And for a Friday after the Bombay Chamber AGM in Mumbai….. some thoughts……
BCCI, Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, only 183 years old as my friend Deepak Parekh mentioned in a lighter tone. Do not confuse with the other BCCI – Board of Control of Cricket in India. This BCCI is the oldest and one of the most respected Business Chambers in the Country. BCCI has large Indian Groups like Tatas, Birlas, Mahindra’s and large MNC like Siemens, HUL and BASF. The largest number of members are from MSME sector. We have recently commenced the Centre for Mediation and Conciliation, blessed and supported by the Bombay High Court. With the growth of Indian Economy and increasingly being market oriented, mediation is a better option to lengthy commercial legal disputes. Hon. Justice Joseph too fully endorsed the view.
In his Keynote address, Mr. Parekh reminded the audience that Mumbai looks broken, messy and chaotic. But make no mistake, this city is currently W.I.P. (Work in Progress). Mega Infrastructure is being undertaken – Metros, Undeground Subway, Rapid Transport Coastal Roadways etc. etc. 85,000 crores of funding has been already tied up and settled. Short term Pain and long term Gain. We need a fair balance between growth and saving the Environment. There are no easy answers. Responsible citizens must support Infrastructure Development. Mumbai must be globally competitive.
Let us all support Growth, but within the principles of Sustainability wherein the Economy, Ecology and Society are in harmony. Let us join in Mumbai’s development the honest way, the transparent way, the SEEGOS way.