Dr Arvind Virmani, Chairman, EGROW Foundation

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Arvind Virmani is a noted economist with expertise in macroeconomic policy, finance and international trade. He has been an adviser to the Indian Government at the highest levels for 25 years, including as Chief Economic Adviser, Ministry of Finance and Principle Adviser, Planning Commission. During this period, he advised on a host of economic policy reforms, as Chair of committees on Public Debt management and Customs duty reform, member of numerous committees and over a hundred policy papers and notes. He also served as Member, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Appellate Tribunal for SEBI Act, Chairman, Board of Trustees of SBI Mutual Fund, and Director on the Boards of several financial institutions [LIC, PNB, Allahabad Bank and UTI (Trustee)].

He served as a member of the Technical Advisory Committee of RBI on Monetary Policy from February 2013 to August 2016, as Mentor (Public Policy) to FICCI during 2015-16 and 2016-17. He was till end-2012, Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Washington DC, representing India (as its Ambassador to IMF), Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan.

In between he directed the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) as its Chief Executive and was Affiliate Professor, George Mason University (and Distinguished Senior Fellow, School of Public Policy – CEMP, GMU).

He has published 33 journal articles and 20 book chapters in the areas of Macroeconomics, growth and finance, International trade & Tariffs and International relations. His books include, The Sudoku of India’s Growth ( BS Books, 2009), From Uni-polar To Tri polar World: Multi-polar Transition Paradox (Academic Foundation, 2009), Propelling India From Socialist Stagnation To Global Power (2006), Accelerating Growth and Poverty Reduction – A Policy Framework for India’s Development (2004). He is currently the Chairman of EGROW Foundation; President of the Forum for Strategic Initiative (FSI) and of Chintan.