Connecting India
Honoured to Start a New Journey, says Aditya Jha
Entrepreneur and philanthropist Aditya Jha has been appointed as the President of the prestigious People of Indian Origin Chamber of Commerce & Industry (PIOCCI).
The PIOCCI, a 20+ year old not-for-profit organization, is a Global Business Platform working with international entrepreneurs and Indian Diaspora from around the world to promote investment and international trade opportunities in India and from India to the world.
On his appointment, Jha said, “ India is on an ambitious journey to become the third largest GDP (5 Trillion dollar) country in the world by 2027 and solidly on its path to become a Developed country by 2047 with GDP of US$ 35 Trillion. With the world beset with violent turmoil and geopolitical conflicts, India is the True North and a beacon of democracy that has the largest population and one of the biggest consumer markets in the world.
“I am joining the global leadership team of entrepreneurs and Indian diaspora luminaries from over 40+ countries on this giant mission of PIOCCI for a prosperous better world and a developed India aiming to build equity from the bottom of the society”.
With a diverse membership base, including entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and professionals from various sectors, PIOCCI strives to enhance trade relations, facilitate investments, advocate and influence policies. Its professionals help in connecting with potential business partners, generate leads, and provide customised professional services. PIOCCI, thus, helps businesspersons grow their network, find new clients, and navigate the global market.
PIOCCI was registered as a national society in India on October 6, 2003. It has a full-time secretariat in Delhi that oversees all activities in India. PIOCCI International delivers services worldwide through registered entities in select geographies and directly in countries where PIOCCI does not have entities.
It has spawned chapters such as PIOCCI USA, PIOCCI Canada, and PIOCCI Limited in Dubai, registered in respective geographies. Each organisation has its team that serves the region.
The Indian diaspora has many organizations in all parts of the world. However, these associations are primarily local or national. They do not have a footprint in India or other regions of the world. PIOCCI seeks to bridge that gap.
Aditya has always played the leading role in promoting the PIOCCI. Order of Canada (Canada’s highest civilian honor) recipient, he is a serial entrepreneur (start-up technology ventures & turn-around businesses in Canada, USA, France, Thailand, Bangladesh, Morocco, Nairobi, Nepal and India) and a philanthropist. His software company, Isopia Inc, was a major acquisition by Sun Microsystems Inc., USA. His private charitable foundation (“http://www.poafoundation.org/”) has fourteen endowments (for scholarships with special focus on Canadian Aboriginal students) at five Canadian universities/colleges and has supported numerous charitable projects internationally as well.
Aditya is currently CEO of dgMarket International Inc., USA (formerly an initiative of the World Bank), which has customers in over 65+ countries and offices in 9 countries.
Aditya has been conferred Honorary Doctorate (2009) by Metropolitan University of Toronto. He is honored into Champions of Public Education in Canada Hall of Fame (2013). He has the rare distinction of having been honored twice by the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce- first with its Technology Achievement Award (2004) and subsequently with Lifetime Achievement Award (2014). He is also a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012) and many more.
Aditya was one of the founding Members and National Convenor for the Canada India Foundation, Chair of the Advisory Board of the Indo Canada Chamber of Commerce. Aditya has served Government of Canada’s Board of Governors of National Capital Commission and formerly on First Nations Financial Management Board. He had also served on the Government of Ontario’s Ontario Investment & Trade Advisory Council. His academic appointments include: “Entrepreneur-in-Residence” role at the School of Business, Centennial College and formerly “Member of the Board of Governors” of Sheridan Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning and “Advisory Council Member” of Dean, Faculty of Community Services, Ryerson University.
He has also served on the Board of Governors of Indspire (Aboriginal achievement award) and as Board of Governor of the Art Gallery of Hamilton. He has also served on the Board of public listed companies including PartsiD Inc, a NYSE listed company as Chair of the Governance & Compensation Committee.
Aditya was an Adjunct Faculty (National University of Singapore, 1989-94). His approach to philanthropy is featured in the Economist Intelligence Unit (Economist magazine, UK).
Aditya started his professional career after investing 4½ years as Research Scholar at School of Computer & Systems Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India and has obtained M.Sc. in Mathematical Statistics and Post Graduate Diploma in Computer Science. He served as General Manager at Bell Canada before starting his entrepreneurial journey besides several managerial & management roles internationally.
