IICA, National Productivity Council Explore Strategic Partnership for Viksit Bharat

Addressing the gathering, the DG & CEO of IICA emphasized the rapidly evolving expectations from industry and governance, underscoring the need for institutions to stay relevant and responsive to national priorities.

The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) today hosted a high-level delegation from the National Productivity Council (NPC) to explore collaboration in training, research, productivity enhancement, sustainability and compliance support, reinforcing institutional alignment with India’s long-term development vision of Viksit Bharat.

The NPC delegation was led by Smt. Neeraja Shekhar, Director General, and Shri Umashankar Prasad, Deputy Director General (Group). They were welcomed by Shri Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh, Director General & CEO of IICA, who felicitated the dignitaries in recognition of their leadership and contribution to national development.

Aligning Institutions with National Priorities

Addressing the gathering, the DG & CEO of IICA emphasized the rapidly evolving expectations from industry and governance, underscoring the need for institutions to stay relevant and responsive to national priorities.

“India’s leadership has articulated a clear vision for the future,” he said. “Institutions like IICA and NPC must work both individually and collaboratively to contribute meaningfully to the goal of Viksit Bharat.”

Showcasing IICA’s Expanding Mandate

During the visit, Heads of IICA’s Schools and Centres made detailed presentations outlining the Institute’s work across education, capacity-building, research, advocacy and advisory services. The sessions highlighted IICA’s growing role in supporting government reforms and private sector initiatives through policy-aligned training and evidence-based research.

Productivity at the Core of Growth

Speaking at the interaction, Smt. Neeraja Shekhar reflected on NPC’s legacy since its establishment in 1958, when India faced acute resource constraints and productivity challenges. She recalled the historic productivity delegation to Japan, which helped institutionalize productivity-led development in India.

Over the decades, she noted, NPC has expanded its work beyond industry to include agriculture, services, MSMEs, sustainability, green productivity and ESG-linked initiatives.

She also highlighted NPC’s close engagement with the Asian Productivity Organization (APO), enabling international exposure through study visits, expert exchanges and benchmarking frameworks. These tools help assess industrial readiness, organizational capability, financial strength and manufacturing maturity, especially among MSMEs.

A Shared Vision for a Competitive, Sustainable Economy

Both IICA and NPC expressed strong intent to formalize collaboration, combining IICA’s strengths in policy research, training and advisory services with NPC’s implementation-driven productivity expertise.

The partnership aims to support India’s transition toward a high-income, competitive, innovative and sustainable economy, with a particular focus on MSMEs, ESG integration and productivity-led growth.

The interaction was coordinated by Dr Naveen Sirohi, Head – School of Finance and Management, IICA.