Respected Chief Guest Dr. Tusharbhai Chaudhary, Hon’ble Minister of State for Road, Transport & Highways, Govt. of India; Guests of Honour Narottambhai Patel, Hon’ble Minister for Panchayat, Rural Housing, Rural Development, Food and Civil Supplies, Govt of Gujarat; Rajendrabhai Desai, Hon’ble Mayor of Surat; Our Very Special International Guests; H. E. Mr. Tamon Mochida, Consul General of Japan; H. E. Mr. Genet Teshome, Consul General of Ethopia; Immediate Past President of The Chamber, Dr. Ajoy Bhattacharya; My Colleagues in the Managing Committee On the Dais, Off the Dais; Respected Past Presidents of the Chamber; Captains from the Corporate World; Leaders from the Industry - Trade and Profession; Members of the Chamber; Friends from the Press and Media; Invited Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.
At the outset let me tell you I am privileged to be speaking to this August gathering and to such a Distinguished Dais. On behalf of The Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI), I Welcome you all.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I stand here in front of you, a Happy Man. Proud of the fact that I have been given the responsibility of leading one of the most active Chambers of India. The Chamber, which was almost 30 years ago led by my Grand Father Late Shri Sanmukhlal Girdharlal Mehta; The Chamber, that represents the area which has recorded an average growth of over 11.5% for the last 8 years; The area which is the seat of such powerful industries like Diamond, Textiles, Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Jari and Agriculture, not to forget, it’s being the home of the Corporate Giants located at Hazira; and finally, the area with Zero unemployment and highest average income per family in India. I am conscious of the fact that this is a huge responsibility. SGCCI has had a Glorious past; But I take this responsibility with a sense of commitment, and assure you all; with the strength and support of my team, and the blessings of my Past Presidents and elders, I will strive to build upon this glory.
My Primary goal this year is to expose our businesses to Global Opportunities. We have to challenge our inhibitions and shed ourfears. We have done all the hard work. Now it’s time, the world knows about Surat and South Gujarat. My Goal is SURAT INTERNATIONAL. I appeal to the people of Surat and South Gujarat, to step out of their local areas of activity and explore the world. SGCCI will be fortunate to be a facilitator in this happening. SGCCI itself aims at becoming a global player. This is because more than giving advice, we would like to grow, lead and show the way. True to this, SGCCI will be stepping out of the boundaries of its South Gujarat region, to do activities in other cities and even abroad. The presence of two very important Guests in this function; H. E. Mr. Tamon Mochida, who is the Consul General of Japan ; and H. E. Mr. Genet Teshome who is the Consul General of Ethopia ; is a testimony of our efforts to go Global. We have also been successful in getting the support of JETRO of Japan, KOTRA of Korea and ITPC of Indonesia for our Mega Industrial exhibition UDYOG 12 being organized in January 2012. I am sure our coming together will help in a big way in PROMOTING GLOBAL PROSPERITY. I will be inviting many more friends from the international community to Surat in my efforts to integrate Surat and South Gujarat, and its economy with the outer world.
I welcome our members, businessmen and interested entrepreneurs to participate in our Global initiatives and benefit from them. These initiatives will help to develop our Global reach, which will help us to grab the best opportunities whenever and wherever they arise. If we do not en cash these opportunities now; we have only ourselves to blame. Companies and businesses have to expand into international markets to achieve economies of scale and scope, in order to maintain or develop their competitive advantage. Yes indeed, the Business world has been reduced into a Global Village.
The other very important focus area this year will be understanding the problems and issues faced by the industry, and representing at the appropriate levels in the Central and State Governments.
Fortunately we have very good relations at both places. I am confident, with strong representations and continuous follow up we will be able to achieve the desired results. Sometime back, I took up the exercise of meeting some of the leading business persons and industrialists of the city in their office. This gave me a very good idea of what they think about the Chamber, its role, and helped me to understand their expectations. This will guide me throughout the year in discharging my duties.
One of the very important points that was touched upon during these meetings was, the over dependence of Surat on the two important and backbone industries of Surat i.e. Diamonds and Textiles. While the Chamber should play a very important role in the ensuring of growth of these industries it is also important that the Chamber initiates the process of identifying a 3rd and 4th and 5th parallel industry which will help the people of South Gujarat to diversify and use their entrepreneurial skills and resources to create more wealth and prosperity. Also for this, the Chamber will have to be developed into a centre for Data and Information and to provide Guidance. This is a long process and will not happen overnight, however seeds sown today will only bear fruits for the future generation to enjoy.
While we are boasting of our strengths in manufacturing and about Surat being a base of Micro,Small and Medium enterprise, the most immediate challenge we are facing is the shortage of Skilled manpower, workers, and labour. The Diamond and Textile industries are struggling because of this shortage, and the pressure will only increase in the coming days. Even if we manage to solve this problem with the influx of manpower, the increase in Industrialisation and the resultant Growth will put tremendous pressure on the city’s infrastructure. We need to be proactive in dealing with this.This is one more reason for industries to seriously consider the options of Technology, Modernisation and Automation. In any case we will be strongly putting forward the requirements of this region to the central and state government in terms of its due share, to get for us the right type of infrastructure. Our Chamber is 70 years old. With this long existence the Chamber has evolved and grown into a very dynamic and respected organization. But along with this growth there have crept in a few issues which need to be addressed. I am sensitive to these urgent needs that have arisen. We have to put systems in place. We will have to tighten the nuts and bolts to stop the rattling so as to prevent the wear and tear. The role of the Chamber is very important and of late it is under the scanner. Should the Chamber do more of programs? Should the Chamber involve in organizing more of exhibitions? Should the Chamber be more sensitive to the demands of the community? Or should the Chamber concentrate only on industry problem representations? I believe there is not one copy book answer to these questions. But we need to do some very deep thinking. Yes my dear friends, our organisation needs restructuring and re organizing. I promise you friends that I will make a serious effort to introduce the necessary changes this year. I do not say I wish to do a lot of things, but whatever I do I will try to do in the most emphatic and decisive manner. I welcome my Managing Committee, my friends and all my well wishers, my respected elders and leader of the industry and my friends from the press and media to Audit my declarations and guide me whenever they think I am off course.
My Parents, Dr. Shashikant S. Mehta and Charulata S. Mehta and my wife Chhaya and Son Himanshu have stood rock solid behind me in my over 24 years of Public life and 19 years as Managing Committee Member of SGCCI. Their encouragement and the motivation and support of my other family members, especially my uncle Jagdishbhai Mehta, friends and well wishers will always remind me of my commitment to the Chamber.
In the end I am reminded a very important saying “Until you spread your wings, you’ll have no idea how far you can fly.” The Presidency of the Chamber has given me this unique opportunity to spread my wings. Let me assure you, I am not going to waste this opportunity. THANK YOU ALL.
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