Communiqué November 2009 | 1 - CII

towards excellencegreen businessCII-Godrej Green Business CentreTwo key events on Green Business, the GreenBusiness Summit 2009 and the Investor Forum 2009,were held on 29 and 30 October in Mumbai.Pursuing Growth – Preserving Ecology, the themefor Green Business Summit 2009, Conveyed thecore message of the Mission on Sustainable Growth.The core purpose of the Mission is to ‘promote andchampion conservation of natural resources in IndianIndustry without compromising on high and acceleratedgrowth.’The Green Business Summit 2009 discussed New Ventures India (NVI), a joint initiative of the CII-Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre and the WorldResources Institute, Washington, DC organised the 4thedition of the annual flagship Investor Forum 2009 witha focus on Green Entrepreneurship – Opportunities andChallenges.The event featured information exchange and focuseddiscussions on the issues affecting all stakeholders inthe sustainability space, and business plan presentationsby innovative green enterprises.Both events focused on the latest and emerging greenbusiness trends, challenges and opportunities, providedglobal perspectives on green businesses and suggestedecologically sustainable business growth models.In her special address on 29 October, Ms Vicky Treadell,British Deputy High Commissioner for Western India, saidthat India, considering its current stage of development,robust growth projections and the new wave of lowcarbon technologies under development, is uniquelyplaced to leapfrog to a low carbon economy, skippinga couple of evolutionary steps.Mr Owen Jenkins, Counsellor & Head-Climate Change& Energy Unit, FCO-DFID, British High Commission,pointed out that on the issue of climate change, thereis global consensus on ‘what to be done’ but the ‘how’part of it is yet to be fully addressed.He said the Government of UK would support aframework for climate change which would be ‘Effective,Ambitious and Fair’ and would take into account ‘historicresponsibilities’ as well as ‘support developing countriesboth in technology and finance.’Mr Jamshyd N Godrej, Past President, CII, and Chairman,CII – Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre, feltthat climate change presents a huge opportunity tobusinesses for ‘interventions.’ He described the proactiverole played by CII in enabling such interventions in greenbuildings and energy efficiency.Dr Naushad Forbes, Chairman, CII Western Region,and Director, Forbes Marshall Pvt Ltd, called uponmore Indian industries to jump onto the bandwagonof green businesses, as multiple business models areevolving. Electric vehicles, for example, he said, offerpotential for Indian companies to become technologysuppliers to the Western world. He however pointedout that this sphere of business is greatly influenced bynetwork externalities like a supportive policy structure,and entrepreneurs in this space need perseverance aswell as long term focus.Mr Vijay Chandok, Chairman, New Ventures IndiaSteering Committee, CII – Godrej GBC, and Sr GeneralManager – SME, ICICI Bank Ltd, in his concludingOwen Jenkins,Counsellor & Head-Climate Change &Energy Unit, FCO-DFID, British HighCommissionVijay Chandok,Chairman, NewVentures IndiaSteering Committee,& Sr GM – SME,ICICI Bank LtdVicky Treadell,British Deputy HighCommissioner forWestern IndiaJamshyd N Godrej,Past President, CII& Chairman, CII –Sohrabji Godrej GBCDr Naushad Forbes,Chairman, CII (WR)& Director, ForbesMarshall Pvt Ltd38 | November 2009 Communiqué