‘This milestone is not just about breaking barriers, but about building bridges’

It took over 108 years for the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI), founded by Sir M. Visvesvaraya in 1916, to get its first woman president.

Uma Reddy took charge as the 92nd president of the trade body.

Speaking to The Hindu, Ms. Reddy said that her target would be to empower micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Karnataka with technology and skills, create opportunities for women and youth, and to contribute to sustainability and green economy initiatives.

Ms. Reddy is the managing director of Hitech Magnetics and Electronics, and under her leadership, the company has grown in the specialised field of power electronics, an area where women representation has been minimal.

An electrical engineer from the UVCE, Bengaluru, she has been in the business of manufacturing transformers and coils for electronic and industrial application for over three decades.

Excerpts from the interview:

You are the first woman head of FKCCI. Why do women take time to reach the top?

I have been with FKCCI for 20 years, and it is definitely an honour for me to have been elevated to the post of president. The moment is both personally significant and historically meaningful as I become the first woman to hold this position in our 108-year legacy.

I believe that once I’ve taken over this mantle, there would be many more women to take leadership roles in the chambers of commerce. This milestone is not just about breaking barriers, but about building bridges — for women, for MSMEs, and for Karnataka’s future. My vision is to make FKCCI a platform that champions innovation, inclusivity, and sustainable growth, while carrying forward the rich legacy of this institution.

What is your advice to women entrepreneurs in particular and the trade community in general?

I believe that chambers of commerce are gender-neutral, and chamber leaders are part of mainstream business. However, women leaders need to be resilient and persevere to ensure success.

The main objective of FKCCI has always been policy advocacy, which is the pillar stone that supports a growth of trade, manufacturing and service industry. The trade body with over 5,000 direct members and over two lakh members, through its various district associations, district chambers, and associations, will continue to be a facilitator in ease of doing business.

As president of FKCCI, what are the things that you would be focusing on?

As a team, we want to make FKCCI not only Karnataka’s pride, but the world’s benchmark for inclusive, innovative, and impactful commerce. Let us empower MSME’s with technology and skills, opportunities for women and youth, embrace, sustainability and green economy and amplify Karnataka global footprint. In addition to its flagship events, FKCCI will also focus on skill development, training, and application of technology.

You are taking over at a juncture when MSMEs are plagued with various internal and external pressures including trade barriers. How do you view this challenge?

Karnataka contributes 8 to 9% of India’s GDP, hosts over 400 Fortune 500 companies, and leads in IT, biotech, space research, and aerospace manufacturing. FKCCI’s role is critical at this juncture in terms of addressing pressing issues such as rising operational costs, global competition, tariff issues, and financing hurdles for MSMEs.

A lot of work has to be done as a team to further strengthen FKCCI’s role as a bridge between industry, government, and society. We will also enhance focus on strengthening the link between startups and industry, skill development training on technology and nurturing agri tech businesses.