New Delhi, Dec 14: Sunil Mittal, chairman and managing director of telecom major Bharti tele-ventures was today presented "Businessman of the Year" award for his contribution to the telecom industry. The award presented by Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani recognises Mittal for his accent on competitive pricing which had enabled lowering of communications costs in all the arenas, he has entered.
Speaking on the occasion, Advani said India had provided itself in the field of information technology (IT) and communications and also expressed hope that India would be a developed country by year 2020.
"Government, public and entrepreneurs should work together in this regard and I hope India can be a developed country by 2020," he said.
Mittal said "this is one award which every businessman aspires to be a recepient of. I am therefore extremely grateful for the honour bestowed on me."
The award has been instituted by the Business India group.
Mittal was selected by an eminent panel of captains of Indian business and industry which included Anji Reddy, chairman of Dr Reddy's laboratories, Analjit Singh chairman of Max India and Hemendra Kothari, chairman of DSP Merill Lynch amongst others.
The panel noted that in 2002, Mittal presided over one of the biggest telecom roll-outs ever by a private company and Bharti also became the first private national long distance operator in the country. Bureau Report