Rajesh Kumar

Senior institutional leader with 33+ years of progressive experience in business development, strategic partnerships, international ecosystem building and government engagement. Currently serving as Head – Centre for MSME at IICA (Ministry of Corporate Affairs), with additional responsibility as Head – Institutional Partnerships & Corporate Communication (2019–22) and Chief Administrative Officer (2020–24). Proven track record in building bilateral partnership frameworks (GIZ and ZDH-SEQUA, BRICS, Commonwealth), leading large-scale BD programs serving 100,000+ enterprises, formulating national policy frameworks, and representing India at international forums.

Contributed to the Delivery of national digital governance platforms (Corporate Data Management, Independent Directors Databank) under Ministry of Corporate Affairs — directly relevant to the Digital Public Infrastructure ecosystem.

Head – Centre for MSME | Head – IP&CC | Chief Administrative Officer - Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), Ministry of Corporate Affairs, GoI

(2014-04)

• Led IICA's institutional partnership function as Head – IP&CC (2019–22): executed MOUs, bilateral agreements and collaborative frameworks with 20+ national and international organizations
• Built and managed ecosystem partnerships spanning GIZ (Germany), ZDH/SEQUA, IGEP Foundation, SIDBI, QCI, NSE SME Platform, BSE SME Platform, IL&FS Clusters, DC-Handlooms, DC-MSME, and leading chambers (CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM, PHD Chamber)
• Structured and led IICA–GIZ Business Responsibility Initiative as Prime Consultant & Lead Partner — bilateral India–Germany program embedding sustainability principles into MSME cluster policy
• Served as institutional ambassador and spokesperson at national and international forums, representing IICA before government bodies, multilateral agencies (Commonwealth) and industry associations
• Grew IICA Centre for MSME from inception as one of IICA's six strategic verticals — designed governance structures, BD strategy and institutional outreach
• Served as Nodal Officer for India's Corporate Data Management (CDM) Project — a national digital governance platform under MCA / Companies Act 2013, equivalent in architecture and impact to Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI)
• Operationalized the Independent Directors Databank (IDDB) under MCA — a national registry platform enabling regulatory transparency across India's corporate ecosystem
• Designed and delivered executive capacity-building programs on AI in SCM, fintech, data analytics and corporate intelligence for Central Government officers and PSUs under CDM
• Certified: Generative AI in Business & Leadership (GSDC, 2025); IGOT AI learning pathway (2026); IIM Calcutta programs in FinTech, Corporate Intelligence, Digital Money & Corporate Governance
• Led Indian delegations to BRICS International Youth Forum, Global MSME Summits and Global Trade & Supply Chain Sustainability Dialogues 2024
• Represented India under India–Germany bilateral MSME development cooperation (GIZ / ZDH-SEQUA) — coordinated joint programs, delegation visits and cross-country MSME knowledge exchanges
• Engaged with Commonwealth India Small Business Programme, and WASME as institutional representative
• Published in Emerald Publishing (2021) — Outstanding Author Award for 'Corporate Social Responsibility in MSMEs in India'; contributed to international trade journals including World Trade Center's "On Trade"
• Featured expert guest on Fitsol Climate Podcast ('2° Talks') and Sarkarnama CEO Talks on MSME ecosystem and sustainable industrial transition
• Designed 100+ capacity-building programs for senior executives from CPSEs, Central Ministries, banking institutions, and state governments — training 12,000+ professionals nationally
• Led National CSR Awards Secretariat (2nd & 3rd Cycles) for Ministry of Corporate Affairs — full program governance, Grand Jury coordination, ministerial approvals and award ceremonies
• Delivered programs for JNPT, NDDB, IPRCL, J&K Bank, Punjab & Sindh Bank, RBI-Bank Note Mudra, Ministry of Defence — covering governance, SCM, fintech and enterprise competitiveness
• Designed Innovation Ecosystem program under German Bilateral Development Cooperation (MSME INNO) — fostering MSME-level product and process innovation
• Co-formulated the Government of India Procurement Preference Policy (25% mandate from MSEs to Central Ministries and CPSUs) — sustained Ministry-level policy engagement with structural MSME sector impact
• Served as First Appellate Authority under RTI Act 2005; liaised with regulatory bodies including SIDBI, NSE/BSE SME Platforms, QCI, DC-MSME on program implementation and compliance
• Supervised national MSME Mapping Study ('Energy, Environment and Social Issues among MSME Clusters in India') as Knowledge Partner — delivered cluster-level green transition recommendations under MCA
• Contributed to preparation of mid-term evaluation proposals for 195 Cluster Development Projects under North Eastern Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS)
• Full accountability for administration, finance, HR, campus management, procurement, legal, RTI compliance and statutory reporting of a GoI autonomous body
• Represented IICA in Audit Committee and Board of Governance meetings; chaired Internal Monitoring Committee (IMC) and Tender Evaluation Committee (TEC) for all projects and tenders
• Appointed Sole Arbitrator under Arbitration & Conciliation Act 1996 — adjudicated commercial disputes between NSIC and private business units at CMD's nomination

Deputy General Manager — BD, Marketing, Govt. Procurement & Exhibitions - National Small Industries Corporation Ltd. (NSIC), Ministry of MSME, GoI (Mini Ratna CPSE, Turnover ₹13,000+ Cr)

(2006-06 - 2014-04)

• Led India's largest MSME market linkage programme — connected 100,000+ registered MSME manufacturers and suppliers with Central Ministries, CPSUs and international buyers
• Built institutional BD partnerships with NALCO, IOC, Hindustan Zinc, Hindustan Copper, bulk steel manufacturers — structured raw material distribution frameworks and consortium arrangements
• Managed national exhibitions and vendor development meets (domestic and international) under the Marketing Assistance Scheme
• Administered large centrally sponsored schemes: Rajiv Gandhi Udyami Mitra Yojana (RGUMY), Performance & Credit Rating Scheme (PCRS), Single Point Registration Scheme (SPRS), Marketing Assistance Scheme
• Formulated proposals, work plans, activity plans and business development strategies for GoI schemes on a pan-India basis; monitored targets and administered government grants
• Oversaw credit facilitation, bank guarantee portfolios, working capital support and structured exposure monitoring for MSME clients
• Led anti-dumping investigation on newsprint imports (USA, Canada, Russia) in collaboration with Indian Newsprint Manufacturers Association (INMA) — WTO trade remedy engagement

Deputy Commercial Manager — Head, Commercial Department - Hindustan Insecticides Limited (HIL), Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers | NEPA Limited, Ministry of Heavy Industry

(1991-09 - 2006-06)

• Headed Commercial Department at HIL: full accountability for procurement, vendor development, logistics, supply chain management, warehousing and inventory control
• At NEPA Limited: managed international procurement from USA, Europe, Australia and Middle East (~200 containers/month; ~₹25–30 Cr p.a.); handled L/Cs, customs clearances, shipment documentation and EXIM compliance
• Conducted anti-dumping investigation (newsprint imports) in collaboration with INMA; led regional marketing operations across East, South and Central India

Master of Commerce (M.Com) - International Business Operations - IGNOU, New Delhi

Two-Year Master Diploma in Foreign Trade (MBA-equivalent) - Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies (SIMS), Pune

Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing & Sales Management (PGDMSM) - Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, New Delhi