India is a fast emerging economic power and is likely to be the third largest world economy by 2030. In order to maintain the growth trajectory of the country, the Government of India has launched several flagship Programs including Smart Cities Mission, Make in India, Bharatmala, and others. In this socioeconomic context, PMA-India organized its Project Managers Global Summit 2018 (in New Delhi) on 25th and 26th September, with wide participation from the industry, the academia and government departments. The summit was also marked by PMA India’s 25th anniversary, dwelled on the significance of developing Project Management competences across all core industries, for them to be able to effectively contribute to the success of the above programs.

In his welcome address, Dr. A S Pillai, President of PMA-India stressed the need to cut the large delays in the current and future projects of government of India using proven methods and techniques of Project Management by all stakeholders, to control time and cost overrun and to achieve effective deliveries.

In his presidential address, Dr. Jesus Martinez Almela, IPMA President, spoke about International Project Management Association journey, since its inception to now – having representation from 71 member countries across the world, and how IPMA’s federal structure offered unique value benefits to its MAs. He highlighted the need for Project Management to be recognized as an independent discipline, with specific competences, while also emphasizing the significance of effective Program and Portfolio Management.

In his keynote speech on IPMA’s contribution to Smart Cities, Mr. Reinhard Wagner, Chairman of IPMA’s Council of Delegates, spoke about IPMA’s initiative in sharing success stories, challenges and best practices related to Smart Cities development in different nations, also through regular symposiums involving participation from across IPMA’s MAs. He also highlighted how IPMA’s MAs could derive value benefits through participation in IPMA’s Special Interest Group on Smart Cities.

The chief guest of the summit, Hon’ble Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Housing and Urban Affairs, Mr. Hardeep Singh Puri in his inaugural speech spoke mainly about the landmark projects and initiatives underway as part of the various flagship Urban Development Programs of the Government of India. While highlighting the diversity, scale, and complexity associated with these Programs he also spoke about the integrated approach being followed in their implementation, with regard to facilitating faster project deliveries.

Dr. G Satheesh Reddy, Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Mr. Anil Razdan, Fmr. Secretary Power, Govt. of India and Patron, PMA India made valuable observations during their special addresses.

Speakers from leading industries in defence, aerospace, petroleum, power, engineering, research, and academia, shared project successes, best practices, and challenges related to Project Management. The keynote streams included: Smart Cities, Make in India, Energy & Infrastructure and Industry Academia Interface. During the speeches and subsequent discussions, some key observations emerged:

• Core projects across various sectors are reporting significant time overruns, cost overruns, or both. These delays can impact economic growth. To control the delays it is essential that professionals managing these projects be competent in Project Management techniques and best practices.
• A common standard needs to be established for Project Management competence development, as one of the measures to address time and cost overruns facing core projects today.
• Project Management must be regarded as a separate competence, and the professionals managing Projects must be assessed independently for their competences in Project Management.
• Project Management capacity building and assessment is essential to create a talent pool of competence-certified Project Management professionals who can contribute effectively to the success of their Projects.
• This requires active patronizing by the Government of India and all industries, by recognizing Project Management certification as a mandatory requirement for all Project-related roles and responsibilities.

PMA Awards

The PMA Awards Ceremony, conducted during the latter half of the Inaugural Function, comprised 3 Categories of Awards:

• The Organisational Excellence Award,
• The National Project Excellence Awards,
• The Project Leader of the Year Awards.

Organisations, Projects, and Project leaders, who were adjudged from the applications received from the industry by PMA committee, received the awards from the chief guest, President IPMA, and President PMA India. Successful projects and project leaders represented key sectors like construction, mass urban transportation, defense & aerospace, and engineering.

PMA Honorary Fellowships were conferred on two distinguished, who have made valuable contributions towards the success of flagship Projects and missions in their respective industries/sectors:

• Dr. Mangu Singh, Managing Director, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation
• Dr. Anoop Kumar Mittal, Chairman & Managing Director, NBCC (India) Limited

The summit received a wide coverage within the local media, with prominent Indian business journals carrying articles, conveying the significance of effective Project Management.

You can read more here: https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/urban-challenges-call-for-efficient-project-management-puri-118092501405_1.html