KSOM Organizes 14th National Finance Konclave
The 14th National Finance Konclave was organized by KIIT School of Management (KSOM) on 23rd September, 2023. The theme of the conclave was “Building a Sustainable Inclusive Future: A Finance Perspective”. Dr. Shikta Singh, Convenor, set the context of the conclave by introducing the theme and highlighting India’s economic evolution and the role of sustainability in our journey.
Dr. Sumita Mishra, Dean, KSOM, extended a warm welcome to the delegates on behalf of Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS. She introduced the corporate leaders, emphasized the conclave’s significance, and stressed on the growing importance of sustainability in the post-pandemic era.
Dr. Tapan Kumar Panda, Pro-Vice Chancellor of KSOM & KSRM, in his insightful deliberation, highlighted CFOs’ crucial role in achieving ESG goals and stressed the strategic significance of sustainability. Dr. Panda discussed the transformation of health crises into economic challenges and encouraged sharing insights on technology’s role in mitigating shocks while bridging classroom learning with corporate practices. Dr. Kumar Mohanty, Director – Corporate Relations, KIIT-DU proposed the vote of thanks at the inaugural session.
The inaugural session was followed by two panel discussions. The first panel discussion was on the topic: Sustainability, Fin-Tech and Financial Inclusion. The panel discussed the importance of sustainable technology in shaping our future, stressing the need to predict demand, consume wisely, and optimize logistics, while holding ourselves responsible for environmental sustainability. They emphasized on the importance of ESG in sustainability, expressing deep concern about the environment and the adverse effects of overusing resources. The panel highlighted the interdependence of economic expansion, financial inclusion, and sustainability, and the role of modern finance in harnessing technology to integrate these aspects. They concurred that government and corporate commitments to sustainability are critical along with the need for cost-effective and environmentally friendly solutions.
The second panel discussion was on the topic – Resilience for Sustainable Inclusive Growth –Industry Perspectives. The panel highlighted India’s economic growth, infrastructure improvements, and financial inclusion in the manufacturing industry. They discussed on the changing dynamics in the manufacturing sector, focusing on cash conversion and the role of MSME vendors, especially within ‘Make in India’. The panel offered insights on diverse topics including green bonds, economic resilience, and investment potential in India, while discussing profitability and financial inclusion.
The second half of the conclave consisted of seven parallel interactive workshops on topics related to: Innovative Emerging Technologies in Indian Financial System, Measuring the Pulse of Fintech Segments, ESG in India: Emphasizing Sustainability and Responsible Investing, Sustainable Finance & Green Economy, Challenges and Way Forward and Emergence of Robo-advisors and its Impact on Financial Markets.
The conclave provided students with an opportunity to interact with business leaders from the industry. It created a platform to connect industry professionals, academia and students.