal Kidwai , Chief Executive, HSBC, India in her presentation, ‘Priorities and concerns for global institutions‘ pointed out that Global economic growth continued, albeit in moderation. She added that interest rates rose in developed economies to contain inflation before going on to the Global scenario, and what was to be expected in 2007. "Emerging markets growth will offset slowing advanced economies," she said.
She also spoke of softer demand and tightening monetary policy in US, Japan & Germany, of ‘emerging Asia‘ being the fastest growing region led by China and India, the forecast that global economic growth would fall from 4.9 % in 2006 to 3.7% in 2007, adding that growth was likely to rebound in 2008. In the Indian economy, the share of services was expected to go up by 3% and Industry by 2% of GDP by 2010, she said.
Mr Seetharaman , Deputy CEO, Doha Bank spoke of an Asian ? Arab synergy that was leading the global economic growth scenario. " India needs to further engage GCC countries and change market preferences," he said. He spoke of the change in the banking sector, which he termed as ‘no longer location-based‘. Convergence of all products and services was the change that furled the banking sector, he added.
Mr Ajay Mahajan of Yes Bank spoke of the capital markets in India , his presentation focusing on growth with financial intermediation. While equity markets had done exceedingly well in India , he said domestic institutional investors participation needed to be enhanced. He noted that share of corporate bonds in non-food credit had dropped, and said the corporate bonds market needed to be developed. "Infrastructure finance is the key to growth," he said.
Mr Alexander v Ungern-Sternberg , Chairman, Euro IB in his presentation said India was a High-Growth Market. He discussed the structure of Investment Flows from Europe to India as also India to Europe. He spoke of deal structuring, especially the cross border element, where he said there was a higher margin requirement for all risk categories (debt or equity) as also senior debt (low risk) was generally best provided by major local banks.
Looking at ‘Investor Perceptions / The Indian Opportunity‘, he said until early 90‘s, India was seen to be a closed economy. "From 1995, it was high Indian growth and much improved corporate governance that caught attention while from 2005 onwards, there had been stronger interest in non-quoted situations. In vestment Capital is available both in Europe and in India for 2-way Investment flows," he concluded.
