The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee said India’s corporate sector can do wonders. He was addressing the first batch of students of Post Graduate Diploma in Management progarmme at Murshidabad, West Bengal (August 24, 2014). He also inaugurated the new campus of the Management Development Institute (MDI), Murshidabad at Jangipur on the occasion.

The President said corporate sector of India has undergone massive change since the economic reforms of 90s when potential of Indian entrepreneurs was unleashed. Indian companies are now investing abroad in big way, bringing global practices to India. The modern day Indian manager does not have the baggage of the past. He has the courage and ability to compete with the best anywhere in the world. Indian companies areamong the largest investors and creators of jobs in United Kingdom and our corporate sector is capable of doing wonders.

The President said the vision and approach of recent times and the manner in which issues are being tackled gives the confidence that we will return to the economic growth rate of 7-8% soon. This is the minimum essential to find solutions to our problem of poverty. We must fulfill our huge responsibility of training and skilling 50 crore youth by 2022. Soon 20 per cent of whole world’s working population will be in India and 50 per cent of our population will be under 30. We will be able to reap the demographic dividend only if we can provide skills and improve employability of our youth.

Pointing out that MDI has a Food Park situated next to it, the President said establishing the two together in a backward area is a novel concept which should give impetus and thrust to the rural economy.

The President reminded students to carry with them a message from the soil as they graduate. While comforts and placements are important, students have a larger responsibility to the people and society of this great country. Each one of them are products not just of the investments of their family but also of entire society. It is, therefore, legitimate that society expects reasonable dividend from them and they must pay the same.

Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were Shri Arun Jaitley, Union Minister of Finance, Defence and Corporate Affairs and Shri Abhijit Mukherjee, MP.

Corporate capacity to spur growth requires a national skilling push to improve youth employability and boost rural jobs. The President characterised the corporate sector as a key engine of growth, noting expanded foreign investment and improved managerial competitiveness, and linked revival of higher economic growth to poverty reduction. He stressed a nationwide skilling imperative to improve youth employability and capture the demographic dividend, and highlighted the co location of an educational campus and Food Park as a model to boost rural economic activity. Graduates were reminded of their societal responsibility to deliver returns to the community alongside pursuing placements.