New Delhi, [India], October 7, 2024: The BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BRICS CCI), a key organization committed to advancing trade, commerce, and industrial collaboration among BRICS nations and their global partners, successfully hosted the GST Conclave and Awards 2024 today. This landmark event brought together a distinguished gathering of senior government officials, industry leaders, legal experts, and thought leaders to facilitate in-depth discussions on the evolution of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Guest, Mr. K.K. Jalan, IAS (Retd), Former Secretary to the Government of India, highlighted the positive impact of GST on India’s business landscape. He remarked, “GST implementation has been effective, simplifying business processes and creating a more streamlined environment for enterprises.”
The Conclave commenced with a Welcome Note from CA Nidhi Goyal, Managing Director, Avinav Consulting Pvt. Ltd. and President, Indirect Tax Vertical, BRICS CCI. Ms. Goyal said, “The implementation of GST has fundamentally reshaped India’s tax architecture, leading to more efficient revenue collection and reducing complexities for businesses. Beyond compliance, GST has served as a critical enabler of economic integration, not only within India but also in our trade relations with BRICS and non-BRICS nations.”
Dr. BBL Madhukar, Co-Chairman & Director General, BRICS CCI, delivered the Special Address highlighting, “Since its implementation, GST has unified India under a single tax framework, promoting transparency, efficiency, and ease of doing business. Importantly, it has opened avenues for global partnerships, particularly among BRICS+ nations, facilitating seamless cross-border ”
Mr. Sameep Shastri, Vice Chairman of BRICS CCI, commended the successful execution of the GST Conclave & Awards 2024 quoting, “This event marks a significant step forward in enhancing our understanding of GST’s impact on businesses across various sectors. It is crucial for us to engage with thought leaders, industry experts, and policymakers to ensure that GST continues to evolve in a way that supports India’s economic growth.”
The day’s first Keynote Address was delivered by Dr. Rajeev Ranjan, IAS (Retd), Former Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu and Former Special Secretary in the GST Council, on the theme “BRICS & GST: Driving Economic Integration.” Dr. Ranjan said, “GST has been an unqualified success. Coming from government services, I had the unique opportunity to witness these developments closely and was fortunate to have an inside view of the process. It truly felt like witnessing history in the making as far as GST is concerned.”
One of the notable highlights of the Conclave was the Keynote Address by Mr. Tirumala Venkatesh Kaggundi, Joint Director General of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, on the topic “BRICS Trade Integration: Unlocking Potential through Efficient Export-Import and Customs Systems.” Mr. Kaggundi highlighted, “GST has been a major reform, touching on process, system, structural, and policy changes- making its execution particularly complex yet impactful.”
The Conclave also featured Special Remarks by Mr. Sahil Seth, Joint Commissioner & OSD at the CBIC, Ministry of Finance, Government of India, who shared insights on the government’s initiatives to make GST more business-friendly and discussed how recent reforms are helping businesses navigate the complex tax landscape.
The Conclave featured a series of insightful panel discussions on key topics, including “GST – 7 Year Journey,” “GST Implications on Various Sectors,” “Departmental Audit, Adjudication & Assessment,” and “GST Way Forward.” The esteemed panelists included distinguished experts such as Shri K.J. Chaudhry, IRS (Retd), Former Chief Commissioner of GST, CA Ashok Batra, Senior Partner at A.K. Batra & Associates, and Mr. Shivam Mehta, Executive Partner at Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan. Also contributing were Adv. (CA) Prakash Sinha, Partner at Finjuris LLP, Adv. (CA) Bimal Jain, Founder of A2Z Taxcorp LLP, Mr. Jatin Harjai, Advocate and Founder of JHA Legal, CA Archana Jain, Founder of Archana Jain & Co., and CA Nidhi Goyal.
Further expertise was provided by Ms. Shreya Dahiya, Principal Associate at Kochhar & Co., CA Sarthak Garg, Partner at Garg Manoj & Associates, CA Sammir Chaudhary, Founder of Fintax Chanakya and Chaudhary Shah & Associates LLP, Adv. J.K. Mittal, a prominent lawyer at the Supreme Court and Delhi High Court, and Ms. Soumya Panda, Founding Partner of S.K. Panda & Associates.
The BRICS CCI GST Conclave & Awards 2024 also included a prestigious Felicitation of Industry Leaders, recognizing exceptional contributions in the field of GST. The awards ceremony honored individuals and firms across several categories, celebrating their excellence and commitment to the evolving GST landscape.
The awards presented were: GST Firm of the Year to Avinav Consulting Pvt. Ltd.; GST Team of the Year (Litigation) to Prakash Sachin & Co., GST Team of the Year (Consultancy) to Archana Jain & Co.; GST Rising Star of the Year (Individual Female) to Ms. Soumya Panda, Founding Partner, S.K. Panda & Associates; GST Rising Star of the Year (Individual Male) to Mr. Varun Singla, Partner – MKVS & Co.
These accolades underscore the outstanding achievements and the integral role played by these professionals and organizations in strengthening India’s tax ecosystem.
The Event was powered by Taxmann and Knowledge Partners- Avinav Consulting Pvt. Ltd., and Garg Manoj & Associates.
As the day concluded, the event highlighted the importance of continued collaboration and dialogue in shaping the tax landscape. The BRICS Chamber of Commerce & Industry remains dedicated to fostering such discussions, ensuring that the evolving GST regime continues to drive economic growth and integration across sectors.