By Neena Bhandari

Sydney, 28.10.2011 (Business Standard): As executive director of Sri Sakthi Auto Motors Limited, Shankar Vanavarayar was recently in Australia (as part of a Confederation of Indian Industry delegation) to speak on education, knowledge and skills at the Commonwealth Business Forum in Perth. Also president of NIA Educational Institutions, he talked to Neena Bhandari on the significance of the Commonwealth for young entrepreneurs and the role they can play in strengthening India-Australia bilateral relations. Edited excerpts:

You attended a three-day Commonwealth Business Forum that focused on ‘Partnering for Global Growth: The Commonwealth, Indian Ocean and the Pacific Rim’. What does the Commonwealth mean for young entrepreneurs like you?

This is my third engagement with the Commonwealth as an organisation. We are working with them on different fronts. A few months ago, I was in London talking about youth and enterprise at a round-table. This is the first time I have spoken at such a large event. Despite this debate on the Commonwealth’s relevance today, I think it is a great forum which has so many emerging nations and some developed nations as its members. One could get the feel of different economies in this organisation. As an entrepreneur, I also feel it gives you an understanding on how developed and developing economies function; the regulations and opportunities that are emerging in different countries.

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