Federation of Indo-Israel Chambers of Commerce (FIICC) conferred Ratan Naval Tata with the title of “Global Visionary of Sustainable Business and Peace” for epitomising “unity, peace and sustainability”. Dr Gul Kripalani, President of the bilateral chamber said, “Ratan Tata’s support toward Israel has been unstinted. His commitment to putting India on the global map with dignity and respect has been noted by each and everyone”. Ratan Tata is respected by the business communities of the three countries – India, Israel and UAE and he epitomise unity, peace and sustainability, Kripalani said.
‘I am sure he is very happy to witness the Abraham Accords in his lifetime. (He is) rated as the most respected and ethical businessmen of India’, Kripalani said in his speech bestowing the honour on the chairman emeritus of the Tata Group on Monday evening. Tata said that he has always viewed Israel as a “country of great opportunity for India” and its creativity can be combined with India”s low cost of manufacturing for exports to the entire world.
“It is a great privilege to be involved with a country like Israel that I have respect for. I have always called it a country of opportunity for India… There is something in the genes of Israeli people that makes them creative,” he said at the virtual event.
The event was attended by participants from India, Israel and the UAE. It also saw the announcement of FIICC”s global partnership with International Federation of Indo-Israel Chambers of Commerce (IFIICC), an independent organisation headquartered in Dubai that was recently launched as an international platform for collaboration between Israel and the Indian diaspora.
Participating from Dubai in the virtual ceremony, Merzi Sodawaterwala, the chairman of IFIICC, said, “Sustainable business is essentially the heart of the Tata Group.” “Every business decision for the Tata Group is always considering the impact on 3Ps – people, planet and profit. Sir Ratan Tata is undoubtedly the most respected global visionary and sustainable business leader who has always stood for peaceful co-existence of people and planet much before the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals came into existence in 2015,” he said. “This was also visible most recently during the pandemic when the Tata Group stood by its people and communities at large, while the planet reclaimed its position displacing the ones focussing solely on profits. I don’t think any award can do justice to Sir Ratan Tata”s legacy and it is his sheer humility, which I respect the most, to honour the award by accepting it,” he stressed.
The 82-year-old Indian industrialist, philanthropist, and former chairman of Tata Sons is the recipient of two highest civilian awards of India – Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan.
