Pawan Goenka, new SIAM chief

Dr. Pawan Goenka, President, Automotive Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M), and Mr. S. Sandilya, Group Chairman & CEO, Eicher Group, were elected President and Vice-President of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), at its 49th annual session. Mr. H.S. Lheem, Managing Director, Hyundai Motors India, was chosen Treasurer.

Commenting on his new role, Dr. Goenka said: “I am honored to be appointed President of SIAM. Growth with responsibility will be the abiding theme for the Society’s work over the next two years. Our goal is to be a catalyst for the Indian automobile industry to be a preferred global manufacturing and design base which will contribute to India’s economic development”.

In order to achieve this mission, he said, SIAM would focus on four core areas over 2009-2011. It would work on enhancing the competitiveness of the Indian automotive industry through infrastructure development, trade policy recommendations and measures, and by encouraging more exports in component, CKD, SKD and CBU forms. It would actively interact with all stakeholders to promote development of a sustainable mobility eco-system with holistic development that provides mobility whilst minimizing congestion, emissions and mobility-related accidents.

Going forward, the Indian automobile industry needs to develop leadership in innovative technology to help it achieve global competitiveness, as well as to develop export-worthy products. SIAM will promote industry collaboration in India and overseas, championing industry-academia partnerships for futuristic technology solutions, providing a platform for incubating innovative ideas and advocating appropriate fiscal measures to encourage innovation.
SIAM would also take active steps to underscore the importance of the automotive industry for India’s overall development, Dr. Goenka added.