ICCIC confers G.K.Sundaram Etti Award 2020
The Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore conferred the 2020 G.K.Sundaram Etti Award on 29.1.2020 on 3 illustrious and industrious icons of Coimbatore.The event was held in The Residency Towers.
V.Lakshminarayanaswamy, President, ICCIC while welcoming the gathering said that this program is to remember their Chamber’s former President G.K.Sundaram whom he called the De Facto Leader of all industries in Coimbatore.
“Laudable are his services and contributions to Coimbatore”, he added.
He mentioned how G.K.Sundaram was extremely instrumental in bringing projects like New Trains, establishing Market committee and most of all the construction of Avinashi Flyover to Coimbatore.
The presentation of awards ensued. For the exemplary performance in industry by achieving outstanding growth and setting benchmark in Textile industry, and manufacturing high quality products that are exported to more than 60 countries, for establishing overseas manufacturing operations, providing higher education for their employees, contributing to women empowerment and to environment, P.Nataraj, MD, KPR Mill Ltd was presented the Award in Industry Category.
Accepting the honor, P.Nataraj said that during the early stages they faced several difficulties. “There were many ups and downs.”, he recalled. He credited the team work his brothers shared, and the support of the employees of the mill for their success today.
“We kept our employees,from top level to the floor level, happy and that rewarded us.”, he added.
For being a pioneering leader in the marble and granite industry in Coimbatore, and for exporting in large to the Asian markets, outstanding CSR initiatives and contributing for tribal welfare, Shreegopal Maheshwary, MD, Sri Maheshwary Granites Pvt Ltd received the GK Sundaram Etti award in Trade Category.
Accepting the honor, Shreegopal said that since 1978 Maheshwary Marbles is in existence. He said the company also exports to China, US and UK.
He said honesty and ethical business practices pays well in long term and mentioned that in his success, people of Coimbatore have a huge role.
For putting Coimbatore in the map of IT and outstanding contributions in the field, G.K.Sundaram Etti Award for Service was presented to Dr.Ashok Bakthavathsalam, MD, KG Information Systems Pvt Ltd.
Dr.Ashok said that he and team KGISL couldn’t ask for a better motivation than this award. He said Coimbatore as an IT Hub grew from nothing to a behemoth today.He said if FB, Amazon, Netflix and Google could be in Hyderabad, they could very well be in Coimbatore.
The Guest of Honor Dr.B.K.Krishnaraj Vanavarayar, Chairman, Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan, Coimbatore and the Chief Guest Mr.Nitirooge Phoneprasert, Consul-Genersl, Royal Thai Consulate- General, Chennai addressed the gathering.
Dr.B.K.Krishnaraj Vanavarayar appreciated ICCIC for recognizing the three men of accomplishment in time. “We all aspire to succeed. A few succeed, a few sustain the success but only a very few give meaning to that success”.
He said awards gain such a high stature when it is named after people of eminence, and GK Sundaram Etti Awards is one such distinguished awards.
“G.K.Sundaram was a multifaceted personality who contributed to Industry, Health, education, sports, research, freedom movement and parliament. Getting an award that bears his name means the awardees should do more to the society”, Vanavarayar said.
He invited all to engage in social activities like how G.K.Sundaram did. “Engaging in social activities make life meaningful”, he stressed.
The Chief Guest said that Thailand sees India as a close strategic partner. He said that trade relations and investment activities are good with both countries. He mentioned that he respects the relationship the two countries share and invited all to make use of the vast potential and invest in Thailand.