Click to play videoNew Delhi: They are the men and women that frame the rules of the game. They open the doors to business and decide how to level the playing field.
India's economic policymakers can make or break the economy and the businesses they regulate.
It takes a reformer, a progressive and fair rule maker to win the CNBC TV18 outstanding contribution to the cause of Indian business award.
And the nominee list is full of such eminent personalities including:
- Commerce minister Kamal Nath, the man who's single handedly fought to give India it's rightful place in world trade.
- Balancing fiscal responsibility and equitable growth, Finance Minister P Chidambaram.
- Giving wings to the dreams of millions of Indians, Praful Patel, Minister for Aviation.
- Fighting inflation and asset bubbles, Dr Y V Reddy, the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India.
- Getting the Left to see right and industry to go west, Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya.
- C S Rao, Chairman of the IRDA for helping grow the insurance industry through robust rulemaking.
- And the man who's been the conscience keeper of the telecommunications industry Nripendra Misra, Chairman of the TRAI.
But there was a major twist. As the jury mulled over these names, one jury member added a fresh contender to the list, a name that won unanimous approval; Pranab Mukherjee.
He has twice been India's Finance Minister and as many times the minister for commerce and external affairs as well.
Nowadays he is playing peace broker with the Left parties over the nuclear deal.
India's External Affairs Minister, Mukherjee is also the chief troubleshooter for the government.
His current portfolio does not include an economic or business charge but Pranabda as he's fondly called has played a crucial role in every important economic policy decision these past few years.
Be it reviving the Dabhol project or giving the SEZ policy a more humane face. From deciding on relief packages for sugar farmers to fixing the price of gas to modernising India’s airports, this 72-year-old veteran Congress politician heads or is member of over 50 different ministerial groups working on various economic policies.
“I have been very impressed the way Mr Mukherjee has been steering against very difficult issues through this ministry EGoM. If you look at every single issue that has had an impact on business and industrial environment, it has gone through GoM. I have seen Mr Mukherjee building consensus on these issues I am sure with number of ministers in war with each other and find a way to move forward. I think he has been an extremely Effective force behind all that ahs been coming in front. Its only fair that we recognise his major contribution to his tricky questions that have been resolved in manner where business and industry can flourish. We take these things for granted that there has been some tactful leadership that has made this happen,” says MD, Ashok Leyland, R Seshasayee.
Mukherjee’s is a contribution that will be applauded on December 7at the CNBC TV18 India Business Leader Awards.
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