SME Times News Bureau | 15 Apr, 2013
India Inc. condoled the death of veteran industrialist and founder of RPG Group, Rama Prasad Goenka, in Kolkata Sunday.
"One of the tallest business leaders has passed away from our midst and India has lost one of the doyens of business", said S. Gopalakrishnan, president of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
"CII has had the benefit of Mr Goenka's visionary thoughts and guidance from time to time on matters of policy and issues, which ensured that Industry always moved in a progressive way in the country," the industry lobby said in a stratement.
"Shri Goenka has been former president of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and through his relentless work he helped strengthen industry's recognition in the global economy," said FICCI president Naina Lal Kidwai.
"FICCI and Indian industry will continue to be inspired by his work across diverse field of management, academics, technology and his philanthropic initiatives."
Rama Prasad Goenka (popularly known as RP) established the RPG Enterprises in 1979, and his undivided business empire encompassed - CESC, Noida Power Co. Ltd., RPG Raychem, Spencer, CEAT Tyers, Saregama India (previously Gramophone Co. of India), KEC International, Phillips Carbon Black, Fujitsu ICIM (now Zensar Technologies), Harrisons Malayalam, Firstsource Solutions Ltd. and RPG Life Sciences.
Goenka received the "The Order Of the Sacred Treasure Gold and Silver Star" from the Emperor of Japan.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee mourned the death of Goenka, who was a Rajya Sabha member between 2000 and 2006.
He was 83, and is survived by wife Sushila and two sons Harsh Vardhan and Sanjiv - both leading industrialists.
While Harsh is now RPG Enterprises chairman, his younger brother is the chairman of RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, after the tycoon amicably divided his entire business between them about three years ago.
Goenka was chairman emeritus of both the groups, which have a combined turnover of around Rs.30,000 crore.
