Mumbai: The 18th edition of the Dhanam Business Summit & Award Nite (D-Day), organised by Dhanam Business Media in Kochi on June 25, brought together industrialists, entrepreneurs, policymakers and business leaders for an evening dedicated to leadership, innovation and entrepreneurial excellence.
Held under the theme ‘Purpose-driven Leadership for a Better World’, the summit drew more than 1,000 delegates from India and overseas, reinforcing its position as one of Kerala’s most influential business gatherings.
The defining moment of the evening belonged to infrastructure visionary and ‘Metro Man’ E. Sreedharan, who at 94 presented an ambitious proposal for a 472-km high-speed railway corridor connecting Kerala’s four international airports — envisioned as the world’s first fully solar-powered railway system.
Reflecting the spirit of innovation and long-term thinking that shaped the event, Sreedharan was honoured with the Dhanam Lifetime Achievement Award 2026, presented by Kerala Higher Education Minister Roji M. John.
Recognising Business Excellence
The summit honoured individuals and organisations that have contributed significantly to business growth and economic development.
The Dhanam Businessman of the Year 2026 award was presented to Mithun Chittilappilly, Managing Director, V-Guard Industries, recognising his role in transforming V-Guard from a regional electrical products company into a diversified national consumer appliances brand.
The Dhanam SME of the Year 2026 award went to Ajmi Foods, acknowledging its evolution from a rice flour business established in Kottayam in 1994 into a global food brand exporting to over 30 countries. The award was received by Rashid K., Director (Finance), Ajmi Foods.
The Dhanam Business Professional of the Year 2026 title was awarded to Ramesh Nair, Country Managing Director, Aptiv Connection Systems India, under whose leadership the company expanded fivefold and strengthened its position in advanced automotive safety systems and India’s electric mobility ecosystem.
Shalini James, Founder and Lead Designer of Manthra, received the Dhanam Woman Entrepreneur of the Year 2026 award for building one of Kerala’s leading ethnic fashion brands through design innovation and customer-centric growth.
The Dhanam Startup of the Year 2026 award was conferred on EyeROV Technologies, the Kochi-based marine robotics and AI company recognised for its advanced underwater robotic solutions for exploration, inspection and research.
Conversations on Leadership, Investment and Growth
The summit featured multiple sessions designed to explore the future of business leadership and value creation.
During a fireside chat, investor Siddharth Balachandran reflected on his investment philosophy and wealth-building journey. He spoke about the role of disciplined balance sheet analysis and periodic market “detoxes” in protecting capital during the 2008 financial crisis.
Balachandran also discussed his long-term investment strategy, including his investments in unlisted Bombay Stock Exchange shares between 2009 and 2014, and reaffirmed his commitment to philanthropy, announcing plans to dedicate half his wealth towards environmental and wildlife conservation.
The session was moderated by Vivek Krishna Govind, Senior Partner at Kochi-based accounting firm Varma & Varma.
A key highlight of the event was a masterclass on ‘Using Artificial Intelligence to Grow Your Business’ delivered by Dr Ankur Narang, CEO of DeepCorex.
Shahad Bangla, Managing Director of Eallisto Energies, addressed delegates on ‘Building Competitive Advantage Through Smarter Energy Decisions’.
Another panel discussion on ‘The Next Level of Growth: Building Businesses That Create Lasting Impact’ explored family business succession and sustainable growth. The discussion featured George M. George of Muthoot Finance, Firoz Meeran of Group Meeran, and Sabu Johnny of EVM Group, and was moderated by Vinodini Sukumar, President of the Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
With discussions ranging from infrastructure and entrepreneurship to AI and succession planning, the 18th Dhanam Business Summit reaffirmed its role as a platform shaping Kerala’s business conversations and recognising those driving long-term impact.
