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PRESS
RELEASE CHIEF
OF BUREAU
19th July 2013
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Shri Somnath Chatterjee , Former Hon’ble Speaker of Lok Sabha
Inaugurated
the 14th National Conference of Practising Company Secretaries, on the
theme “Integrating Growth, Governance and Challenges Beyond” at Kolkata
today. In his Inaugural Address, Shri Somnath Chatterjee, congratulated
the ICSI on selecting the theme and sub-themes of the Conference. He said that
Company Secretaries have been recognised for appointment to various posts in
government departments. Company Secretaries are important contributors to the
national wheel, he added. He apprised the participants of the multifarious
challenges being faced by the country today and the need for company secretaries
to adopt strategies for combating the same and ensure balanced development of
the Indian economy. The nation as a whole should deal with the problems of poverty,
unemployment and under-employment, and in doing so ethics and morality would be
the guiding principles, he added. Shri M. Damodaran , Former Chairman of Securities and Exchange
Board of India (SEBI) in his Key Note Address said that Company
Secretaries are the custodians of the faith, in whose heart the best interests
of stakeholders reside. He said that now is the time to shift the focus from corporate
governance to governance of the country. He said that the books on Corporate
Governance make us believe that corporate governance was the gift of the western
world to the developed nations, but, long before the Adrian Committee, Mahatma
Gandhi made a statement that, “Businesses are trusts and businessmen are
trustees”. Which clearly brings the Indian belief in Corporate Governance. He
said that the companies must be run in a manner in which the interests of the
stakeholders can be safeguarded to the best. He added that colonisation of territory can be dealt with, but
colonisation of mind is much more difficult to deal with. We have paid the price
of adopting the models which have failed overseas. We are now prisoners of
process. We believe that compliance is governance. There is a need to look
beyond the tick box exercise. Company Secretaries have the duty to work in the
best interests of the stakeholders. The need of governance is better regulation and not more
regulations. Better enforcement of laws is the need of the hour. India has a
huge youth power and we as company secretaries need to rise to the
occasion and work beyond the prescriptions under the Companies Act, and lead the
corporate sector towards adoption of good governance practices for overall
growth of the nation, he added. CS S.N. Ananthasubramanian , President ,Council of the ICSI, in
his Special Address expressed that, “Global economies are witnessing a sea change
in the economic, political and technological environment. Financial deregulation
and liberalization of both trade and capital markets have removed many barriers
within and across countries, allowing firms to pursue business opportunities
worldwide. Globalization is shaping a new system of international economic
relations – be it in the fields of investment, production, trade, finance or
technology”. President, Council of the ICSI stressed upon Inclusive Growth
which
refers
both to the pace and pattern of growth, which are interlinked and must be
addressed together and said “Ecology and Economy must go hand in hand and the
developmental process should be more holistic in its approach”. He said, “The Company Secretaries are the guardians of
not only huge funds invested in the corporates but also of the stakeholder
trust, and they need to ensure that such trust is not breached hence they have
to ensure that these are used in the best interests or ensuring the sustainable
prosperity and as sustaining the posterity and reiterated the fact that,
“governance is the prime mover of growth, and we company secretaries as
governance professionals are the drivers of good governance practices in a
corporate”. Speaking about the The Companies Bill, 2012,
he informed that, the bill substantially enhances and elevates the Role of
Company Secretary as it includes them as a “Key Managerial Personnel” in a
company. The position of company secretary has been equated to the position of
Chief executive officer, whole time director and Chief financial officer. The
role can be envisioned as strategist with far more wide responsibilities and the
potential to calibrate on the needs of the stakeholders, said CS
S.N.Anathasubramanian. He said that, ”The Bill provides 'substantive oversight' role to
