‘When there is honesty in planning and doing things, accountability is met automatically’

Keshab Man Singh

Director General, NICCI

Keshab Man Singh, Director General of Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry, completed his MBA from Shanker Dev Campus and Master’s degree in Economics from Tribhuvan University. “In fact, we were the first batch to do MBA from Shanker Dev Campus,” he recalls. Singh started his career in 1984 as a Finance Officer in one of the leading private organisations of the country which dealt with automobiles, heavy equipment and forestry equipment. It was in 1996, he joined Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry as an Executive Manager. Ever since, he has been part of the chamber’s growth and development going on to become its Director General focused on all the strategic planning and decisions of the chamber. In this issue of Business 360, Singh tells us about the five things that have impacted his life and work. In his words…

My family, my inspiration

I have derived inspiration from a number of people. I cannot just name one person. My parents, uncle, aunt and sisters have always supported my growth and education uninterruptedly. Despite the many difficulties that we had been facing back then, they never deterred from their support. Later, my wife also supported me in all the decisions that I have taken. She has backed me whether times were good or bad. I believe my immense dedication towards studies irrespective of the challenges in the way have stood me in good stead. Besides people, I draw inspiration from other things in life too. For instance, the state of meeting a target or expectation of an individual or a group of people or organisation and being able to satisfy the majority of stakeholders also provides immense pleasure. And the fact that you have to meet those objectives also seems to inspire me to give my best and finish the task at hand within the given schedule. The best decisions of my life, I think, are to dedicate myself to my studies, my career, and getting married to my lovely wife.

Learning curve

After a year in my first job, I switched to my second career which was to a very vibrant organisation called Nepal Orind Magnesite, a three-billion-rupee joint venture project of the Government of Nepal with Orissa Industries Ltd of India. This was about 35 years back. The company aimed to produce and export dead burnt magnesite in three processes with the latest technology from Germany, USA and Japan. It was financed by Nepali banks, International Finance Corporation and Exim Bank of India and included ropeways from Kharidhunga, Dolakha, 2,700 metres above the factory site in Lamosangu, Sindhupalchowk for transportation of raw materials. There were over 300 employees in the company including civil, mechanical, mining engineers and geologists. It had developed beautiful colonies in the mining and factory sites and also owned one of the best quality raw magnesite of the world with a deposit for 300 years and high grade talc. The reason why I am talking about this is to give you a gist of all the activities that were carried out there. I got to learn so many things in that organisation, not only management aspects but also about mining and transportation. There was a team of professionals in Management and Finance from India and Nepal whom I will never be able to forget because they taught me all the intricacies of working in a professional culture. I was young back then so whatever they taught me was like going back to university again but the only difference this time was that I was learning while doing. Some names I will always cherish are YP Khattar, Executive Director; Divyendu Sinha, FCA; Madan Gopal Taneja, FCA; and Om Bahadur Chhetri. Not only were they my well-wishers but were also involved in transforming me from a young novice to a professional executive. Dinesh Raj Bhattarai, who was the MD then, was also very supportive of my growth and taught me many things. Not to forget an intimate friend, MN Sharma from the HR Department from whom I learnt the basics of how to handle people. I was later promoted to CFO and served in that organisation for 11 years till May 1996 in different capacities in the Finance Division. However, it is a misfortune for the country that it had to lose such a vibrant company at almost the final stage of construction and installation of plant and equipment. The company could have supported our economy immensely and provided direct employment to 400+ people and indirect jobs to thousands. However, during my work there I learnt perfection in performance, professionalism, organisation system, time bound action plans, regularity and punctuality from Khattar and the team. I was stationed in the head office in Kathmandu with frequent site visits. So, till today, I know how to set my daily priorities, whether it is official or personal, my days run as per my schedule. Because of this reason, I have been able to handle multiple portfolios very independently.

Growing with NICCI

In May 1996, I joined NICCI as an Executive Manager and started my work from literally zero level. At that time there was nothing substantial at NICCI. We, in fact, had only the registration certificate and a small fund of membership fees. However, I accepted that challenge and went about setting up the Secretariat initially on the premises of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Our office was located next to the Nepal office of CII (Confederation of Indian Industries) and I had the opportunity to work with GD Sharma, then Nepal Head of CII. After 14 months, we shifted the NICCI Secretariat to Teku and Heritage Plaza, Kamaladi and now I can proudly say that our secretariat is located in our own premises in Naxal for the last 18 years. People will get a clear picture of NICCI’s establishment days and its growth over the years when we publish a chronicle of our 30 glorious years in the near future. All the materials for the chronicle were collected during the Covid 19 lockdown and it is being finalised now. My journey with NICCI has been a very amicable and professional one from the time of our visionary founding President late Prabhakar Rana and six subsequent presidents namely late Rukma Shumsher Rana, Arun Kumar Chaudhary, Sanjiv Keshava, Sashi Raj Pandey, late Saurya Rana and now Shreejana Rana, as well as office bearers and friends at secretariats of FNCCI, CNI and NCC. I have also been able to develop my professional network through my liaison with related ministries, government departments, diplomatic missions, related associations, over 30 other binational chambers, among others, during the last 27 years. I am usually known as KM Singh rather than my full name in my fraternity which goes to show my longevity within the organisation. In between, I have also served as the first CEO of International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Nepal Chapter (National Committee) for 11 months.

Teamwork is essential

A leader is a person who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. Team work is understanding and coordination among team members with time and role management for achieving the target with knowledge of the ways about how to fulfil it. It is essential in every field of our family life, workplace, or government organisation. Perfect teamwork smoothens our assignments like wheels in a heavy suitcase which help make it easy to carry the burden. I think my work at NICCI, starting from zero to date with amicable dealings with everyone itself is a testimony. We recently released a coffee table book called ‘Religious & Spiritual Circuits – Nepal and India’ which was possible due to our teamwork within and beyond our organisation. We also opened NICCI’s second chapter recently in Birgunj and organised a mini bilateral Economic Partnership Summit in Birgunj co-hosted with PHD CCI of India. We are now finalising the third edition of the Investment Guide for Indian Investors 2023 and also the book on 30 glorious years of NICCI. Within these three decades we have organised about 175 events and we want to publish that Chronicle to acknowledge those who have been associated with NICCI from 1996 till date. We want to recall their contributions and association and show the path to the younger generation, to make them understand what NICCI is. We are also planning Nepal-India Partnership Summit 2023 as a flagship event in the very near future in Kathmandu. There are more than half a dozen events in the pipeline. Now all these would not have been possible without the dedication and devotion of each team member within and beyond our organisation. So, I always tell people that no matter what, always stick to your team.

Accountability

When there is honesty in planning and doing things, accountability is met automatically. I want to be remembered as a moral citizen of Nepal. READ ALSO:

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