An Exclusive Interview with Dr. Rajeev Singh, Director General, Indian Chamber of Commerce
Dr. Rajeev Singh, Director General of the Indian Chamber of Commerce, shares his insights in this exclusive interview on how strategic policy advocacy, global partnerships and sectoral initiatives are reshaping India’s trade and investment landscape for a competitive future.
What has been your vision for the Indian Chamber of Commerce since taking on the role of Director General?
Dr. Rajeev Singh: The vision of the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) is to contribute to a prosperous and developed (“Viksit Bharat”) India by fostering economic growth, innovation, and inclusive opportunities.
This includes promoting Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India), creating pathways for entrepreneurs, advocating for favourable public policies, and serving as a bridge for global trade and collaboration.
This is achieved through active collaboration with Union Ministries, State Governments, Think Tanks, Industry at large and other stakeholders.
How does ICC differentiate itself from other major industry chambers in India?
Dr. Rajeev Singh: An outstanding Chamber of Commerce distinguishes itself through its strong leadership, active member engagement, valuable resources, and deep community involvement.
Through our network of 12 Offices in India and ICC Representatives in 24 countries, we try to identify, create, present business opportunities in addition to mainstreaming of less Industrialised region has been one of our priorities which is evident from numerous initiatives which ICC has taken in North East, J&K etc.
At ICC, we not only support Indian Industry by creating B2B platforms in India and abroad but also contribute through capacity building initiatives, Policy Recommendations, knowledge sharing etc.
How do you ensure ICC remains relevant to both large corporations and emerging startups?
Dr. Rajeev Singh: We serve startups by offering them Industry platforms to connect with large corporations and the outcome of which has been positive.
Most Start Ups need access to Industry and markets to test and validate their Business ideas and ICC is best placed to extend this kind of support.
We have MOUs with many Incubating Centres like IIM Calcutta Innovation Park and NASSCOM Incubation Centre. However, we have much more to do in this Sector, given the fact India has world’s 3rd largest startup ecosystem.
What are the key policy reforms ICC is currently advocating for to support India’s economic growth?
Dr. Rajeev Singh: Currently we are promoting Policy Reforms for realisation of Make in India which calls for making Manufacturing 25% of India’s GDP.
We have given recommendations on Non-Tariff Barriers to Trade, as many have written on increasing Trade Tariffs on which negotiations are on, but we have chosen to act on critically important policy matters to focus on EoDB, growth of MSMEs, Farmer-Industry linkages, Industry-Academia collaboration to promote commercially viable R&D and many others.
How does ICC collaborate with state governments to promote regional industrial development?
Dr. Rajeev Singh: We believe in a Partnership based model with States to promote overall economic well-being of key stakeholders and we have forged meaningful partnerships with over 10 key States in India currently.
We collaborate with state governments by acting as advocates for businesses, providing research, assisting with policy formulation, and promoting infrastructure development.
We have drafted the Industrial, Agricultural and many other policies for many State Governments. We have drafted reports on Economic Vision, Ease of Doing Business, SEZs IT/AI/GCC Industrial Parks etc.
Which sectors do you see as the biggest growth drivers for India in the next decade?
Dr. Rajeev Singh: The biggest growth drivers for India in the next decade are expected to be Energy, Mobility, AI, Healthcare, Manufacturing 4.0, Defence and enabling Infrastructure.
Other significant sectors are Real Estate, E-Commerce and Retail and E-Vehicles. However, a point of caution, to sustain this growth we need to upskill and work on strengthening our Human Capital, which has rightly been pointed out by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi.
What advice would you give to young professionals aspiring to work at the intersection of business and policy?
Dr. Rajeev Singh: To thrive in this multidisciplinary field, they must have a skill set consisting of, but not limited to: (a) Analytical thinking and data analysis (b) latest Knowledge of economics and regulation (c) Strategic thinking power (d) Ability to engage with stakeholders (e) Leadership Skills coupled with Serving Skills and (f) Problem-solving skills with a cool head.
But most important, they need to be a responsible citizen to do well. Youngsters should aspire to pursue Entrepreneurial dreams after gaining ground experience and contribute towards nation building.
As this conversation closes, Dr. Rajeev Singh’s vision for a globally connected, innovation-driven and inclusive Indian economy underlines the pivotal role of the Indian Chamber of Commerce in empowering businesses and advancing national priorities in the years ahead.
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