ITC's e-choupal bags ICC award

The e-choupal model of ITC Ltd uniquely harmonises commercial and business objectives with a sense of economic and social purpose and exemplifies the true spirit of the company's endeavour to create shareholder value through service to society, ITC chairman Y C Deveshwar, said while accepting the inaugural 'World Business Award' in Marrakesh at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) World Congress on June 8.

The award has been instituted jointly by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), ICC and the Prince of Wales International Business Leaders' Forum (IBLF).

The 'e-choupal' initiative touches 2.4 million farmers through over 4,100 installations covering 21, 000 villages in six states. Over the next decade, the network will cover over 100,000 villages and create more than 10 million e-farmers.

The ITC e-choupal is one of the eight finalists for the Development Gateway Foundation's first-ever Petersberg Prize to be awarded at the Development Gateway Forum 2004 on June 27- 28.

Picture caption: Mr Y C Deveshwar, Chairman, ITC Limited, after receiving the `World Business Award' in Marrakesh on June 8, 2004. With him are (from left): Adnan Kassar, former ICC Chairman, Lord Holme of Cheltenham, head of the panel of judges; Jean-Rene Fourtou, Chairman, ICC, and Bruce Jenks of UNDP.