ASSOCHAM Hosts Inaugural Growth Driven Family Business Conclave & Excellence Awards 2026 in Kolkata

Kolkata, June 24, 2026: The first edition of the Growth Driven Family Business Conclave – Honouring Legacy & Empowering NextGen Leadership, along with the ASSOCHAM Excellence Awards 2026, was successfully organized by the Eastern Region of ASSOCHAM at Taj Vivanta Kolkata.

The day-long conclave brought together business leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers and industry experts to discuss the future of family-run enterprises, focusing on succession planning, governance, innovation and sustainable growth.

Distinguished Dignitaries in Attendance

The event was attended by several prominent personalities, including West Bengal Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta and Padma Shri awardee Narayan Chakraborty, along with senior ASSOCHAM office-bearers, leading industrialists, corporate executives and representatives from business organizations across Eastern India.

The inaugural session commenced with a welcome address by Akhilesh Jain. The keynote address was delivered by Sanjiv Puri, while special remarks were presented by Sudipta Mukherjee.

Celebrating Business Excellence

One of the major highlights of the conclave was the presentation of the ASSOCHAM Excellence Awards 2026, which recognized outstanding individuals and organizations for their achievements in business leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship and future-ready growth initiatives.

The awards honored contributions across diverse sectors, acknowledging excellence and transformative leadership in India’s evolving business landscape.

Focus on Next-Generation Leadership

A key objective of the conclave was to facilitate dialogue between established family business leaders and the next generation of entrepreneurs.

The first panel discussion, titled “Passing the Torch Right: Succession, Governance & the Rise of NextGen Leaders,” explored strategies for effective leadership transition, corporate governance and long-term business sustainability. Industry veterans and corporate experts shared insights on building resilient enterprises capable of adapting to changing market dynamics.

Women Driving Family Business Transformation

The second panel discussion, “Powering Progress: Women Shaping the Future of Family Enterprises,” highlighted the growing role of women in leadership positions within family-owned businesses.

Panelists discussed the increasing influence of women in strategic decision-making, innovation, organizational transformation and business expansion, emphasizing their contribution to shaping the future of Indian family enterprises.

Building the Future of Family Businesses

The conclave witnessed enthusiastic participation from representatives of leading industries and business establishments from West Bengal and across Eastern India. Discussions centered on governance, innovation, succession planning, leadership development and collaborative growth opportunities.

Organizers stated that the event successfully created a valuable platform for networking, knowledge sharing and policy dialogue, while helping to strengthen the leadership ecosystem for India’s family-run businesses.

The programme concluded with a networking lunch, enabling participants to build professional relationships and explore future collaborations. The successful inaugural edition has set the stage for the conclave to become a significant annual platform for family business leadership and enterprise development in India.