The Indian Chemical Council (ICC) hosted its 60th Annual Awards Ceremony in Mumbai, honoring distinguished leaders and organizations that have shaped the chemical industry with vision, innovation, and commitment. The annual awards ceremony brought together industry stalwarts, policymakers, and academia in a grand celebration of achievements.
Lifetime Achievement Awards Honor Visionary Leaders
Minister of state for commerce and industry, Jitin Prasada, presided as the Chief Guest and presented the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Awards to eminent pioneers of the sector. Shyam Bhartia and Hari Bhartia, Founders of Jubilant Bhartia Group – ICC Lifetime Achievement Award. Sandra Shroff, Ex Vice Chairman and Co-Founder of UPL Limited – ICC D. M. Trivedi Lifetime Achievement Award for Management of Industry
Dr. S. Chandrasekhar, Former Director of CSIR-IICT and Former Secretary of DST – ICC D. M. Trivedi Lifetime Achievement Award for Education and Research.
Government’s Vision for a $5 Trillion Economy
Jitin Prasada outlined the government’s vision to position the chemical industry as a critical driver of India’s $5 trillion economy ambition. He highlighted the government’s commitment to:
*Easing business processes and reducing compliance burdens
*Negotiating Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to expand global markets and ensure access to raw materials
*Developing world-class chemical clusters with modern infrastructure to cut logistics costs and boost competitiveness
*Supporting job creation while maintaining focus on anti-dumping measures, QCOs, and environmental clearances
He urged industry leaders to align with national priorities and seize opportunities for growth and sustainability.
Leadership Transition at ICC
The ceremony also marked a historic leadership transition at ICC. Kartik Bharat Ram, Joint Managing Director of SRF Limited and Outgoing President of ICC, delivered the welcome address and reflected on the Council’s achievements under his tenure. Notably, ICC became the first industry body worldwide to receive the prestigious 2024 OPCW-The Hague Award. The honor recognized its contributions to chemical safety and security.
He welcomed Ramya Bharathram, Managing Director and CFO of Thirumalai Chemicals Ltd., as the first woman President of ICC. In her acceptance remarks, Bharathram pledged to build upon ICC’s strong foundation, emphasizing advocacy, member engagement, and sustainable industry growth.
Guest of Honour Highlights Growth and Sustainability
Guest of Honour, Deepankar Aron, IRS, Joint Secretary – Chemicals, Government of India, offered insights into the sector’s growth trajectory. He emphasized that the future of the chemical industry rests on sustainability, innovation, and strong industry-academia collaboration. He urged companies to align with national initiatives like Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India). This would reduce import dependence and strengthen domestic manufacturing capabilities.
Industry Insights and Knowledge Exchange
The event also featured a keynote address by Vikas Kaushal, Chairman and Managing Director of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd., who highlighted the strategic link between the petrochemical and chemical value chains in driving economic growth.
Earlier in the day, the 16th Annual Seminar on “Recognizing Excellence of Performance in Various Facets of the Chemical Industry” was held. The seminar was graced by Deepankar Aron as Chief Guest and Prof. Shireesh Kedare, Director of IIT Bombay, as keynote speaker. Award-winning companies presented innovative practices that are transforming the industry.
Collective Call for Innovation and Collaboration
Ravi Goenka, Executive Chairman of Laxmi Organics, urged the industry to unite in pursuit of a common goal—building a sustainable, innovative, and globally competitive Indian chemical industry. As per the press release, the event concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks by Mr. D. Sothi Selvam, Director General of ICC, closing an inspiring day that celebrated excellence while charting the way forward for the chemical industry.
