FICCI's 'Strengthening Secretariat' to 'Return to Academics'

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry today in a statement said that Dr Rajiv Kumar, secretary general of the chamber has put down his papers and would return to academics and research.

Speaking to Business Standard, Kumar said that he is much more intellectually inclined and that is where he would like to go. However, he said that he has not yet decided his next step.

Former civil servant Arbind Prasad was earlier this year appointed as the director-general, while  Rajiv Kumar retained his post of secretary general.

Observers had speculated then that this would mean grooming of the junior among the two. “Kumar would now deal with international issues, while Prasad would look after domestic concerns of Ficci,” officials had at that time told Business Standard.

The first time both the posts were simultaneously maintained was in October 2010, when Rajiv Kumar took over as director-general. At that time, the plan was to groom Kumar for the post of secretary-general, then held by Amit Mitra.

However, officials in Ficci said that no decision has been taken yet if Prasad will take over as the secretary general when Kumar leaves.

Ficci President R V Kanoria had said that Prasad was appointed director-general to strengthen the chamber’s secretariat.

On the speculations that a lobby group like Ficci was looking for a more efficient lobbyist rather than an academician, Kumar said, “It is possible that people may say that.”

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) have either of the two posts. Currently, Chandrajit Banerjee is director-general of CII, while D S Rawat is secretary-general, Assocham.

Kumar is an economist with a D Phil degree from Oxford University, who had earlier worked with ICRIER and the Asian Development Bank. He has also been an economic advisor in the finance ministry, a senior consultant in the ministry of industries and has
worked as chief economist, CII.

Prasad is an Indian Administrative Service officer of the 1980 batch. Before joining Ficci, he was senior advisor (power & energy) and state advisor for Odisha and West Bengal in the Planning Commission.