12th February 2024, New Delhi, India: The most awaited event of the year, The Times Group presents ET Now Global Business Summit 2024 got off to a phenomenal start today. Visionaries and business stalwarts joined in the conversations that revolved around India’s progressive journey and the glorious future that awaits the country. Vineet Jain, Managing Director, The Times Group welcomed the dignitaries and global leaders whose contributions have helped India script a brighter tomorrow.
Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi graced the summit with his presence. In his inspiring speech addressing the elite gathering at ET Now Global Business Summit 2024, he said “The theme of this year’sET NOW GBS 2024 – Disruption, Development, Diversification is a relevant and much-discussed topic of today’s time. This is India’s time. The global trust in India is steadily increasing, as evidenced by the remarkable enthusiasm witnessed for India at Davos recently. Experts around the world are recognizing India’s significant role in the evolving global order, acknowledging its remarkable journey and burgeoning influence. I envision an era of immense promise for India, where it continues to fortify its position on the world stage. The interim budget has garnered positive feedback from analysts and experts, further bolstering India’s economic outlook.” He further added, “In our third term, India will be the 3rd largest economy globally. Our government is going to take many decisions and the roadmap for the next 30 years is underway. New India will be working with super-skills, and this is Modi’s guarantee. I hope the summit results in positive discussions and helps us in taking the country ahead into the next era of progress.”
Vinit Jain, Managing Director, The Times Group in his welcome address said, “Today, the world is gazing at India -a nation that has not only weathered difficult storms but is well on the way to emerging as the world’s third largest economy in the next few years. Today, we see the country as a source and a guiding light in the complex narrative of global growth and development.The dawn of 2024 marks not just the beginning of a new year but the onset of a breakthrough era for India. India in 2024 is a narrative of triumph. It fills me with pride as I’ve been witness to India’s growth story, and now its march towards becoming the world’s third-largest economy, and a beacon of hope.”
Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce &Industry, Consumer Affairs, Foods and Public Distribution, Government of India, during his special address at the event, said, “The government has embarked on a commendable journey to fulfill the dreams of India’s vast population of 1.4 billion. Through a multitude of initiatives aimed at transforming the nation into an inclusive and developed entity, benefits have been reaped across various sectors. It is now imperative that we acknowledge the talents of our youth, empowering them to become exemplary citizens and providing them with the tools to contribute to the vision of a New India.”
Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, shared his perspectives on infrastructure development. Contributing to the discussions he said, “Since taking office in 2014, Prime Minister Modi has prioritized the development of top-notch infrastructure, recognizing its crucial role in attracting capital investment. By the conclusion of 2024, our national highway system is poised to rival that of the United States, a testament to the government’s commitment to enhancing infrastructure.”
Manoharlal, Chief Minister, Haryana while speaking to the audience about his vision for the digital infrastructure for the state said, “Transparency forms the cornerstone of governance in Haryana. We are actively pursuing digitization as a key agenda for development in our state. Our goal extends beyond just advancing agriculture; it’s about empowering farmers in our state to achieve self-reliance. The Parivar Pehchan Patra scheme serves as our pathway to connect with every citizen across the state and communicate development initiatives inclusively. Our objective is to foster self-reliance within our state and serve as a model forothers nationwide. Despite comprising just 2 percent of the total population, we aspire to double our contribution to the country’s GDP, reaching 4 percent by 2027.”
One of the keynote sessions, “Banking Beyond Borders: Risk, Resilience, and Recovery,” featured Bill Winters, Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank, engaging in a thought-provoking discussion with Ajaya Sharma, Senior Editor at ET Now. Winters delved into the intricacies of navigating risks, building resilience, and fostering recovery in the global banking sector. He said, “The most exciting thing in India: the large flow of businesses. They are focused on investing out and investing in. Be it power, or petrochemicals, opportunities are immense.”
Ravi Kumar S, Chief Executive Officer of Cognizant, took the stage to explore the transformative potential of Generative AI in his session titled “Generative AI: Steering the Future of Work.” Kumar emphasized the role of artificial intelligence in reshaping the landscape of employment and industry, shedding light on its implications for the future workforce. While talking about that he said “India stands out as a data-driven economy, with vast amounts of information in the hands of its users. Leveraging this data, India is poised to lead the charge towards becoming a creator economy. The country is already facilitating this transition by empowering users with tools and opportunities to create and contribute.”
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Union Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Government of India, expressed his views on the Future of the workforce underscored the importance of skill development and entrepreneurship in preparing India for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow. He highlighted, “Technology, in its general trajectory, is inherently disruptive, with its evolution being remarkable. AI is poised to generate numerous opportunities in the future, simultaneously replacing and transforming existing jobs while also ushering in a new spectrum of employment opportunities.”