The 29th Annual Management Convention, the flagship event of Kerala Management Association was held on 21st & 22nd January 2010 at the International Convention Centre, Le Meridien, Cochin. Qatar Management Association and Institute of Management of Sri Lanka were the Partner Management Associations of this Convention. The main theme for this year was ‘RECESSION TO RESURGENCE’.

    A Brief Background of the Theme for this years Convention.

   The world economy, which, after a bright period of impressive growth and reasonable price stability, was terrified by devastating food and energy crises, has been suddenly crippled by the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s. And the present crisis is much more widespread and deep and its shockwaves are more rampant and avalanching as the world economy today is much more integrated and intricately intertwined than in the past.

   The global economic crisis has been a much needed wakeup call to corporate India to further rejuvenate itself and gear up to face unexpected adversities. The greatest message of the crisis is that a firm should anticipate the possibility of severely adverse environment emerging suddenly at any time that could create havoc if not well prepared in advance to meet it. It points to the need for building alternative scenarios and having plans and strategies in place for them. Also important is contingency planning.

    However, the impact of the current global economic crisis on the Indian economy and Indian business has been much less severe than in respect of most other countries. In fact, India Inc. was moving well forward, piggybacking on the impressive Indian and global economic growth, eliminating/minimising weaknesses, consolidating the strengths, fighting the threats and exploiting the opportunities.

     The Convention commenced with the Inaugural Session, on Thursday, 21st January 2010 at 6 pm. Vice Admiral Krishnan Nair Sushil, AVSM,NM,ADC, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command inaugurated the Convention. Mr. Sanjiv Bajaj, Managing Director - Bajaj Fin Serv Ltd., was the Chief Guest and in his speech he mainly addressed the youth, the future of our nation and shared his experience and learning from the current recession.

      Mr. Ajit Balakrishnan, Founder Chairman & CEO, Rediff.com India Ltd. delivered the Key note address. He spoke about the number of times that recession hit India in his own life time. He also illustrated how small time entrepreneurs and even school teachers in Kannur, a remote village in North Malabar had invented innovative measures to overcome recession. The Inaugural session was followed by cocktails and dinner.

On the next day, i.e. Friday, the 22nd, there were three Technical Sessions.

The Second Technical Session of the day LEADING THROUGH INNOVATION was chaired by Mr. C.J. Mathew IRS, Development Commissioner – Cochin Special Economic Zone. Mr. V.K. Mathews, Founder & Chairman & CEO – IBS Group, Mr. P.K. Mohankumar, C.O.O. – Gateway Hotels, Indian Hotels Co. Ltd. were the speakers.

Customer Leadership and Cost Competitiveness was the theme of the third technical session. Cmde. M. Jitendran, C & M.D. of Cochin Shipyard Ltd. was the chairperson and the speakers were Mr. V. N. Bhattacharya, Business Strategy Consultant, Mr. A. Satish Kumar , Board Member & Ex-M.D. of Henkel India Ltd.

The Valedictory session began at 4 pm. Mr. Shibu Lal, C.O.O. of Infosys Technologies Ltd. delivered the Valedictory address. He shared his experience on how they converted the recession into an opportunity and had the vision to retain all the new recruits who were ear-marked to join during recession. Swami Mitrananda, Acharya - Chinmaya Mission Chennai & Director - All India Chinmaya Yuva Kendra was the Guest of Honour. He spoke about how healthy minds can help make the right decisions and tackle all challenges. He left all with the thought that an “Optimist sees an opportunity in every problem and how a pessimist sees a problem in every opportunity.”

The 29th Convention was hailed as one of the best and the accolades and appreciation that we have received from all who attended, on the style, standards and quality that we have maintained for the Convention is really heartening.