Crescita 2011 – Inauguration.

Crescita the flagship event of Bharathidasan Institute of Management, took off today with absolute gloss and decorum. The theme of Crescita 2011 is Praachamanyu, a Sanskrit phrase meaning looking back to move forward. The event, taking place at Accord Metropolitan, Chennai, boasts off an array of distinguished speakers including Dr. Anup K. Pujari, Director General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce and industry, Mr. S Krishnan, Chairman Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board, Mr. Y. Rama Rao, Managing Director & CEO, Spark Capital and Mr. Raghuvir Srinivasan, Deputy Editor, Business line on Day one.

Shri Bala Baskar, Director of BIM initiated the inaugral session by warmly welcoming Dr. Anup K. Pujari as one of the eminent speakers for the day. The Invocation song captured the spirit of this year’s theme. The dignitaries where joined by Professor Pyare Lal Arya, Founder Director, BIM Trichy and Professor S. Sundar, Placement Chairman, BIM for the lighting of the traditional Kutthu Vilakku to mark the official inauguration of Crescita 2011. The event then moved onto the felicitation of the honoured guests by our students followed by a very inspiring and content rich address by Professor Arya. His speech was layered with his concern for tomorrow’s business leaders. He urged the students to gain direction in their pursuits while still keeping themselves rooted in Indian culture and tradition. He concluded stressing on the theme of Crescita 2011 saying that it is indeed very important to trace our past to move ahead and progress further.

Dr. Anup K Pujari spoke about the Human development Index. He emphasized on the fact that conclusions that do not have factual backing should neither be drawn nor be accepted. He urged everyone to be inquisitive. He went on to give three examples related to the Indian economy with respect to past, present and future. He threw some light on the topic with apt and adequate examples on the trade policies and the career dynamics of male and female managers since the onset of the MBA era. He said that the disparity in productive capabilities are small but the pecuniary penalty is enormous

The session concluded with student interaction, wherein the students put forth questions on what kind of support is provided to the first time exporters and importers and why we cant recirculate the surplus rice and wheat produced in the domestic market to tackle the inflation rather than exporting it at smaller profit margins. The questions were tackled with veteran expertise and the session ended with a rich exchange of knowledge.
The renowned individuals who added grace to the inauguration were further presented with mementos as a token of thanksgiving for their esteemed presence. The vote of thanks was delivered by Professor S. Sundar.

CRESCITA 2011 – No more an event, It’s a Summit!!!

It’s that time of the year again where we buckle up as a unit and take the corporate world by storm. Yes!! it’s time for Crescita 2011. This flagship event of BIM has certainly made many heads turn to take note of the enthusiasm and energy put forward by our students year after year in making this event a grand success. This year has been no exception to this legacy. Just like the previous years, the event this year has grown in scale and gives any contemporary business summit a run for its money with its thought provoking themes and insightful interactions. Crescita has evolved. It’s no more just a B-school event. It’s the meeting ground for those who run this world and those who aspire to. Crescita 2011 is a Summit!!

This year’s theme ‘Praachamanyu‘ translated as ‘looking back to move forward’ has never been more relevant than it is now. As the global financial system braces itself for another meltdown, it becomes very essential to learn from our mistakes. The future ahead holds limitless possibilities. We need to have a watchful eye towards the future, while ensuring we don’t overlook what our past had taught us. The event, to be held on the 19th and 20th of this month at The Accord metropolitan, Chennai will serve as a forum for bringing together eminent business leaders and budding managers of tomorrow.

The student’s council at BIM, organizers of Crescita 2011 has pulled off a coup of sorts in bringing together eminent personalities from all walks of life ranging from Economy and Media to Banking and Hospitality. The list includes the likes of Mr. S. Krishnan, Chairman of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board, Mr. Y. Rama Rao, Managing Director & CEO of Spark Capital, Dr. Venkatesh Athreya, Adviser, M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation. Mr. Ramakrishnan K, President-Marketing of Cafe Coffee Day (CCD) and Mr. Raghuvir Srinivasan, Deputy Editor of The Hindu Business Line to name a few.

Any event of such proportions is never complete without a competition. Crescita 2011 will have a Corporate quiz as part of its two day long festivities. Corporates are already flocking in to be a part of this quiz as registrations keep pouring in. The participants will have a shot at cash prizes to the tune of Rs.25,000 for the winners and Rs.15,000 for the runners up. Handsome rewards are not the only reasons to be part of Crescita 2011. Years of industry experience condensed into an hour long speech by the guests and fond memories of a culture called BIM are the true take-aways for every participant.

As for the students of BIM, everything else takes a back seat for the next 10 days as they douse themselves in Crescita 2011 fervour. Here’s wishing Team BIM a joyful exuberance and a sense of satisfaction at the end of this year’s event.

