FORMER Gujarat chief secretary and 1981 batch retired IAS DJ Pandian has been appointed as vice-president, chief investment officer of the newly formed USD100 billion multilateral development bank — Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), headquartered in Beijing, China. The former IAS who had also served as director in department of economic affairs, technical assistant in the World Bank and managing director of Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation, is considered to be close to…
Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel under whom he had worked as state’s revenue secretary (when Mrs Patel was revenue minister) and later as chief secretary. Pandian played a key role in making Vibrant Gujarat Summit, 2015, a grand success, something he could impress PM Narendra Modi. But Pandian was nominated by India for AIIB mainly because of his understanding of economics and investments, and expertise in energy sector, the areas the newly created bank would focus upon.
Because of his eight years tenure in Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation, and his serving as principal secretary and additional chief secretary in the state’s energy and petrochemicals department, Pandian is considered as an expert in energy sector.
Last week, AIIB announced appointing five vice-presidents including India’s nominee Pandian whose primary responsibility would be to lead planning and supervision of the Bank’s infrastructure investment throughout Asia, according to a statement issued by the bank.
According to the official website of AIIB, this bank will focus on the development of infrastructure and other productive sectors in Asia, including energy and power, transportation and telecommunications, rural infrastructure and agriculture development, water supply and sanitation, environmental protection, urban development and logistics, etc.
Pandian, 60, originally hails from Tamil Nadu. As a young Gujarat cadre IAS officer in 1980s, he was collector in districts of Baruch and Kheda. In 1994, he moved to New Delhi on a Central deputation and joined the department of economic affairs under finance ministry as a deputy secretary. He was later elevated as a director in the same department. Between 1998 and 2001, he was on a foreign assignment in the World Bank. After returning from his World Bank assignment in 2001, he joined Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation as its MD.
Later, he briefly served as vice-chairman and MD of Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation.
Pandian was instrumental in setting up Gujarat Energy Research and Management Institute.
He is a batch-mate of union revenue secretary Hasmukh Adhia.
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