G B Pant Agriculture University confers doctorate to YES BANK CEO

Mr. Rana Kapoor, Founder, Managing Director & CEO, YES BANK has been conferred a “Doctorate in Science (Honoris Causa)” at the 27th Convocation of G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology that was held on May 20, 2011 at Pant Nagar.

The degree was awarded by H.E. Governor of Uttarakhand Smt. Margaret Alva. The Guest of Honour was Dr. S. Ayyappan, Secretary DARE, Government of India and Director General Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR).

G.B. Pant University is one of the foremost institutions in the country for agricultural education and research, and Mr. Rana Kapoor was bestowed upon this honour for his significant contribution to the Food & Agribusiness sector in India, through innovative banking for farmers and agribusiness entrepreneurs through a Knowledge driven approach. He has been instrumental in promoting agri-eco tourism (including forestry tourism in Uttarakhand) in collaboration with European countries with technical assistance from scientists of the GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar.

Other noteworthy personalities who have been conferred with this Doctorate include Dr. Manmohan Singh, Honorable Prime Minister of India, Ratan Tata, Chairman, Tata Group, Sunil Bharti Mittal, Founder, Chairman and Group CEO of Bharti Enterprises, KP Singh, Chairman & CEO, DLF Ltd, Late Norman Borlaug, Nobel Laureate and ‘Father of Green Revolution’, Islam A Siddiqui, Chief Agricultural Negotiator of USA and Dr. Robert S Zeigler, Director General of IRRI, Manila, Philippines among others.

Speaking on this momentous occasion, Mr. Rana Kapoor, Founder, Managing Director & CEO, YES BANK said, “It’s an honour to receive this prestigious Doctorate from such a reputed INDIAN university for my ongoing contribution to the Indian Agriculture sector. I firmly believe that these pioneering developmental initiatives will play a catalytic role in the Inclusive Growth and Development of a TRANSFORMATIONAL INDIA. It is essential to address the gaps between the policy formulators, the investors, banking community and the farmers, as we aspire to truly evolve as the Food Basket & Food factory for the domestic and Global economies, and strengthen Food Security in our country.”

Under the leadership of Mr. Rana Kapoor, YES BANK has also been driving efforts for development of Agri-Infrastructure on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode. YES BANK has been actively associating as Knowledge Partners with various industry forums, trade bodies, summits and Chambers of Commerce such as CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM and ICC, over the past several years. The Bank has been instrumental in planning and implementing Agro Food Parks, which is a unique transition of Indian Agriculture and Food Processing Industry to an organized, high-tech and safe, demand-led, and high-value orientation with considerable employment generation.

YES BANK has also been a pioneer in conceptualizing Modern Terminal Markets (MTM) in association with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Government of India, which is a path breaking initiative envisaged a shortening the supply chain of perishables, and enhancing their efficiency resulting in increased income to the farmers.

Earlier, in March 2011, Mr. Rana Kapoor received the ‘Entrepreneurial Banker of the Decade 2001 - 2010’ award from Bombay Management Association (BMA). Mr. Kapoor was recently appointed as the Chairman of the FICCI Maharashtra State Council. He is a Member of the Government of India’s Board of Trade. Mr. Kapoor is also a Member of the Board of Governors of the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), established by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India.