A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS

AMITABH KANT, AN EXPERT POLICYMAKER KNOWN FOR HIS CLARITY OF VISION AND HARD WORK, WAS A KEY PLAYER IN MAKING INDIA'S G20 PRESIDENCY A RESOUNDING SUCCESS AS ITS SHERPA

- Surabhi

VERY FEW PEOPLE can boast of a career spanning more than four decades that has seen them soar from one zenith to another, taking on bigger challenges in each successive assignment. But that's natural progression for Amitabh Kant. India's G20 Sherpa was also responsible for the Incredible India tourism campaign in the early part of this millennium and played a driving role in the country's pursuit of becoming a global manufacturing hub with the Make in India initiative.

A retired 1980-batch Indian Administrative Service officer from the Kerala cadre, 67-year-old Kant is known for being an administrator par excellence, who has managed to thrive in diverse assignments. Known as a decisive thinker and clear speaker with a 'can do' attitude, he has worked across various ministries in his state cadre as well as at the Centre. His list of assignments includes Secretary, Kerala Tourism; CMD, India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC); and Joint Secretary, Tourism in the Government of India. He has also worked as Chairman of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Development Corporation (2009-14); Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (2014-16); and the Chief Executive Officer of the NITI Aayog (2016-22).

Throughout his career, he has helped mould and take forward flagship national initiatives such as Startup India, Make in India, Incredible India, Kerala: God's Own Country and the Aspirational Districts programme.

But perhaps his most successful stint has been as India's G20 Sherpa. Kant was appointed to the role in July 2022, months ahead of India assuming the presidency of this multilateral forum from December 1, 2022, to November 30, 2023. He took over from Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, when the need was felt for a full-time G20 Sherpa.

BRINGING G20 TO THE PEOPLE