Describing the international business scenario in the Post-Covid world as “jeopardising the march of globalisation,” Mark Runacres, former Deputy British High Commissioner to India, while addressing students at the Indian School of Business & Finance (ISBF), Delhi, hosted Distinguished Public Lecture Series (DPLS), stressed that “the virus can’t diminish the reality of the 21st Century.”
The theme of the seventh DPLS edition was ‘The International Business Environment in a Post-Covid world’ and Runacres engaged students with deep insights and valuable knowledge of the workings of the world gathered over 25 years of diplomatic service, and as a member of several corporate boards and social organisations.
Runacres said: “I don't believe that Covid-19 is going to have that dramatic impact because we continue to see corporate growth, and Asia is becoming more powerful every passing day.”
He also observed that three areas had faced the Covid brunt — economic growth, impact on the workforce, and climate change and environment. “In developing economies like India, which have much larger industries in the informal sector, government actions, in terms of supplying supporting measures, have transformed the condition of businesses.” said Mark.
Sharing his thoughts on the after-effects of Covid on the workforce, he opined: “It is vital for the business leaders, in the coming years, that they build into the management plans for the workers and show sensitivity towards people.”