• India Stands Strong Amid Global Uncertainty; Chartered Accountants to Drive Viksit Bharat: CA. Piyush Goyal
• India Stands Strong Amid Global Uncertainty; Chartered Accountants to Drive Viksit Bharat: CA. Piyush Goyal
• 3-day event will feature 200+ global experts across 50+ high-impact sessions

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) inaugurates the World Forum of Accountants (WOFA) 2.0 in Greater Noida. The three-day mega convention happening at India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida, was inaugurated today by CA. Piyush Goyal, Hon'ble Minister of Commerce and Industry, as the Chief Guest ;Shri Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman, Aditya Birla Group,as the Guest of Honour along with Mr. Jean Bouquot, President, IFAC and Ms. Jennifer Lopez,CEO, CAPA in presence of ICAI's leadership includingCA. Charanjot Singh Nanda, President, ICAI; CA. Prasanna Kumar D, Vice-President, ICAI, CA. (Dr.) Jai Kumar Batra, Secretary, ICAI; Central and Regional Council Members of ICAI and galaxy of Past Presidents.

On this grand occasion addressing more than 12,000 Chartered Accountants, On this grand occasion addressing more than 12,000 Chartered Accountants, "Chartered Accountants are central to India's growth journey as trusted professionals who enable investment, ensure transparent financial reporting and strengthen governance. In today's volatile and uncertain global environment, they serve as the true custodians of trust and act as a vital bridge between India and global markets. As India advances towards becoming the world's third-largest economy and a $30-trillion nation by 2047, Chartered Accountants will be playing a very important role, not only within India, but as a bridge between India and the rest of the world".

While commending the large gathering of CAs, he further added "The CA fraternity has the ability and the confidence to take this country in the Amrit Kal to greater heights, to make India a developed nation and an international superpower.

The theme of WOFA 2.0, “Nation Building to Global Collaboration: Strengthening Trust, Enabling Growth",underscores India's emergence as a global leader and highlights the pivotal role of Chartered Accountants as key drivers of economic growth and a sustainable economy.

The Guest of Honour, Shri Kumar Mangalam Birla,while addressing the delegates, shared “Being in this room with all of CAs feels like a homecoming of sorts. I am a proud member of this fraternity. Thanks to my CA training, I learned lessons far beyond balancing books. The principle of staying true and accurate has guided me both professionally and personally. He further emphasized that, over the next decade, India will emerge as a global manufacturing and supply-chain powerhouse, supported by one of the world's top three consumer markets. With infrastructure evolving into a key competitive advantage, India is poised to chart a unique growth trajectory that is rapid, resilient and sustainable, sending a clear message that India means business, with Chartered Accountants playing a fundamental role in building trust and enabling this transformation.

On this momentous occasion, On this momentous occasion, highlighted the Institute's role in nation building and global collaboration, stating: "ICAI stands at the forefront of India's growing global leadership in the chartered accountancy profession. The World Forum of Accountants 2.0 marks a proud moment for the global fraternity and reflects India's emergence as a benchmark for excellence, innovation, and trust. From technology-driven audits and indigenous standards now gaining international acceptance to nation-building, sustainability, and public service, Indian Chartered Accountants are shaping the future with integrity and impact".

He further added, "the Institute is opening up the profession to help you showcase your capabilities globally. It is time to build large firms and forge partnerships across skill sets to deliver knowledge-driven services and help businesses scale in India and worldwide".

Proposing the vote of thanks, CA. Prasanna Kumar D., Vice-President, ICAI, said: "CAs are reinforcing India's global credibility through platforms such as the World Forum of Accountants (WOFA), which showcases the growing influence of the Indian accountancy profession worldwide. WOFA brings together global thought leaders and professionals to promote excellence, ethics and collaboration, while enabling 'chartered accountants to contribute meaningfully to India's growth and the global economy".

The inaugural session was followed by a Special Session on 'Shaping the Future Together: Vision for a Global Profession',by expert global leaders. The speakers deliberated on emerging trends in the accounting profession and explored how evolving frameworks, technology and global collaboration can help professionals navigate today's dynamic financial landscape.

Mr. Jean Bouquot, President, International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), deliberated on the strategic priority area of IFAC, i.e. Sustainability, Technology & AI, and Talent. He emphasized the need for convergence in sustainability reporting standards, ethical leadership in the use of artificial intelligence and renewed efforts to attract and inspire the next generation of accountants.

The session also featured addresses by The session also featured addresses by shared his thoughts on the expanding role of accountants as trusted advisors, the integration of sustainability and financial reporting, the importance of ethics and professional judgment in the age of AI, and the need for global collaboration

Mr. David Franklin, CFO, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) highlighted the evolving global role of the accountancy profession amid economic, technological, and geopolitical turbulence. He emphasized India’s emergence as a strategic global economic player and underscored the profession's growing responsibility as a trusted advisor beyond financial reporting—spanning sustainability, ESG, technology adoption, and public interest leadership.

This was followed by a dedicated session titled 'From Vision to Vikas: Shaping India's Inclusive Growth Story', featuring visionary parliamentarians Shri Hon'ble Arun Singh, Member of Parliament; Shri Vivek Tankha, Hon’ble Member of Parliament; and Shri P. P. Chaudhary, Hon'ble Member of Parliament.The session focused on India’s inclusive growth agenda, emphasising the role of robust governance frameworks, transparent financial systems and policy-led reforms in driving sustainable economic development. The discussion highlighted how collaboration between policymakers and professionals can support nation building and strengthen public trust.
Shri P. P. Chaudhary, Hon'ble Member of Parliament, during his virtual address said, "India stands at a defining moment, having moved from promise to performance. The country's economic transformation is being recognised globally, with India now the world’s fourth-largest economy and projected to become the third-largest by the end of this decade consistently outperforming global averages, reflecting the strength of its institutions, governance framework".

CA. Arun Singh, Hon'ble Member of Parliament, said, "Chartered Accountants have played a crucial role in India's significant social and economic progress, supporting efforts that have lifted millions out of poverty through focused government intervention. This transformation has been driven by structured public investment, fiscal discipline, and governance-led reforms. The profession has emerged as a vital pillar in strengthening transparency, compliance and financial integrity—values that lie at the core of discussions at the World Forum of Accountants (WOFA)".

Shri Vivek Tankha, Hon'ble Member of Parliament said "Chartered Accountants who serve as the true crisis managers of our economy. CAs are the first line of defense providing immediate solutions to the businesses and to the people of India. CAs who worked tirelessly to help businesses convert the obsolete tenders, manages cash flow disruptions and maintain financial records. He also advocated for CA Protection Act for Chartered Accountants".

The first day concluded with a Keynote Address by Yog Guru Swami Ramdev on 'Wellness@Work: Building Balance, Strength & Resilience', reflecting the importance of holistic well-being in professional excellence. The proceedings culminated in a Cultural Evening,which added warmth and festivity to the occasion.

The prestigious event has brought together leaders, policymakers, financial experts and industry stalwarts to deliberate on critical issues shaping India's economic future and to contribute meaningfully towards global financial stability.

About ICAI

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is a statutory body set up by an Act of Parliament under the Chartered Accountants Act, 1949 for the regulation and development of the profession of Chartered Accountancy in India. The Institute functions under the administrative supervision of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India. With over 15 Lakh Members and Students, today ICAI is the largest professional accountancy body in the world. ICAI has a wide network of 5 Regional Councils and 185 Branches within India and a global presence with 54 Overseas Chapters and 31 Representative Offices spanning 85 cities across 47 Countries worldwide.