The Organising Committee Commonwealth Games-2010 Delhi on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) to effectively use the Games platform to facilitate deeper economic and trade relationship amongst the Commonwealth fraternity.
The MoU would enable the OC-led Commonwealth Business Club India (CBCI) to achieve these objectives. The CBCI has been formed and patterned on the lines of Australia Business Club, which was formed for Olympic Games-2000 Sydney and which worked through the Commonwealth Games-2006 Melbourne and continues to support Business Australia.
It was mentioned that the coming together of a national sports body and a national business chamber with a huge global presence and outreach would encourage the sporting and the business communities into spreading the culture of sports and increasing sports sponsorships while promoting India as a preferred business partner and destination.
The Organising Committee, Commonwealth Games-2010 Delhi chairman Suresh Kalmadi will be the chairman of CBCI and a FICCI nominee would act as the co-chairman. Mr. Kalmadi expressed his delight at the arrangement. “It has been our endeavour to create a networking environment for business leaders of the Commonwealth and the partnership with FICCI will go a long way in ensuring that our objectives are met,” he said.
“We are confident that the CBCI will help India showcase our nation as a destination for business investments. The partnership with FICCI, given its wide base and international presence, will go a long way in ensuring that CBCI will become a major catalyst in projecting India’s image and attracting sports collaborations,” he said.
FICCI secretary general Amit Mitra said the Chamber was looking forward to contributing to the success of the Commonwealth Games 2010 and the CBCI. “We have maintained a lead as the proactive business solution provider through research, interactions at the highest political level and global networking. We are keen to ensure that all these core competencies are made available to the CBCI to meet its goals,” he said.
Co-chairman of CBCI Vikramjit Singh Sahney said the Commonwealth Games 2010 is a huge opportunity for the business community to showcase India. “We know we can leverage the Commonwealth Games 2010 to help promote India’s economic potential and attract greater economic co-operation from 71 Commonwealth nations and federations.”
It was informed that CBCI would strive to draw high-power business delegations from offshore to India during the Games and enable them to leverage the unfolding opportunity for transacting business and enjoying the Commonwealth Games.
Going forward, OC and FICCI would also work towards spreading the culture of sport. They will share information on events, publications and activities of interest to the organisations and their stakeholders, work towards raising awareness among sports bodies and academic institutions and ensure safe working and sporting environment.
The two organisations will work to develop soft skills training for the volunteers, promote, market and co-ordinate the Queen’s Baton Relay through the Commonwealth countries and assist in organising numerous business networking events, both nationally and globally en-route the QBR that will last 340 days till October 3, 2010.
