IIM Sambalpur Launches “Brand in India” Initiative for Viksit Bharat@2047 in Collaboration with RAI
Mumbai: The Indian Institute of Management Sambalpur (IIM Sambalpur), one of India’s premier B-schools, hosted the Brand in India Conclave – Curtain Raiser at its campus in collaboration with the Retailers Association of India (RAI). As part of the initiative, IIM Sambalpur signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Delhi and Dhenkanal (Odisha), a leading national media institute under the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.
The Curtain Raiser was graced by Bijou Kurien, Chairman of RAI, as Chief Guest, along with Dr. Lawrence Gregory Fernandes, Director, RAI; Madhu L. Nag, Registrar & ADG, IIMC; Anand Pradhan, Regional Director, IIMC Dhenkanal; and Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director, IIM Sambalpur. The event celebrated India’s evolving brand identity and showcased inspiring regional entrepreneurial stories. Participating brands included Shoppers Stop, Reliance Retail Ventures Limited, Lava International, Taneira Titan, Brand Architects, KPMG Consulting, Go CrackIt, Tamalaa Art Merchandise, and Sakshi Handloom.
Under the MoU, IIM Sambalpur and IIMC will jointly offer academic programs, professional training, faculty and student exchanges, and collaborative research projects. Areas of focus will include media business management, corporate communication, brand management, digital marketing, crisis communication, sustainability communication, and business journalism.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director of IIM Sambalpur, said: “Brand in India represents how India thinks, creates, and leads on the global stage. Our pioneering 3C Framework—Content, Communication, Connectivity—aims to redefine how strong, sustainable brands are created in India and across the world. The MoU with IIMC will open meaningful avenues for research, training, and professional growth, benefiting students, faculty, and the wider media and management community.”
Bijou Kurien, Chairman of RAI, remarked: “In a country as complex and multicultural as India, we naturally develop a deep understanding of diverse customer segments. Today, more than ever, India stands at a powerful moment of opportunity. We are not just building brands for our own markets, but brands that can inspire and influence the world.”
Madhu L. Nag, Registrar & ADG, IIMC, added: “We are delighted to formalise this collaboration between IIMC Delhi and IIM Sambalpur. This MoU is a step toward academic excellence, knowledge sharing, and capacity building between these two leading institutions.”
The Brand in India Curtain Raiser also highlighted how Odisha’s emerging brands are contributing to India’s evolving identity through local innovation, cultural authenticity, and purpose-driven entrepreneurship.
