“The kind of consensus among political leaders that existed in 1991 when the country was facing balance of payment crisis is required to support country’s needs by way of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI),” said Shekar Viswanathan, Deputy Managing Director, Toyota Kirloskar Motor Ltd.

Speaking after launching ‘The Hindu Business Line on Campus’ edition here at the New Horizon College of Engineering, he said political maturity is required if the country has to move forward.

“The Opposition in 1991 said yes to whatever the then government headed by P.V. Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh decided to do in the interest of the country. I hope the same kind of wisdom is there to support the country today,” he said.

He advised the students to be alert to and be aware of the debates in Parliament on the future of FDI. “FDI is crucial for the country. Various sectors of our economy very badly need to tap technology and money to attain global standards,” he said.

The debate is crucial for students of management as it shows how to tell the global investors that laws in India will not change at whim. “Through democratic process we need to highlight our good investment climate, open market, decent return on investment, stable law and order.”

S.K. Abrol, General Manager (Planning & Development), Syndicate Bank, who was the guest of honour, introduced the bank to the students and its relevance to the student community.

Highlighting the Syndicate Bank’s 80 years in service, Abrol said that the bank was the first to introduce financial inclusion, women enrichment through ‘all women branch’, Agri OD scheme to help farmers, Synd Laghu Udyami to help small entrepreneurs and help rural unemployed youth through Rudseti scheme.

“We cannot be complacent to what we have created. We need to constantly tune in to our customers’ demand and their aspirations,” said Abrol. “We also need to tap technology and its introduction has brought in a new paradigm in offering services to customers,” he added.

Dr Manjunatha, Principal, New Horizon College of Engineering, welcomed The Hindu Business Line initiative of campus edition and said, “Students need industrial exposure and also need to focus beyond the syllabus. It is here the newspaper helps a student to prepare for the corporate world.”

Dr S.K. Prasad, Director, Dept of Management Studies, New Horizon College of Engineering, welcomed the gathering.

anil.u@thehindu.co.in