Sunil Bharti Mittal, founder-chairman of Bharti Enterprises, has been elected Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), taking over from Terry McGraw, Chairman Emeritus of S&P Global, who has now become ICC's honorary chairman.
Mittal has become the third Indian head of the world business organisation in its nearly 100 years history. "At a time when the global economy is facing unprecedented challenges, I am committed to ensuring ICC plays a central role as the voice of business in shaping policies to support inclusive growth," Mittal said, who has served on the Prime Minister of India's Council on Trade and Industry.
He said that there is an urgent need to restore trade and investment as a driver of growth and jobs, particularly in developing economies affected by the slowdown in raw materials and agricultural commodities markets. "This will be a central focus for my tenure as chairman of the world business organization."
Bharti Enterprises has interests in telecom, insurance, real estate, hospitality, agri and food, besides other ventures. Bharti Airtel, the group's flagship company, is world's third largest telecommunications company with more than 350 million customers across India, South Asia and Africa. John Denton, Partner and CEO of Corrs Chambers Westgarth, has been elected as the organisation's first vice-chair.
Mittal serves on many international bodies and think-tanks. He is currently the Chair of the World Economic Forums (WEF) Telecommunications Steering Committee, Member: International Business Council-WEF, GSMA Board, Telecom Board of International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Commissioner of the Broadband Commission, International Advisory Panel of the Monetary Authority of Singapore and Prime Minister of Singapore’s Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council. He is also a Trustee of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and on the Board of Qatar Foundation Endowment.
Founded in 1919, ICC is the world’s largest business organization which represents private-sector views to national governments and intergovernmental bodies around the world. It advocates for free trade and the market economy, working through a network of national committees and direct members in over 130 countries.
ICC was awarded the highest level consultative status with the United Nations (UN) in 1946, and since then has represented the private sector by engaging in a broad range of activities with the UN and its specialized agencies.
