India Inc sniffs big biz at Delhi C'wealth Games

Sniffing a massive business opportunity, corporate India has decided to back the 2010 Commonwealth Games which could be a platform for forging long-lasting commercial partnerships.

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Organising Committee of the Games to take advantage of the chance to forge business alliances with more than 70 member countries of the Commonwealth.

As per the agreement, a forum named 'Business Club India' would be formed with the aim to promote Brand India using the platform of the games.

Nandan Nilekani, CEO of Infosys, is heading the CII venture in this regard. It would run a series of business events in India and overseas till the 2010 Games. Corporate India will also lend a hand to the bidding of other major sporting events such as the 2014 Asian Games and the 2016 Olympics.

Suresh Kalmadi, chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee will head the club while R Seshasayee, president of CII, would be its co-chairman.

The club will have representatives from various government ministries also. "Delhi won the bid to get the 2010 Games 46-22 because the member countries realised the immense potential of the Indian economy and wanted to forge ties with it," Kalmadi said.