Amitabh Kant

Kant was a key driver of the “Make in India,” Startup India, “Incredible India,” and “God’s Own Country” initiatives that positioned India and Kerala State as leading manufacturing and tourism destinations. These campaigns won several international awards. They employed many activities, including infrastructure development, product enhancement, private-public partnership and positioning and branding. Kerala thereafter became India’s leading tourism destination.

Kant conceptualized and executed the “AtithiDevoBhavah” – “God will visit in the form of a Guest" campaign to train taxi drivers, guides, immigration officials and make them stakeholders in the tourism development process.

He was the National Project Director of the Rural Tourism Project of UNDP which created a paradigm shift in spreading tourism to Indian villages that had skills in handicrafts, handlooms and culture.

Until March, 2016 Kant was posted as Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). He was responsible for formulation and implementation of industrial policy and strategies for industrial development, monitoring the industrial growth and performance of specific industrial sectors, formulation of foreign direct investment (FDI) policy and FDI promotion and facilitation. Related policies covered intellectual property rights relating to patents, trademarks, industrial design and geographical Indications. He was also responsible for promotion of productivity, quality and technical cooperation.

Kant worked as CEO of the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (DMICDC). The Government is developing the corridor as a global manufacturing and investment destination supported by world class infrastructure and enabling policy framework. The project is aimed at the development of smart industrial cities for new technology. The intent is to encourage manufacturing as a route to the economic growth of India.

Amitabh Kant has worked as Secretary – Tourism, Government of Kerala, Managing Director, Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation, District Collector, Kozhikode and Managing Director, Matsyafed.

During his tenure in Kerala, he structured the Calicut Airport as a private sector project based on User’s Free and developed the BSES Power Project and Mattanchery Bridge under Private Public Partnership. He was also responsible for introducing new technology (fiberglass crafts and outboard motor) in the fisheries sector and launching beach level auctions which substantially enhanced returns to traditional fishermen. As District Collector, he implemented a major project of Urban Revival and Development through traditional Malabar architecture in creation of Mananchira City square in Kozhikode.

He is also the creator of Kerala's highly successful tourism tagline "Kerala - God's Own Country"[7][8][9] He began his IAS career working as sub collector of Thalassery.[10]