Most Respected Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu,Hon’ble Upa Rashtrapatiji,
Dr. K.T. Jaleel, Hon’ble Minister for Local Self Government,
Prof. K.V. Thomas, Member of Parliament, Ernakulam,
Shri Hibi Eden, Member of Legislative Assembly, Ernakulam Smt. Soumini Jain, Mayor of Kochi,
Shri Shaji Varhgese, President, Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
Shri V. Venugopal, Vice President, Cochin Chamber
Shri Venugopal C Govind, Past President, Cochin Chamber

Sahodaree Sahodaranmaare,
Ellaavarkkum Ente Namaskaaram,   

    I am very happy to address you on the occasion of the 160th anniversary of the Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which is one of the oldest Chambers of Commerce in the country. We are indeed fortunate to have our Hon’ble Upa Rashtrapatiji to inaugurate this function and on behalf of everyone present here, let me welcome him to Kerala and to Kochi, the Commercial capital of Kerala.

    Apart from driving the nation's economy forward, business and commerce have a social responsibility to perform. We have progressed from the conventional concept of seeing profit-making as the only aim of business, to an era of Corporate Social Responsibility. Through this, business houses create measurable value by addressing social issues and problems that intersect with their business areas.

    However, business houses could introspect on how much they can contribute to shaping human resources for a better tomorrow. Today, we see a great expansion of business in various fields, thanks to the advances in science and technology. In fact, every emerging technology offers a new business area, but we have a dearth of trained manpower even to take such businesses forward, let alone make profit from them. This situation calls for urgent stepping up of our facilities for training and skill development in various businesses. It is here that organizations like the Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry could take the lead and become a guiding force.  

    I understand that the Cochin Chamber acts as the voice of industry in Kerala and is regularly in touch with the State Government on issues of interest and concern to its members.   Since the chamber has members from a wide spectrum of the industrial, business, shipping, trade and export-import sectors in Kerala, it would be easy for the members to identify business areas that urgently require skill development. I feel that such an involvement would also benefit the skill development initiatives of the Government not only by strengthening such facilities, but also in enriching the policy related to skill development.

   The Chamber also has to be sensitive to the increasing international exposure that Kerala has been receiving in the recent years. The Kerala society is becoming international in its outlook and new avenues for International Trade are opening up.  Our people in business have to be empowered to utilize the upcoming global opportunities.  Kerala expects valuable inputs from the Cochin chamber in this area, especially during this 160th year celebrations of the Chamber.

    It is commendable that the Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been working towards Development that is Equitable, Sustainable and Green. This is in tune with the present development needs and aspirations of Kerala, which is working hard to create a new model of sustainable development.  The business sector could contribute to Green development efforts by limiting activities which lead to pollution of any sort and by adopting green protocol in functioning, wherever possible.

    I would like to conclude by reminding the members of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry that business should contribute not only to the gross national product, but also to the gross national happiness, which is an indicator of a better quality of life.  As Mahatma Gandhi has observed, The man who goes into business to do WELL, stays in it to do GOOD.

    I congratulate the Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry on having completed 160 years of meaningful activity. I salute the past members who have worked hard for the growth of the Chamber and greet all the members present here today.  I wish this Chamber all the best.

    With these words, I request our Hon’ble Upa Rashtrapatiji to inaugurate the 160th Anniversary Celebrations of the Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Ellavarkkum Ente Aashamsakal
Nanni
Jai Hind