By TIOL News Service

KOCHI, NOV 23, 2017: THE Vice President of India, Mr M. Venkaiah Naidu, has said every reform must have a human face and the fruits of the reforms must reach the poorest sections of the society. He was addressing the gathering after inaugurating 160th Year Celebrations of Kochi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, in Kochi, Kerala yesterday. The Governor of Kerala, Mr P. Sathasivam, the Minister for Local Self-Governments, Welfare of Minorities, Wakf and Haj, Kerala, Dr. K.T. Jaleel, the Mayor of Kochi, Smt. Soumini Jain and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
 
The Vice President said that the Chambers of Commerce play in the economic development of the country. He further said that they play a formulating role in advising the governments in enacting legislations and regulations that promote ease of doing business rather than act as strangulations. They also have a responsibility in promoting ethical corporate governance, tax compliance and corporate social responsibility among its members, he added.
 
The Vice President urged the corporate sector not to get confined to what has been stipulated by the statute and go beyond it in taking up CSR initiatives. He further said that the Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry must play a pro-active role in this regard he added. As a result of the economic reforms initiated and implemented by successive governments, India has emerged as one of the fastest growing economies in the world today, he added.
 
The Vice President said that known as God's Own Country, Kerala is one of the most beautiful destinations and also one of India's most progressive States in terms of social welfare and quality of life.