Tatas to sponsor Confluence 2004

IIM-Ahmedabad orgainised festival to see increased overseas B-schools' participation

The Tata Group has committed to become the main sponsor for Confluence 2004, the annual international business school festival, to be organised by the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIMA) during October.

While Confluence 2003, which attracted 20 major international B-schools held last November, paved the way to building up a close relationship among B-school students from India and Pakistan, with a team of Lahore Business School for the first time taking part in the festival, this year three teams from the Lahore Business School have confirmed their participation in the four-day meet.

A sharp increase in the number of participating schools is expected this time as according to the organisers, 25-30 international B-schools including London Business School, Leeds Business School, New York University, Wharton Business School and Ivy Business School would be participating, apart from all five IIMs and other top B-schools from the country. Last time, 26 B-schools, including 20 overseas B-schools took part in the show.

"Industry is an important component of the business trinity that our event is trying to integrate - the academia, the industry and the students," said Rahul Bhandari, coordinator of corporate communications, Tata Confluence 2004.

The response from the side of the Tatas has been quite positive as well. "It is a great opportunity for me to come and speak with representatives from 32 top universities across the globe and tell them what Tata is all about," said Kishore Chaukar, director, Tata Sons.

"Even if half of them remember what Tata is, and carry it home with them, then I am not a stranger to them as and when our businesses go there," Chaukar added.

Saurabh Upadhyay, manager, Tata Administrative Services (TAS), feels strongly about the continuity in Tatas relationship with the event.

Upadhyay said, "Our continued relationship over the last three years underlines our commitment to the event. Central to this is the fact that we actually look at it as a year-long relationship, and not a one-off sponsorship lasting three days."

However, Confluence 2004 is also expected to enjoy the partnership of a host of other corporates across diverse businesses.

Niranjan Rao, an IIMA student and one of the coordinators for the fest, said, "As Confluence has already earned the recognition of being a reputed international B-school show in the Asia-Pacific region, this year we expect participation of more than 25 international B-schools in Tata Confluence 2004 with more numbers of domestic B-schools taking part in the fest.

"As the students of Lahore Business School who took part in Confluence 2003 went back with rich experience of cultural exchange, this time Lahore Business School will be sending three teams which is unprecedented and this will definitely contribute well in developing a deeper relations between students of both the countries."