The 4th edition of FICCI Annual HR Conclave 2025 on HR 5.0: Evolving People, Powering Progress opened on a promising note in Chennai today with speakers across the spectrum voicing their views on HR’s core functions aimed at business growth.
Setting the tone for the conclave, Dr G S K Velu, Chairman, FICCI, Tamil Nadu State Council, said that traditional HR practices are now aligning with new technologies to suit the evolving needs of organisations and society. Mr Velu also said the conclave can make people understand the adoption of HR for business growth and the critical role it plays in the wellness industry and also several other industries with the promotion of values of empathy and compassion through human connections. He wanted leaders and thinkers to work for transformation of everything and act as a stepping stone in all collaborative efforts for human development.
Mr N R Mani, Convenor, FICCI Tamil Nadu HR Panel, said HR 5.0 focused on human centred technology and lots of changes are happening in most of the organizations and the Tamil Nadu government is very supportive in making industrial progress in the state. He further said that the goal of HR people is to build confidence and act as architects of agility and development.
Mr K Veera Raghava Rao, Secretary, Labour Welfare and Skill Development Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, lauded FICCI for the important conclave on HR 5.0 and wanted the experts in HR field to share their HR best practices.
He recalled his campus interview for the HR job and how he saw the problems of tech development at that time and deplored lack of orientation of young professionals. However, he expressed his view that 5 per cent of HR people are in a position to manage 95 per cent of those in the industry.
He noted that the Tamil Nadu government is supporting MSME industries and higher education also in the state with a focus on skill development and has made HR practices in tune with industry development. The aim of making Tamil Nadu as a one trillion dollar economy by 2030 is very much there.
Now, the educational qualities of students are improved with the modernisation of technical institutions. This has made them face industry demand as their skill requirements are enhanced suitably.
Mr Bhupesh Nagarajan, Co-Chairman, FICCI TNSC, in his concluding remarks, said that the government is committed to enhancing skill development of students and Chief Minister M K Stalin had made a visit to foreign countries recently attracting investments from various industries. He remarked that HR can focus on skilled manpower and promote management practices.
