Mr. Ramesh Abhishek has rich and diverse experience as public policy maker, regulator and administrator during his 37-year long career in Indian Administrative Service (IAS). He has a strong track record in governance at national and subnational level of designing as well as implementing public policy and large-scale reforms to promote business investment and growth.
Immediately before his retirement in July 2019, he served as Secretary and Administrative Head of the Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade (DPIIT) in India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry. In that position, he spearheaded key Government initiatives such as ‘Make in India’, ‘Start up India’, FDI Policy, Investment Promotion, Ease of Doing Business, Regulatory Reforms, IPR policy & administration and setting up industrial corridors. These industrial corridors, in four greenfield sites, have attracted investment of US$2 billion.
During his tenure major reforms in FDI policy and procedures were done, investment facilitation was considerably strengthened and ease of doing business improved visibly. He presided over 100+ panel discussions, meetings of CEOs’ forums, investment promotion events and road shows, including many bilateral and multi-lateral meetings internationally. As Chairman of ‘Invest India’ he strengthened and nurtured the agency to facilitate over USD $20 billion of FDI and further created a pipeline of investments of over USD $135 billion. All these initiatives contributed to attracting a record US$ 205 billion in FDI into India during this period.
Mr Abhishek led India’s efforts to improve its rank in World Bank Doing Business Report. During his tenure, India recorded a 67-rank jump in 3 years (from 130 in 2016 to 63 in 2019) and became a ‘top performer’ in successive years, unprecedented for any large economy.
He spearheaded the ‘Start-up India’ initiative which led to registration of over 20,000 start-ups and launch of a Fund of Funds (INR100 bn) that supported over 45 venture funds. He facilitated resolution of over 30 regulatory/tax issues to ease burden of start-ups and venture funds and supported over 2,000 start-ups with faster processing of their patent applications and fee rebates. The program also successfully partnered with 8 countries, over 50 corporates and other stakeholders to strengthen the start-up ecosystem.
He promoted the innovation and intellectual property rights regime in India through roll out and implementation of the National IPR Policy 2016, ensuring elimination/ reduction in pendency in examination and grant of patents, trademarks, designs and copyrights. He was also instrumental in the successful launch of the Global Innovation Index 2019 in India with World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
In prior IAS positions, Mr Abhishek headed the Forward Markets Commission that regulated the commodity futures market in India. He also served in the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, where he also set up a new administration in a minority-dominated area and undertook major development initiatives there.
Mr Abhishek currently serves on the Global Board of United States India Business Council (USIBC) and on the Board of Directors of a listed company ‘Cyient’.
Mr. Abhishek holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School, where he was also a Mason Fellow. He also holds Master’s degrees in Business Administration and International Relations.