The Director of IIM, Bangalore, Prof. G.Raghuram, delivered the prestigious Gogte Lecture Series Talk in the Area of Logistics at KLS-IMER Auditorium.
Prof. Raghuram began his talk by giving an overview of tier 2 cities in India and spoke about lack of coordination, connectivity, losses and damages in transportation resulting in logistics accounting for approximately 14 % of our GDP whereas it was in the 7% range for advanced economies. These inefficiencies also manifested themselves in turnaround times, and minimum inventory levels that were far higher than advanced economies, and hence were a 5% to 7% cost disadvantage for manufacturers and exporters in a highly competitive global economy.
He proposed a SWIFT Model that is a focus on Sustainability, Warehousing, Information & Communication Technology, Fragmentation, and Transport Infrastructure, to reduce the cost of logistics to the Indian Economy. He said that policymakers, Industry Associations, Various service providers, and Researchers/Think-tanks should work together for optimum utilization of capacity. He was of the opinion that tier 2 cities like Belagavi had the potential to become future growth centers of the nation as such cities had the required resources and the people. Proper integration between people and the resources in such tier 2 cities was the key to move forward.
The Gogte Lecture Series of Talks was instituted by late Shri. Raosaheb B.M. Gogte, industrialist, philanthropist and KLS patron in 1977, on the occasion of his 61st birthday. KLS IMER Chairman, Shri. Rajendra Belgaumkar welcomed the gathering, while KLS Member and KLS VDIT Chairman, Shri. Pradeep Sawkar felicitated Prof. G. Raghuram. KLS President, Shri. Anant Mandgi, delivered the Presidential remarks. Shri. S. V. Ganachari, KLS Member, proposed the vote of thanks. KLS Chairman, Shri. M. R. Kulkarni, KLS Vice-President, Shri. Ram Bhandare, KLS members, industrialists, entrepreneurs, student and educators were present in large numbers.
Prior to the talk, Prof. Raghuram held an informal discussion for about 45 minutes with thirty leading industrialists and entrepreneurs of Belagavi at the Sandbox at IMER, an Incubation Facility, and said that industry groups like the Chamber of Commerce were vital in representing the interests of industry and proposing solutions.
Industrialist Shri. Sachin Sabnis, MD, Belgaum Ferro cast (India) Pvt Ltd., a successful entrepreneur from Belagavi, was felicitated with the Entrepreneur of the Year Award by Chief Guest, Prof. G. Raghuram, Director, IIM, Bangalore and KLS President, Shri. Anant Mandgi, on the occasion of the 28th Foundation Day of KLS IMER. This day coincides with the date of birth of KLS Patron and Industrialist, Late Shri. Raosaheb B. M. Gogte.
The program was followed by SWAR SAMWAD- Flavors of Classical Music by Mr. Pranav Kulkarni & Mrs. Aparna Kulkarni of Pune.