The Chamber’s eight Industry-sector leadership forums (a few more to be launched soon) drive our strategic initiatives, advocacy work and membership engagement in priority sectors identified in the India Economic Strategy and the Australia Economic Strategy. Together with our five Chapters across India, they offer an unparalleled opportunity for members to connect with Government, companies, academia and industry peers to learn and grow their business.
As part of its strategic vision to offer more value to members, the Chamber runs Industry-sector leadership forums in priority sectors, comprising of members from both India & Australia.
The ‘F&B and Agribusiness’ leadership forum provides a platform for members to have access to sector-specific information, focused networking and interaction with Industry-experts, a channel to facilitate business partnerships/outcomes and a platform to define key advocacy issues.
This forum includes companies in the following sectors/industries: AgriTech, Food Processing, Food packaging, Horticulture etc.
Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical engineering from Mysore University and a Post-Graduate in Foreign Trade from The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi.
In 1987 joined Kudremukh Iron Ore Company (India’s First 100% EOU) Company as a Graduate engineer trainee and worked as a maintenance engineer in the Mines. Later in 1992, moved to the Export department as Deputy Manager and was one of the key members of the team that developed exports to Chinese steel plants.
In the year 2000, moved to GEA Energy Systems in Chennai as Deputy General Manager (Exports) and was instrumental in developing the export market for the Air-cooled heat exchangers.
In 2006 Joined to Heat and Control (South Asia) in Chennai as Country Manager for India and South Asia. From a small organization having about 10 Employees and a turnover of 4 Million AUD in 2006 today Heat and Control has about 450 employees and has a sales turnover of AUD $ 50 Million.
Heat and Control (South Asia) in 2011 acquired M/s Flavorite technologies a leading supplier of Economical Food Processing equipment in India and today Heat and Control is also able to provide solutions for the small and medium size players in the food processing industry looking for economical equipment
Heat and Control invested a sum of Rs. 125 Crores and set up the largest manufacturing facility of Heat and Control worldwide in Mahindra World City, Chennai and today is one of the leading suppliers of Food processing and packaging machinery in India and exports equipment to more than 20 countries worldwide
Currently is a director of Indo- Australian Chamber of Commerce and the 1st Vice chairman of Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, Tamil Nadu Branch.
Mr. T.R. Kesavan
Group President (Corporate Relations and Alliances)
Tractors and Farm Equipment (TAFE), Limited, Chennai
Thekkepat Raman Kesavan – “TR Kesavan” or “K7” as he is better known, is an Engineering and Management professional with 50 years of national and international experience in both functional and management areas. His domain expertise covers agriculture, construction and mining, oil tools and material handling. He actively participates and continues as the governing council member of industrial and government associations.
Speaker and mentor in national and international fora, Kesavan has a track record of 30 years in areas of agriculture productivity and management, government industry interface and public private partnership. He has made several presentations and addressed professional gatherings across the globe. Kesavan is also an external faculty for leading management schools.
Kesavan has worked closely with Clinton Foundation focusing on Africa and works closely with USIBC on the Agri-cooperation policy making. He also held the helm as the President of Indian Tractor and Mechanisation Association (TMA) over an extended period of five years. He was also the Technical Chair of TMA earlier.
Kesavan also had a distinguished academic career winning the Banko Award and Gold medal in his graduate studies in Engineering from the University of Madras and went on to be the first in the university and gold medalist in his management studies at the University of Bombay. He completed the sandwich course of University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Kesavan likes to spend his spare time mentoring students. He is additionally a prolific speaker and teacher in management and marketing and lectures at leading academic and training institutions. A master of Reiki healing, he also dabbles in spirituality, painting, writing and carpentry and is an avid reader. Happily married, the Kesavans have two grown up sons settled in Melbourne Australia.
I have been a complete outdoor person, playing various sports, representing my school and college.
The only difference now is, the interest lies in watching against actually playing them.
Director of TAFE Motors & Tractors Limited, TAFE Access Limited, TAFE Reach Limited and the Group President (Corporate Relations & Alliances) - TAFE Limited, the world’s third largest tractor manufacturer and India’s largest exporter of tractors, with a large portfolio of agricultural products and equipment consisting of MF, IMT, TAFE and Eicher brand of tractors, agricultural implements & equipment, and engines in both Indian and Overseas markets. He represents TAFE in various domestic and overseas industry bodies and government committees.
Member of the B20 India Task Force on Inclusive GVCs for Resilient Global Trade and Investment.
Chairman, Expert Committee on Agriculture, West Bengal
Chairman, Vision Group on Agriculture, Department of Industries & Commerce, Karnataka
Governing Council Member of the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)
President of Madras Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI)
Chairman of National committee on Agriculture, FICCI
Co-Chairman of Africa Regional Council, FICCI
Executive Council Member and Co Chairman of 'F&B and Agribusiness' Leadership Forum, Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce
Convener – Special initiatives under Food, Agriculture and Retail committee, USIBC
CO-CHAIRS
Mr. Manoj Paul
Director and General Manger (India and South Asia), Heat and Control (South Asia) Pvt Ltd
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Mr. T. R. Kesavan
Group President (Corporate Relations & Alliances), Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited
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