Pune, April 13, 2024: In a bid to foster operational excellence and address the growing significance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors in business operations, the Kaizen Institute is gearing up to host the 13th edition of the KAIZEN Congress India (KCI) in Pune next week.
With climate-related disruptions projected to cost businesses over USD 1.3 trillion by 2026, the two-day event -- to be held on April 18 and 19 -- aims to convene stakeholders from various industries to deliberate on this year's theme, "Leveraging ESG: Opportunities for Improvement". The event is expected to draw over 250 attendees, representing nearly 100 companies, and feature insights from over 20 distinguished speakers.
Jayanth Murthy, Joint Managing Director, South Asia and Africa, Kaizen Institute, expressed optimism about the congress, emphasizing its role in promoting intellectual engagement and facilitating knowledge exchange among industrialists. He noted the importance of leveraging Kaizen's core principles of efficiency and Lean methodologies to enhance operational strategies.
The event aims to provide a platform to discuss on Developing Sustainable and Responsible Business, highlighting the significance of adopting robust ESG strategies to maximise operational efficiency via mitigation of inadequate resources adopting impactful policies to empower proactive social responsibility, employee welfare, and mitigate carbon footprint.
“The annual Congress presents itself as an excellent opportunity for bringing together industrialists from diverse sectors under one roof and promoting intellectual engagement. The event also aids in highlighting Kaizen’s core principals of optimum efficiency and Lean methodologies for businesses to augment their operational strategies,” Murthy said.
Recent surveys highlight the increasing vulnerability of businesses to climate-related risks, with approximately 80% of the world's largest companies acknowledging exposure to such risks. Moreover, investors are increasingly recognizing the importance of ESG factors, with ESG-focused investment projected to reach USD 33.9 trillion by 2026 from USD 18.4 trillion in 2021, while the Asia-Pacific region is projected to triple by 2026, reaching USD 3.3 trillion, signifying a significant shift in investment trends.
The KCI will also host the National Case Study Competition, providing organizations with a platform to showcase their transformative implementations of Lean methodologies and compete for recognition.
Keynote speakers at the event include industry leaders such as Aditi Haldar, Director at GRI South Asia Region; Dr Pramod Pandey, Global Health & Safety Engineering Leader at Philips; Dr Suresh Kumar, Senior Vice President, Human Resources at Aurobindo Pharma Ltd; and Avinash Kumar, Executive Director at Earthood Services Pvt Ltd.
With registrations still open, Murthy is optimistic about seeing participation in large numbers, particularly from the newer generation of industrialists who are eager to learn from industry veterans and magnets.
The KAIZEN Congress India 2024 aims to equip attendees with insights into the challenges and latest developments in the Indian industrial market, ultimately fostering optimization in operations and cost reduction.
The KCI over the years has hosted major leaders from Mercedes-Benz, Royal Enfield, Aditya Birla, Tata Chemicals, Flipkart, and Infosys, among others.
