Caux Initiatives of Business (CIB) launched the opening of its international conference, ‘Asia’s Relevance in a Globalizing World – Trust and Integrity in the New Leadership Model’ at Asia Plateau, Panchgani. A unique feature of this conference lies in the growing partnership between Japan and India in a globalized world. Both these Asian countries are co-hosting and sponsoring this conference.

Day 1, Friday, November 23, 2007

Mr Sarosh Ghandy gives a warm welcome to all the delegates at the conference

Mr Sarosh Ghandy, one of the Indian hosts and conveners, set the context of the theme of this conference. His theory was simple. Out of the 70 per cent of the world’s population, which resides in Asia, the majority belong to the ‘haves not’ category, he said. Naturally these Asian countries are suspicious of globalization being inequitable, he added. However, he urged the cynics amongst us not to lose hope. Globalization is already a part of the world in which we live so we cannot ignore it, he said. Looking at the anxious faces of the international delegation and participants, he explained that we need to see how to make globalisation equitable.

The suspicion was slightly lifted in the room when the attention was drawn to the importance of human values, which will set Asia’s relevance in a globalized world. Adding further, he said, trust and integrity are integral for an equitable form of globalization.

The opening of the CIB conference (From L to R) Mr Mohan Bhagwandas, Mr Bhanu Kale, Mr Sarosh Ghandy, Justice J S Verma, Mr Niketu Iralu, Mr Toru Hashimoto, Mr R D Mathur and Mr Kiyoshi Nagano

Justice Verma, former chief justice of India, a fertile legal brain, in his inaugural speech, expanded on the above theme. He alluded to the Millennium Development Goals and questioned the extent to which we have progressed towards their realization. However, he counter balanced his doubts by calling himself ‘an incurable optimist’. ‘Everything is do-able. We not only need to motivate ourselves but others as well and draw out their potential. But we must start with ourselves.’ He found it distressing that the richest man in the world comes from India. Contrastingly, in the same country 70 per cent of her people live a dollar a day. He asked if this state is to continue, where will world peace come from?

There is a distinct link between world peace and human dignity, he said. This link is significant in lowering inequality. Quoting Martin Luther King, ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,’ Justice Verma reminded us of distributive justice.

Justice Verma is a firm advocate of human development being a path to freedom. Human rights and good governance are also associated with freedom, he said. He referred to Amartya Sen’s concept of humane governance. This kind of governance coupled with a people-centric approach is his idea of inclusive democracy. This model of leadership has a role for everyone at every level in policy making. ‘Everyone counts!’ he reiterated. Fondly he remembered Mahatma Gandhi’s words – ‘Be the change you want to see in the world.’ We need a renaissance of values, he emphasized.

Justice Verma ended by recalling the words of Pope John Paul II – ‘It must be ensured that the winner in globalization will be humanity and not the wealthy elite that control the planet’s resources.’ He referred to the pressing issue of global warming and environmental degradation adding to the woes of globalization.

Mr Hashimoto from Japan, Chairman of Deutsche Securities and IofC Japan, gave the keynote address. Delighted to have accepted the invitation to jointly host this conference, he appreciated India’s relationship with Japan. He hoped that this ‘relationship would grow deeper and wider and that this collaboration would continue in the future’. He expressed his gratitude that this conference offers an opportunity for a dialogue between the two countries. He wanted this conference to provide an impetus for charting a roadmap in resolving bilateral issues and the many global challenges.

The enraptured audience in the auditorium of Asia Plateau

R D Mathur, founding trustee of IofC India, moved by the opening speeches, thanked the panel. In this borderless world, he was grateful that the Indian and Japanese spirits could come together today. Mr Mathur pointed out that we are at the crossroads, faced with two choices - one path leads to the possibility of building a world of justice, equity, freedom and values, while the other is faced with the evil of atomic weapons, war and divisions. He added that we should no longer be complacent and rely on the government to do the job. We should turn to civil society, the media, people in governance, industry and NGOs, to take charge. The conference was attended by personalities from the above fields, from 19 countries. He empowered the audience to seek direction and purpose with shared values in the coming days.

Tehmina Siganporia