Company Secretaries as against a traditional compliance role. Need of the hour
is that the Company Secretaries adopt 'responsible compliance' as a mantra while
being assertive and taking advantage of the enhanced role. The
profession is now in a crucial phase of transformation towards being Chief
Governance Officer. The CGO needs to understand the intricacies of business-
stakeholder relationship and have some extraordinary skills to ensure and
protect the trust of the company yet not surpassing the interest of the
stakeholders including the regulators. “Company Secretaries have to seize opportunities and achieve
competitive breakthrough to position for leadership as a Company Secretary is
instrumental in establishing good corporate governance practices and robust
systems, necessary for sustainability and a prosperous economy and we as Company
Secretaries need to be prepared to shoulder the responsibilities of future
Corporate Governance Professionals, said President, Council of the ICSI. CS Ashok Pareek, Council Member ,The ICSI and Programme Director,
14th National Conference of Practising Company Secretaries in his
Welcome Address , said that, Company Secretaries as governance professionals
have proven their knowledge and skills at various levels and a Company secretary
is recognised in the corporate hierarchy as a crucial key link between
management and the stakeholders. He stressed upon the fact that , “As governance professionals,
company secretaries need to prove their onerous potential in guiding boards on
governance and strategic inclusion. He informed that ,”to meet this
challenging environment governance professionals are expected to speed up the
knowledge updation, assimilate and articulate the same to respond to rising
expectations of the stakeholders. Further professionals need to develop a right
attitude to ensure that the services are rendered in a professional manner,
adhering to the professional standards and the tenets of professionalism, he
added. CS R. Sridharan, Council Member ,The ICSI and Chairman,
Practising Company Secretaries Committee, while introducing the Theme of the 14th NATIONAL
CONFERENCE of PRACTISING COMPANY SECRETARIES- ‘Integrating Growth, Governance
and Challenges Beyond’, informed that the that the two day Conference will be
deliberating on the aspects such as : Ø
Emerging Areas of Practice in Governance; Ø
Quality of Service; and Ø
Professionals’ Accountability, Responsibility & Regulation CS R.Sridharan expressed that, “the conference would be an
opportunity for the participants to express their creative and innovative ideas
to the growth of our profession coupled with business ethics”. “Regulators
across the Board are adopting the policy of ‘growth–enhancing governance’.
‘Growth’ and ‘Good Governance’ being strongly correlated have opened up
new vistas of practice for Governance Professionals coupled with Challenges of
ever changing dynamics of growth and governance.” CS Sutanu Sinha, Chief Executive, The ICSI,
while addressing the august gathering informed about the ‘Initiatives’ of
the Institute of Company Secretaries of India. He informed that,ICSI has taken
various initiatives towards growth and development of the members, students and
the profession by undertaking extensive career orientation, professional
development programmes, brand building, extensive research, re-organisation ,
infrastructure development as well as globalisation of profession”. CS Sutanu Sinha informed that, the Council of the institute had
detailed deliberations and brainstorming to formulate the Top Ten Goals
and that the Council Members were conscious of their responsibilities and
committed to provide best of the services in all spheres. He said that, after
detailed discussions, the Council has formulated following Goals: Ø
Develop a cadre of competent professionals; Ø
Improve infrastructure with special attention on Regional Offices
and Chapters; Ø
Make ICSI the best institute to deal with; Ø
Provide best training to the students; Ø
Continuous interaction with regulators and industry; Ø
Enhance placement opportunities; Ø
Improve visibility of the profession; Ø
Increase membership strength; Ø
Enhance financial resources; and Ø
Provide leadership on global map. Signing of MoU between
ICSI and New India Assurance Company Limited The Institute also signed
a MoU with the New India Assurance Company Limited, under which the members,
students and employees of the Institute would be able to take the following
insurance covers –
Dr.
Amita Ahuja The Institute of Company
Secretaries of India ICSI House, 22 Institutional Area Lodi Road, New Delhi- 110 003 Telefax- 011 -24604756, Mob-
9717196255 Email: dprpp1@icsi.edu |
