IMA Insights

The global hierarchy is undergoing a great reshuffling due to a variety of geopolitical factors. While great power rivalries play out in different theatres, India's unique position and novel approach to foreign policy can be powerful tools to advance its national interests. 
At a recent joint session of the India CEO and CFO Forums in Pune, Harsh Pant, Professor of International Relations at King’s College London and Vice President – Studies and Foreign Policy at Observer Research Foundation, articulated how geopolitical trends are likely to shape up in 2023, and their likely impact on India’s business environment. This podcast summarises the discussion. 

In a socially networked world, people remember and are loyal to brands that are linked with a ‘cause’. A recent report on Gen-Zs by advertising-and-PR-firm Havas Group reveals that 70% of young Indians prefer to buy from brands that align with their environmental/social ideology. The pay-off from Cause-Based Marketing (CBM) – campaigns built around social causes but with a subtle, revenue-driving objective – is potentially huge. This podcast discusses how companies can align themselves with social causes, and provides some do’s and don’ts. 

One reason that multilateral institutions like the WTO have seen their effectiveness and credibility wither away in recent years, is their unwieldy size and mandate. There are simply too many interest groups and competing objectives too reconcile. The G20 on the other hand is a rare example of a multi-country grouping that is reasonably large but still manages to get things done.

 This year’s G20 Leadership Summit will be hosted in New Delhi under the Chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It will be an important occasion not just to showcase the India economic opportunity but to influence global thinking on a variety of relevant issues. This podcast offers Adit Jain's perspective on the issue

Covid-19 has changed the basic handbook of risk management, and the current global volatility is altering this further. In the years ahead, safeguarding the business will mean making informed choices around risk management.
At a recent India CFO Forum session in Mumbai, Nitin Sethi, CEO of Aon India and South Asia and Jon Pipe, CEO of Aon India Insurance Brokers, provided an insurance-industry perspective on the shifting-risk management paradigm, followed by an open-house discussion among CFOs from various sectors, who shared insights on the major risks they face and the processes they follow to mitigate these. This podcast summarises the discussion. 

More than just a profit-or revenue-generating engine, the modern corporation is expected to be a sustainable organisation. Since the pandemic began, ESG investing has scaled new heights and regulators have sharpened their focus on the issue. However, the reasons for adopting ESG compliance go beyond regulatory compliance or the need for ‘looking good’. Proactively becoming ESG-compliant can enhance a company’s image, improve its access to capital and support growth. Developing an ESG strategy is hard owing to the sheer number of factors that need to be considered, but operationalising it is even harder.
At a recent India CFO Forum session, Helen Brand, Chief Executive of ACCA and Anirban Ghosh, Chief Sustainability Officer, Mahindra Group, outlined the shifting ESG landscape and shared a practitioner’s perspective on driving ESG initiatives to achieve successful outcomes. This podcast summarises the discussion

In the immediate aftermath of China’s abandonment of zero-Covid, there has been much debate and speculation around the number of people who have been infected, or will be in the weeks to come, and the Chinese Government’s attempt to obfuscate figures. While this is no doubt appetising fodder for the social media, it is not the most relevant issue. China’s re-opening will unleash economic disruption on a global scale which has the potential to generate social and political ripples through the rest of the world. This podcast presents Adit Jain's opinion.

ESG is a hot-button issue for most companies, especially large, listed ones. However, as ESG regulation starts to tighten in India and abroad, it will increasingly affect businesses of all shapes and sizes. 
At a recent India CFO Forum Session in Chennai, Bose Varghese, Senior Director, ESG Practice at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, examined trends in the Indian ESG regulatory landscape vis-à-vis other countries, delved into some of the challenges around ESG reporting, including SEBI’s new BRSR framework, and offered guidance on how companies can effectively navigate this complicated environment. This podcast summarises the discussion. 

High shipping rates will add to already-high inflation in 2022. This podcast looks at the factors impacting freight prices, and provides a forward view covering the medium term. 

IMA’s Q3FY23 (Oct-Dec) quarterly Business Confidence and Performance Index (BCPI) survey reveals a continued fall in business optimism. At 57, the headline index dropped by 4 points from Q2. (On each parameter, numbers above 50 indicate net optimism while those below 50 suggest net pessimism.) Out of the three broad factors driving the index, companies are most bothered about the macroeconomic outlook. In comparison, business performance has edged down mildly while Capex intent, though lower than three months ago, remains robust at ~60.
At a joint webinar of CEO-CFO-CMO-CHRO Forums, we presented the findings of our quarterly Business Confidence and Performance Index (BCPI) survey, including sector-specific results. The session was then opened to the members for an open-house discussion about the state of their business and their outlook. This podcast summarises the discussion.