BUILDING TRUST FOR INDIA INC

BUILDING trust is a powerful asset for Indian industry, enabling companies to thrive in a competitive and globalised environment. In the current geoeconomic and geopolitical environment, the responsibility of building trust needs to be ideally shared between businesses, the government and various stakeholders with focused efforts towards public-private partnerships, robust global value chains and cross-functional collaborations to lead towards collective trust and nation-building.

- CHANDRAJIT BANERJEE

On the governance side, this will enhance stakeholder engagement, build brand value, deepen customer loyalty, inspire employees and strengthen resilience during crises. As stakeholders increasingly seek transparency and accountability, businesses that invest in trust can meet these expectations more effectively and build lasting relationships. Building trust can encourage regulators to adopt more supportive and streamlined policies, reducing compliance burdens and fostering a more business-friendly environment. In its study titled 'The shared responsibility of building and strengthening trust', CII has explored trust-building practices among leading companies and prescribes a roadmap to help businesses enhance trust in line with global trends. The roadmap is based on 15 action points.

One, establish a clearly defined corporate purpose grounded in ethics, sustainability and long-term value creation. This must reflect both the organisation's vision and stakeholder aspirations. It should act as a reference point for strategic decisions, fostering alignment, accountability, and transparency across the enterprise.

Two, develop a robust risk and crisis management framework. Indian businesses must identify areas of vulnerability—whether geopolitical, financial, operational, or technological—and implement risk mitigation plans. Companies can reinforce stakeholders' confidence by demonstrating preparedness and responsiveness during crises.