FOR AN ECONOMICALLY STRONG FUTURE

The morning of 19^th November 2010 witnessed Dr. Bobby S Srinivasan, President of Institute of Financial Management And Research (IFMR), Chennai, officially setting the stage for Crescita 2010. The inauguration was followed by an address on the future of global economic growth in the midst of the global financial turmoil. It also laid emphasis upon a more structured monetary control approach which would eliminate the evils of the greedy market policies that all the economies of the world are currently grappling with.

Mr.Srinivasan inaugurating CRESCITA 2010

The path Dr. Srinivasan, adopted was that of sketching the current financial environments in five of the major economies of world—US, European Union, China, Japan and India—–and then attempted to tie them all up and exhibit how each of their polices affect the others.

Starting with the United States, he traced back the reasons of the current impasse to the US-Vietnam war. He pointed out that the battle which started with a 2 year framework dragged to a fully fledged 9 year long war. This conflict not only bled young lives off the US population, but also drained strategic resources off the country’s treasury. And it was this 1 trillion dollar deficit that snowballed to a 13 trillion dollar deficit when Barack Obama took over. Unable to meet the trade deficits, the US is now printing money to the tune of billions, thereby unleashing the monster of further inflation and unemployment which stands at 16 percent according to the latest available data.

Moving over to Japan, he asserted that the exceptionally low consumption levels of the country is now heralding an era of deflation which is touted as a most unfortunate event and a diametrical opposite to that of the USA. In this connection he also cited as to how the Nikkei had touched the 38500 mark in 1989 and since then had only deteriorated to 9000. This was in part due to the costly social security pensions that the Japanese government provided to the survivors of the World War II. On the other hand, he stated, the high savings rate of the country’s population lead to a flat GDP, which severely stunted the growth opportunities.

Next it was the turn for the European Union, which, Dr. Srinivasan claimed, is grappling with an imbalanced attitude to consumption. While on one hand there was the prudent frugality of Germans, the other spectrum comprised of countries like Spain, Greece and Ireland, who are dangerously inclined towards consumption. To fight this, Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, is now proposing, that EU go austere for 15 years, pay off the debt, and then start consumption. Yet this trend can turn into a wide spread deflation as was the case in Japan.

Eventually it was the turn of India and China. While China, he observed, is locked with the US in a currency war, India is facing the brunt for looking away their currency in US treasury bonds. He however praised the robust monetary policies of the RBI, in being able to navigate the economy through the troubled waters of overall economic slowdown.  Yet, he asserted, India needs to pick up the tempo to match the steam of China, which was way ahead of us in infrastructure development.

CRESCITA 2010 – 7 DAYS TO GO

Just a week left to go before everyone congregates at Chennai for CRESCITA. The organising team with its various committees has been working overtime, amidst academic activities to put in place a management event that promises to be bigger and better than its preceding editions.

The proceedings will kick off on 19th with an inaugural address by Mr.Bobby S. Srinivasan, President, Institute of Financial Management & Research (IFMR). Over the three days, the event will see the likes of Mr.Dinesh Jain, former CEO of Zee Turner Entertainment Ltd, Mr.R. Sridhar, Senior Vice-President, Reliance Industries Ltd, Mr. M.P. Vasimalai, Executive Director of Dhan Foundation and Mr. Muthukumar Thanu, Senior Vice-President, TAFE in a HR Panel Discussion. All this will culminate in the valedictory address on 21st by Mr. C.B. Bhave, chairman, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

Most of the inter B-school events have already had their preliminary rounds conducted online. MarWar (marketing simulation event), Addiction (Ad making competition) and Parakrama (Management simulation game) are presently in their second round. Encrypto, the online treasure hunt game, kept participants glued to the website over three days from November 2 to 4, trying to make their way across multiple levels. BIM Quest, the online quiz series saw participation from quizzers from across the country during the last three days. The first three quizzes–Veni vidi vici (Brands quiz), FINesse (Finance quiz) and Agon (Sports & Entertainment quiz)- happened during the last three days. The fourth and final quiz of the series, Mahabharat, on the theme of Indian business, is scheduled to happen tonight at 10 PM. However the biggest draw of the quizzes is the Corporate Quiz which will be held at the venue on 21st by leading quiz master Barry O’ Brien.

Mr. Jayant K.Singh (far right),MD,Henkel India Ltd presenting the cheque to the Winners of Corporate Quiz,Crescita 2009.At far left is quiz master 'Pickbrain' Giri Balasubramanian.

CRESCITA 2010 promises to be a unique learning experience with something in it for everyone. Visit the website http://www.crescita.in for more details.