Mrs. Lata R Kini is the recently elected President of the Kanara Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI). As the 49th President of KCCI, she happens to be the first women President to be at the helm of the Chambers, in its seven decades of existence. She is a post graduate in science with distinction and a gold medal to her credit from Mangalore University. Wife of businessman R D Kini, this vibrant, multi-faceted woman is also an immensely capable entrepreneur. She is the managing partner at Bell Paints, Pilot Paints and Magnet Coating, one of the foremost conglomerates of trading and small scale industries in Mangalore.
Lata was bestowed the Karnataka State Award in the Best Women Entrepreneur category for the year 1992-93, in obvious acknowledgment to her immense contribution to Industry and Commerce. In addition, she holds influential posts in various trade and commercial bodies. Lata also doubles up as the editor for KCCI’s Monthly Journal. She is also an active member of the Indian Paint Association. She also happens to be the ex- President of D.K. District Tiny Industries Association ® and former Secretary of the Women Entrepreneurs Association.
In a candid chat with Nina Rai, Lata talks with zeal about her new job and her vision for KCCI as also for women entrepreneurs in Dakshina Kanara district.
Congratulations, on being elected the first women president at KCCI recently.
What were your initial feelings on being unanimously elected President at KCCI? How has the first few days into the job been for you?
Thank you very much. It is indeed a feeling of great honor and deep privilege to be elected as the first woman President in the 71-year history of this esteemed organization namely the Kanara Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Mangalore.
What is your Plan of Action (POA) for the days and year ahead?
The role of the Chamber is to facilitate meetings, to reflect on the glorious past and make the necessary choices and changes in sync with the current situations. We have the opportunity to deliver the required goods by listening to our sources of wisdom and collectively make an effort to make a difference.
In this process, it is important that we are able to think unitedly; form a consensus and work as a team. This will be a reality only if I am able to delegate these matters effectively to the experts in the team and get the things done. This will be quite a challenge I feel. Also to strike a balance between my professional life; personal life and being the President of KCCI will be quite a challenge.
Being a woman entrepreneur yourself, what would your endeavor be towards promoting women entrepreneurs in DK district?
How do you propose to tackle the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) issue at Baikampady? What is the status of Market Sub Yard at Bunder and other connected matters?
In the recent High Court verdict, the ruling in the APMC issue has been upheld in favor of Bunder being a sub-yard with the main yard at Baikampady. This has brought relief to most of the traders. For now the issue has been resolved.
Can you tell readers about the forthcoming seminars, conclaves and events pertaining to SMEs in DK?
We are proposing to have a MSME meet in the next two months in a large scale and also a Business Summit in November in association with FKCCI, Bangalore with the intention to boost industries in the coastal region.
What would your advice be for entrepreneurs in Dakshina Kanara, how is the scenario ahead for them?
In this knowledge economy, there is no dearth for opportunities for people who are willing to work hard, adhere to the basics of business, find passion and gratification in the work you do (not of all of us are fortunate to be able to do the work we enjoy, hence find enjoyment in your work. This will make life much easier). With the service sector growing by leaps and bounds which is contributing 57% to the GDP as against 25% a couple of years back, there are opportunities galore.
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