42ND NATIONAL CONVENTION OF COMPANY SECRETARIES INAUGURATED AT KOLKATA

42^nd National Convention of Company Secretaries

INAUGURATED AT Kolkata

Kolkata :  Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Dum Dum , Kolkata, Prof. Sougata Roy, inaugurated the 42^nd National Convention of Company Secretaries on the Theme CS- Change. Challenge. Opportunity., being organised by Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) at Kolkata today.

In his Inaugural Address, Prof Sougata Roy, Hon’ble MP, Dum Dum, Kolkata, congratulated the Institute for organising the National  Convention of Company Secretaries on the Theme – CS-Change . Challenge. Opportunity. He said that, Company Secretaries are recognised as Key Managerial Personnel and this makes the expectations of the stakeholders towards the professionals very high as they expect the various compliances to be met in a fair and ethical manner.

Mr. Roy further touched upon the fact that “Companies Act 2013 gives direct responsibility as Key Managerial Personnel for CS who have to ensure good corporate governance in their   organisations. Currently there is a need for growth of the service sector as the government sector has its own limitations and Company Secretaries can act as a facilitator by ensuring that business purposes are clean externally and internally and ensure  fair business practices are followed. Prof Roy also stressed upon the fact that there is increasing need for creating awareness about the New Company Law which should also be looked upon by the Company Secretaries.

Shri C R  Chowdhury, Hon’ble Member of Parliament from Nagaur , Rajasthan, in his address to the august gathering , congratulated the Institute for organising the Convention on the Theme – CS –Change. Challenge. Opportunity. He said that the words –Change, Challenge and Opportunity are interlinked where change is inevitable and natural and where there is change the surrounding situations and environment become challenging and when these challenges are met with and are successfully growing. Who can go with Change will surely achieve success and get good place in society.

Shri. R K Dubey, Chairman and Managing Director, Canara Bank, while delivering his address as the   guest of honour, said that," The CS profession has grown leaps and bounds over the years. Over the years the Company Secretaries have been trusted by Government, Regulators, shareholders and other stakeholders and they are now the part of the Core Management Team of any corporate”. He described Company Secretaries as Compliance Officers and back bone for any organisation who have a principle responsibility and now CS are playing various important roles as well  new opportunities  in the banking sector are also coming up as banks also require compliance officers. He also invited ICSI to have an MoU in a big way for capacity building of CS professionals.

CS R Sridharan, President ICSI, in his Presidential Address said that the year 2014 was marked as a challenging year in the history of the profession and the Professionals with their commitment reclaimed their position which has made the resolve of the professionals stronger. The New Company  Law has opened various opportunities as the Company Secretaries are now Key Managerial personnel and will be part of the Core of a Company ,they will be  responsible for Secretarial Audit ,they have to be on board of companies as Independent Directors and many  new areas have come up for CS professionals under Companies Act 2013. He said that the Company Secretaries have to face and get ahead of the two major challenges – Market Challenges and Governance Challenges. He mentioned that section 143 of Companies Act 2013 also makes CS as detectors of fraud and there is a need for creating dyanamic environment to create good governance.

CS Vikas Y Khare introduced the Theme of the Convention

CS Anil Murarka, Council Member, ICSI and chairman of 42^nd National Convention organising Sub-Committee welcomed the dignitaries on the dais. CS Ashok Pareek, Council Member, ICSI and CS Ashok Khandelia , Chairman Eastern India Regional Council of the ICSI  also addressed the august gathering.

CS M.S.Sahoo, Secretary ICSI proposed the Vote of Thanks. Approximately 1000 delegates including Company Secretaries, Managing Directors, CEOs, Directors, Senior Executives and professionals from India and abroad are participating in the National Convention. The three-day Convention will be addressed by captains of trade and industry, eminent experts, academicians, senior civil servants and professionals.