Rajkumar Dhoot is new ASSOCHAM president

New Delhi, Feb 21 (IBNS) Rajkumar Dhoot, member of Parliament and managing director of Videocon Industries, on Tuesday took over as president of The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).

Rana Kapoor, founder, managing director and chief executive officer of Yes Bank, will be the senior vice-president and Sunil Kanoria, vice-chairman of SREI Infrastructure Finance Limited, will be the vice-president.

Dhoot said ASSOCHAM established in 1920 will continue to play a leading transformational role nationally and globally.

"The lead chamber will empower Indian enterprises by focusing on the most critical and relevant issues in a highly impact-oriented manner."

Outgoing president Dilip Modi, managing director of Spice Mobility, said it was a memorable experience and a great learning curve to head the organisation representing four lakh members across the country.

Dhoot was first elected to Rajya Sabha in June 2002 and served the parliamentary standing committee on finance, consultative committees for the ministry of commerce and industry, and the ministry of urban development and poverty alleviation.

He has been consultative committee member for the ministry of finance and permanent special invitee at the consultative committee for the ministry of petroleum and natural gas.

In May 2008, Dhoot was re-elected to Rajya Sabha and is currently member of the committee on information technology.

Born on September 11, 1955 at Ahmednagar in Maharashtra, Dhoot is also involved in social work which includes promoting education, running a multi-speciality charitable hospital and constructing roads in Gangapur and Aurangabad.