Ratan Tata is 'Businessman of the Decade'

The Federation of Indo-Israeli Chambers of Commerce (FIICC) on Friday honoured Ratan Tata, bestowing the 'Businessman of the Decade' honour on the Tata Group chairman.

Chief guest and governor of Maharashtra K Sankarnarayanan, while conferring him with the `Businessman of the Decade' honour on behalf of the chambers, said "Ratan Tata is the personification of honesty, integrity and inspiring leadership.

He said the Ratan Tata and the group always put the nation above everything and upheld ethics and trusteeship in businesses. The group also touched the life of every Indian in some way, he added.

"The Tatas freshen our mornings with their tea, they bring taste to our food with their salt. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the Tata Group touches the life of every Indian in one way or the other," the governor said.

Others who spoke on the occasion included Israeli ambassador Mark Sofer, Israeli consul-general in Mumbai Orna Sagiv, tennis ace Leander Paes, Archbishop of Mumbai Cardinal Oswald Gracias and federation president Gul Kripalani.

Ratan Tata said he saw tremendous potential for cooperation between India and Israel, especially in the fields of agriculture and high technology.

Ratan Tata, 72, who heads the $71-billion conglomerate, is set to retire in December 2012 when he turns 75, and speculation over his successor is rife with names like Ratan Tata's half brother Noel Tata, former Vodafone chief Arun Sarin, PepsiCo chief Indra Nooyi, and the chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India Nandan Nilekani.

Ratan Tata, however, refused to comment on the succession plan at the ceremony.