Bangalore, Dec 27: Bank Economists' Conference (BECON), the most important event in Indian banking, gets underway from today. All commercial banks - public and private sector, foreign, old and new generation - would be represented in the two-and-a-half day event, K Cherian Varghese, chairman and managing director of corporation bank said.

The theme of the 24th BECON, organised jointly by Indian Banks Association (IBA) and corporation bank, is "Indian banking: managing transformation". "It refers to the shift from one set of conditions to another when all established parameters of the earlier era undergo radical change. To achieve the pre-set desirable outcome, the process of transformation has to be appropriately directed and managed", Varghese told reporters here. "This becomes a challenging task, which becomes more formidable when the transformation is swift and comprehensive, as has been the case with the present status of Indian banking."

The conference would be inaugurated by RBI Governor Bimal Jalan and the valedictory session would be presided over by its RBI deputy governor Rakesh Mohan. Others who would address the event include member of Planning Commission N K Singh, RBI deputy governors G P Muniappan and Vepa Kamesam, chairman of SBI A K Purwar and Central Vigilance Commissioner P Shankar.

Bureau Report