Asia Society Australia is proud to announce the appointment of Manoj Kohli – Country Head of SoftBank India, SoftBank Group International – as its next Asia Society-Victoria Distinguished Fellow.

Manoj Kohli is one of India’s most respected business leaders with an extensive global experience. Over four decades he has held top leadership positions across a wide range of industries, including engineering and mobile internet, in India, Asia, Africa, the US and Europe.

Mr Kohli is currently responsible for SoftBank Group International in India, supporting over 20 portfolio companies to address public policies issues and government approvals to enable them to achieve their full business potential. Japan’s second largest publicly traded company, SoftBank Group is a multi-billion-dollar conglomerate with global interests. It runs the $100 billion Vision Fund, the world’s largest technology-based venture capital fund. This follows his role as Executive Chairman of SB Energy, a pioneer in India’s renewable energy industry. Previously as CEO of Bharti Airtel, Mr Kohli helped build it into the third-largest mobile company in the world with over 400 million customers.

In appointing Mr Kohli as the Victoria Distinguished Fellow, Asia Society Australia acknowledges Australia’s national mission to strengthen business relationships between India and Australia.

The Australia Government’s India Economic Strategy aims to lift India into its top three export markets and make India one of our closest strategic partners, supported by comprehensive political, economic, and societal links.

The Victorian Government’s ten-year India Strategy aims to double average exports (close to AU$1 billion annually) and double Victorian business engagement with India. It also aims to strengthen people-to-people links through expanded tourism and student exchanges.

Achieving such ambitious targets will require strong relationships at the highest levels of industry and government. The appointment of Mr Kohli as the Victoria Distinguished Fellow is a significant step in advancing these crucial connections.

Asia Society Australia Chairman Doug Ferguson says:

“In appointing a leader of the calibre of Manoj Kohli, Asia Society continues in its mission to forge the kind of cultural connections that serve as the foundation for the next era of business and trade relations between Asia and Australia. Now more than ever, we need to build deep understanding in order to rebuild together.”

Asia Society Australia CEO Philipp Ivanov says:

“Manoj is one of India’s most accomplished business leaders. We need leaders like him to help Australia and India to lift our economic and strategic partnership to a new level. Asia Society is pleased to contribute to these efforts through our Victoria Distinguished Fellowship Program.”

Manoj Kohli says:

“I am delighted to accept the Victoria Distinguished Fellowship and will love to contribute towards enhancement of trade and commerce between India and Australia, especially with the State of Victoria. I am sure this mission will nurture the long-term partnership between both nations.”

Mr Kohli will appear on the forthcoming Asia Society Australia public webcast ‘Green India. Getting it right’ alongside Patrick Suckling, non-resident Senior Fellow of the Asia Society Policy Institute and Australia’s former Ambassador for the Environment, on Tuesday 19 May 2020.