Armed with a BA (Hons) in Economics from St Stephen’s College, Delhi University, and an MA from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Amitabh Kant is a Chevening Scholar. He has held various magnanimous roles – has worked as CMD, ITDC; Joint Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India; Secretary, Tourism, Government of Kerala; Managing Director, Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation; District Collector, Kozhikode; and Managing Director, Matsyafed.
While working in Kerala, he was involved in structuring the Calicut Airport as a private sector project, based on User’s Free; and developed the BSES Power project and Mattancherry Bridge under Private-Public Partnership (PPP). He also introduced fibreglass crafts and outboard motor technology in the fisheries sector and launched beach-level auctions that helped traditional fishermen enhance their income.
In his role as Secretary (Industries), Govt. of India, he spearheaded the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ initiative that ranked each of the states on the outcome of several parameters. He has also worked as Chairman of the Committee to implement digital payment in India.
Until May 2016, he was Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Government of India and was responsible for the formulation and implementation of industrial policy and strategies for industrial development, formulation of foreign direct investment (FDI) policy and promotion and facilitation of FDI, policies related to intellectual property rights (IPRs) in the fields of patents, trademarks, industrial design and geographical indications.
Kant has also held roles as the Chairman of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (DMICDC) and National Productivity Council. A member of the Indian Administrative Service, he has authored Incredible India 2.0, Branding India – An Incredible Story and has edited Path Ahead- Transformative Ideas for India. He has been a key driver of the ‘Incredible India’, ‘Make in India’ and ‘God’s Own Country’ campaigns as well.
He also conceptualised ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’, a campaign to train taxi drivers, guides, and immigration officials as part of his integrated stakeholder push for tourism development. As the National Project Director of the Rural Tourism Project of UNDP he has ensured that rural tourism got an impetus through their handicrafts, handloom, and culture.
All this work has earned him several well-deserved accolades, including the Economic Time Policy Change Agent of the Year Award, the Bloomberg TV Personality of the Year Award, the NDTV Administrator of the Year Award and the Distinguished Fellowship of the Institute of Directors. He has also been awarded the One Globe Award 2016 for leadership in Transforming Governance for the 21st Century and is the recipient of the Sir Edmund Hillary Fellowship award by the Prime Minister of New Zealand and the Golden Peacock Award for leadership in Economic Transformation – 2017.
