The Indian Business Council (IBC) in collaboration with the Indian High Commission is hosting a talk in October 2023 with a focus on the theme “India’s Economic Acceleration: Decoding India’s $5 trillion quest and opportunities for Africa”. The keynote speaker for this event is Mr. Sanjeev Sanyal, Member, Economic Advisory Council, Prime Minister of India.
Mr Sanyal is a prominent economist, historian, a prolific author, and a renowned speaker. He was the Principal Economic Adviser to the finance minister for five years till February 2022 and the Co-Chair of the G20’s Framework Working Group. Prior to joining the government, he spent over two decades in financial markets and was Global Strategist and Managing Director at Deutsche Bank. He has also served on the Future City Sub-Committee of the Singapore government tasked with building a long-term vision for the city-state.
Commenting on this exciting event. President of the IBC, Dr Suresh Nanda said, “Mr. Sanyal’s talk is happening at an opportune time. It will help us understand India’s growth story, an incredible journey that will unfurl in the next 25 years that will open up a vista of opportunities for Africa.”
The IBC was officially inaugurated in August 2021 by Her Excellency Nandini. K. Singla, High Commissioner of India, where she urged the IBC to work in close collaboration with Mauritius enterprises to step up business between India and Mauritius while facilitating businesses in Mauritius to explore the huge Indian market and avail of full advantages offered by CEPCA. She also stressed close collaboration with business chambers across Africa to facilitate business between India and Africa using Mauritius as a gateway.
The IBC’s broader objective to undertake its mission of “Connecting economies through business” while enhancing trade and business ties between India and Mauritius and using the latter as a strategic hub to build a network for businesses on the African continent. In line with its mandate, the IBC has been hosting a number of activities with primary focus to provide a platform for entrepreneurs and understand from each other’s journeys as also connect with business forums in India, Mauritius and Africa It is also bringing up discussion on the latest developments in the business world.
Dr Nanda went onto add: “At IBC we consider ourselves lucky to be based in Mauritius at a very interesting time where the historical business relationship between India-Mauritius-Africa is witnessing a surge. Considered the third largest economy globally, India is armed with a focus to not only emerging as a developed nation in the next 25 years but also focussing on the South relationship where in this context, Mauritius is expected to play an important role in forging an connect and serve as a linkage between Indian businesses and trade with Africa.”
Moreover, the IBC has a robust and powerful membership database where it draws on its huge network, comprising major Indian public and private sector companies, leading Mauritius companies set up by Indian Individuals where its members bring to the fore extensive experience and knowledge in fields such as Finance, Banking, Construction, Offshore, M&A, Structuring, Education, Engineering, Technology, IT, AI, Insurance, Hospitality, Travel and Media.
It’s worthwhile to note that since its inception and in a very short span of time, the IBC has been able to open up a vista of opportunities for growth where it has successfully leveraged ties with several business chambers such as the Bangalore Chamber of Commerce and Madras Chamber of Commerce, while signing an MoU with the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI)in August 2022 aiming to create new opportunities in trade and investment while creating win-win cooperation to boost trade and regional cooperation. Dr Nanda highlighted that, “It will be a unique model of growth and prosperity where all the partners will flourish together and, in the process, a major part of the global population will enjoy the fruits of growth.”
With regards to Mr. Sanyal is an alumnus of the prestigious Shri Ram College of Commerce and also attended Oxford University as a Rhodes scholar where he was awarded the Eisenhower Fellowship in 2007 in recognition for his work on Urban dynamics. In 2010, he was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in Davos. Apart from that, Mr. Sanyal is also the author of several best-selling books including “The Land of the Seven Rivers”, “The Ocean of Churn”, “India in the Age of Ideas”, and “The Indian Renaissance”. He has also published over 200 articles as well as columns across leading national and international publications.
