BCIC begins Golden Jubilee year, honours four achievers; CA K Ravi takes over as president

Bengaluru: The Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) on Saturday marked the start of its Golden Jubilee year by honouring four personalities for their contributions to science, defence, healthcare and agriculture at its 49th annual general meeting (AGM) in Bengaluru.

The chamber felicitated Padma Shri awardee Dr Shubha Venkatesh Iyengar, aerospace scientist at CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories; Major General R K Suresh; senior surgical oncologist Dr B S Srinath; and Padma Shri awardee Dr Khader Valli Dudekula for their contributions in their respective fields.

The AGM also saw CA K Ravi assume office as BCIC president for 2026-27, while Dr Prashanth Reddy took charge as senior vice-president. The new leadership said it would focus on strengthening industry-government engagement, promoting innovation, supporting MSMEs, expanding global partnerships and contributing to Karnataka’s economic growth during the chamber’s 50th year.


Addressing members after taking charge, Ravi said BCIC would build on its legacy as a bridge between industry and government while preparing businesses for future opportunities. Reddy said the chamber would continue to deepen engagement with industry, government and academia to create a more competitive business ecosystem.

Outgoing president Prashant Gokhale said BCIC had strengthened its policy advocacy and industry collaborations during the past year and expressed confidence that the new leadership would further enhance the chamber’s role in Karnataka’s industrial development.

Delivering the keynote address, F R Singhvi, joint managing director of Sansera Engineering Ltd, said India was well positioned for long-term growth but would need a stronger manufacturing base to achieve its ambition of becoming a $10-trillion economy.

He said manufacturing was critical for job creation, exports, innovation and national security, and called for higher investments in research, reduced dependence on imports and stronger collaboration between industry and academia.

The event was attended by senior government officials, diplomats and industry leaders, including Dr S Selvakumar, principal secretary, commerce and industries department; Khushboo G Chowdhary, commissioner for industrial development and director of industries and commerce; Hiroshi Nawata, Consul General of Japan in Bengaluru; and Chandru Iyer, British Deputy High Commissioner to Karnataka and Kerala. The gathering underscored BCIC’s role as a platform for policy dialogue and industry engagement in Karnataka.