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CII summit tries to showcase Madras

The Confederation of Indian Industry partnership summit was billed as the event that would put southern India on the global business map, a chance to showcase Madras up there alongside Bombay and Delhi.

The summit made up with style what it seemed to lack in spunk.

CII president N Kumar welcomed the visitors and delegates to his hometown on at least half a dozen occasions, making it apparent that he was perhaps instrumental in choosing Madras as the summit venue.

Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, too, mentioned about the rise of Tamil Nadu, and in the afternoon, glossy brochures of the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation were distributed.

Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral chose the occasion to defend his government. He listed as his greatest achievement the fact that the Dravida Munnetra Kazagham was not dropped from his ministry despite the Congress pressure. ''I could have asked Industry Minister Murasoli Maran (of the DMK) to go home, and saved my government. But with what face would I have then faced the people?'' he thundered.

Despite all the talk of industrial slowdown and recessionary trends, most remain optimistic of India's long-term ability to be up there with the greats.

And, certainly, there was a noticeable streak of pride and vanity among businessmen and politicians that India did not go the south-east Asian way. Even Gujral gave away the fact that, when the currency crisis hit southeast Asia, he had grave forebodings of it affecting India.

Realising that business can be quite boring, the CII had made arrangements for the delegates's spouses to attend cultural shows and tour the city.

By mid-morning, most were keen for lunch, but journalists were kept out. Lunch for the business delegates were arranged in the various five-star hotels as per group arrangements.

If there was a crowd of people surrounding the prime minister, there was an equally impressive crowd of suited men surrounding Ratan Tata who was present in the morning.

Ratan Tata is not known for attending such functions, and his presence indicates a higher public profile for the overlord of the mighty Tata empire. However, the media remains a no-no.

In the afternoon, came the special address of Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi.

Perhaps the CII top brass took his previous profession as a university lecturer in economics quite seriously. For, N Kumar asked him to narrate how he helped turn Italy around.

The professor did, going right back to history and saying that what was happening today was an Italian renaissance. Unfortunately, not many could make out the professor's accent, and many seemed quite restless. One such restless person was Murasoli Maran, who walked out even as the Italian prime minister was speaking!

As soon as the professor completed his speech, there was a scramble for the exit doors and most of the delegates were out of the venue even before the vote of thanks could be delivered.