The 50th Annual Convention of SIAM (Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers), India’s apex body representing automobile industry, was inaugurated by Dr Pawan Goenka, SIAM president and President – Automotive and Farm Equipment, Mahindra and Mahindra, at Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi.
Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh was Guest of Honour while Minister of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises was Chief Guest at the annual auto meet.
The theme of this year’s Annual Convention is “Dynamics of Managing Growth: The Next Phase of the Auto Industry”. The convention saw participation from Senior Government officials, Global and Indian Industry leaders.
Dr Pawan Goenka, SIAM president and President – Automotive and Farm Equipment, Mahindra and Mahindra, in his welcome remarks said that the convention was a milestone event in that it was golden Jubilee year of SIAM.
Lauding the auto industry for a robust growth after last year’s economic recession, Dr Goenka said, “Last year the auto industry just started to recover from the impact of global economic recession, using government’s stimulus package as a springboard, the industry displayed an exemplary resolve in charting a trail blazing performance.”
Dr Goenka also thanked the government for its support to the industry and attributed the good showing of the auto industry to the efforts made by component manufacturers, the strong fundamentals of the Indian economy and the highly calibrated government policy steps in support of the industry. He emphasized that the real challenge for the auto industry is the future and India is set to play a major role in the global auto industry.
The SIAM President also reminded the industry’s responsibility towards environment and said that the auto industry was cautious towards the environmental concerns and called for uniform emission norms. Dr Goenka announced SIAM’s new initiative of Voluntary Fuel Efficiency Regime which will promote lower fuel consumption.
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Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh congratulated the auto industry for its most impressive growth and he called upon the industry to go for growth with ecological sustainability.
Mr Ramesh welcomed SIAM’s initiative on fuel efficiency but called for enforcement of Mandatory Fuel Efficiency Standards. The Environment Minister urged the captains of the industry not to see environment as an impediment but consider it as an issue of public health.
Heavy Industry Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh assured government’s help in making Indian auto industry the leading force in the world. He suggested the auto industry to focus on building and augmenting value chain, upgradation of technology, capacity building, human resource management and investment in Research and Development.
The inaugural session was followed by special plenary session on the theme “Shifting the Horizon. After the opening remarks by Venu Srinivasan, Chairman and Managing Director, TVS Motor Co, Union Road Transport and Highways Kamal Nath addressed the convention.
Mr Nath emphasized on the government’s vision on building roads and how roads were important for the long term growth of auto industry. Admitting that India’s roads were in poor condition, the Minister promised that his ministry was working hard to solve this problem of bad roads infrastructure.
He also announced that his ministry was working on the introduction of uniform tall technology in order to ensure uniform vehicular movement across the country.
Every year SIAM hosts its annual convention focusing on issues influencing Indian automotive industry’s competitiveness, growth and its integration with the global economy. Participants from all over the world including senior representatives from the industry attend the annual convention attend the event. This event is India’s most important annual automotive convention.
About SIAM
Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) is the apex Industry body representing 46 leading vehicle and vehicular engine manufacturers in India.
SIAM is an important channel of communication for the Automobile Industry with the Government, National and International organisations. The Society works closely with all the concerned stake holders and actively participates in formulation of rules, regulations and policies related to the Automobile Industry.
SIAM provides a window to the Indian Automobile industry and aims to enhance exchanges and communication, expand economics, trade and technical cooperation between the Automotive Industry and its international counterparts.
With its regular and continuous interaction with international bodies and organizations it aims to facilitate up gradation of technical capabilities of the Indian Industry to match the best practice worldwide.
Dissemination of information is an integral part of SIAM'S activities, which it does through various publications, reports, seminars and conferences.
SIAM has been striving to keep pace with the socio-economic and technological changes shaping the Automobile Industry and endeavour to be a catalyst in the development of a stronger Automobile Industry in India.