The Institute for Competitiveness, India today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the U.S. Council on Competitiveness. The MOU signing, which took place in Washington, DC at the prestigious Army and Navy Club, in a ceremony and a dinner hosted by Mr. Samuel Allen, Chairman & CEO, Deere & Company and Chairman, U.S. Council on Competitiveness officially launched the newly formed India Council on Competitiveness.
The India Council on Competiveness created in collaboration with the U.S. Council, is an association of distinguished members from industry, academia, think tanks, media and researchers. The India Council is a bi-partisan or “politically neutral” group of corporate CEOs, vice chancellors of Indian universities, think tanks and prominent trade bodies committed to ensuring the future prosperity of all Indians and enhanced Indian competitiveness in the global economy through the creation of high-value economic activity in India.
The signed MoU recognizes the importance of developing effective U.S.-India and global competitiveness policies and strategies to promote sustainable economic growth and establishes a strategic partnership to mobilize a critical mass of leaders and experts in order to promote sustainable economic growth. This cooperative effort will create a platform for mutual exchange and innovative activities that can fuel productivity, growth and economic prosperity for both countries. “The foundation for this MOU is straightforward,” said Deborah Wince-Smith, President & CEO, Council on Competitiveness. “The Council and the India Council on Competitiveness will endeavour to undertake activities of mutual benefit to both nations, particularly those at the heart of turbocharging high-value, innovation-based business, scientific and technological collaboration. I could not be more pleased about the coming together of our two organizations around these issues.”
“Launch of this Council really pleases me, its unique structure and will enable us to form a collective voice under its banner” Mr. Wilfried Aulbur, Managing Director, Roland Berger Strategy Consultants India, also an Executive Member of India Council on Competitiveness also added “this also puts in motion a set of collective action with a pro business, pro sustainable growth and prosperity intention with the mutual interest of organizations and leaders on both sides.”
CEO and President of India Council on Competitiveness, Dr. Amit Kapoor said “India Council on Competitiveness is an important initiative towards making India more prosperous, just and competitive country. This is a unique time in the history of two great nations to collaborate and enhance competitiveness by bringing leaders from different spheres i.e., business, academia and civil society in the two countries together to make a positive and lasting impact.”
The work of the India Council on Competitiveness would primarily focus on fostering innovation in education, boosting manufacturing and encouraging infrastructure initiatives, increasing India’s agricultural productivity, advance healthcare, ensure India’s energy security, improvement in ease of doing business and removal of regulatory bottlenecks to boost India’s competitiveness.
Individuals and organizations who have pledged to play a sterling part in shaping the prosperity of India via the India Council on Competitiveness include: Wilfried Aulbur, Managing Partner and CEO, Roland Berger – India; Sunand Sharma, Country President ALSTOM India & South Asia; Alok Bharadwaj, Executive Vice President, Canon; Amitabh Chaudhury, MD and CEO, HDFC Life; Sukumar Ranganathan, Editor, Mint; Gerd Hoefner, MD and CEO, Siemens Technology India; CVL Srinivas, CEO GroupM South Asia; Kevin Stolarick; Research Director, Martin Prosperity Institute, Rotman School of Management; Himanshu Jain MD (Indian Subcontinent), Sealed Air; Rishikesha T. Krishnan, Director, Indian Institute of Management Indore; David Wittenberg, CEO, The Innovation Workgroup; Sanjeev Kaushal, Vice President, Corporate Technology and Business Development, Tokyo Electron Ltd.; and Vivek Gupta, MD, PE Consulting.
ABOUT THE INDIA COUNCIL ON COMPETITIVENESS:
The India Council on Competitiveness is a Gurgaon, India based non-partisan network of leaders from corporate CEO, University Chancellors and Civil Society leaders working to make India a competitive nation with a mission of setting forth an action agenda to ensure prosperity for all Indians. For updates and activities of India Council on Competitiveness please follow @arthsastra.
ABOUT THE US COUNCIL ON COMPETITIVENESS:
The US Council on Competitiveness was founded in 1986 and is the only group of corporate CEOs, university presidents and labor leaders committed to the future prosperity of all Americans and enhanced U.S. competitiveness in the global economy through the creation of high-value economic activity in the United States. The Council is a non-partisan and non-governmental organization. For more information, see the Council's website and a full list of publications at http://www.compete.org. Check out the Council on Competitiveness' Facebook page for further updates or follow @competenow.
Media Contact Details:
Neera Vohra, Principal Associate Institute for Competitiveness, India, ,+91-9810473213 , neera.vohra@competitiveness.in