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PAFI Annual Forum Opening Remarks

PAFI - 24 September 2026 - 09-19-19 AM.mp4 · 14:53 · 1 speaker

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Summary

Speaker 1 welcomed attendees to the thirteenth annual PAFI Annual Forum and outlined PAFI’s purpose: providing a professional platform for dialogue, knowledge, and responsible engagement in public affairs. Speaker 1 described PAFI’s evolution from an idea founded in 2008 into a community of 150 corporate members.

Speaker 1 emphasized that PAFI’s value is not primarily whether government “listens” to it, but whether it enables ongoing conversations among government, business, policymakers, media, experts, and younger voices. PAFI was described as working in partnership with government at the Centre and in the states, while recognizing that discussions do not necessarily lead to immediate outcomes or imply agreement with every view expressed.

A central theme was the development of public affairs as a profession. Speaker 1 said public affairs now sits at the intersection of business strategy, public policy, geopolitics, technology, regulation, and competitiveness, and argued that its true measure is trust rather than influence. Speaker 1 stated that better public policy comes from better conversations rather than louder voices.

Speaker 1 credited the PAFI core group, sponsors, supporting organizations, corporate members, managing committee, advisory council, past presidents, founding members, secretariat, and named contributors for supporting the forum. The core group reportedly met about 10 times during the prior six months in preparation for the event.

The forum was presented as expanded in scope and participation. Speaker 1 cited more than 800 registrations, 27 substantive sessions over the next two days, two pre-forum events held the previous day, more than 30 sessions in total, and more than 100 speakers. New elements included Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu as partner states, as well as international conversations involving India–EU and India–China alongside India–US engagement.

Speaker 1 introduced the theme, “India 3.0, Engaging for Growth in Disrupted World: Ideas, Insight, Impact.” The speech urged India to understand, anticipate, and engage with markets, technology, geopolitics, partners, ideas, and the world. Attendees were encouraged to network, listen to differing perspectives, and attend the limited-capacity “At Work” sessions on a first-come, first-served basis.

Key takeaways

PAFI positions itself as a platform for dialogue, knowledge, responsible engagement, and trust-building in public affairs.
PAFI reported having 150 corporate members and described itself as a community rather than only an organization.
Speaker 1 said PAFI’s role is to sustain conversations among government, business, policymakers, experts, media, and younger participants.
The 13th Annual Forum includes expanded state and international engagement, with Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu as partner states.
The forum theme is “India 3.0, Engaging for Growth in Disrupted World: Ideas, Insight, Impact.”
Attendees were encouraged to use the event for candid discussion, networking, and participation in limited-seating “At Work” sessions.

Key moments

Opening welcome
Speaker 1 welcomes attendees and introduces PAFI’s purpose.
PAFI membership and community
PAFI is described as a 150-corporate-member community.
Dialogue with government
Speaker 1 explains that PAFI seeks continuing dialogue rather than immediate outcomes.
Core group and acknowledgements
Speaker 1 credits the community and organizations that prepared and support the forum.
Forum programme overview
Speaker 1 presents registrations, sessions, partner states, and international scope.
At Work session guidance
Attendees are advised that limited seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
India 3.0 theme
Speaker 1 explains engagement as the central concept of the forum theme.
Closing and next speaker
Speaker 1 invites continued dialogue and introduces Shirdi S. Krishnan.

Decisions made

No explicit final decision was identified.

Proposals & suggestions (not confirmed decisions)

Attendees should attend the limited-capacity “At Work” sessions if interested, as seating is first come, first served. — suggested by Speaker 1. Outcome: No final decision stated.
Attendees should network during sessions and listen to different perspectives so that conversations extend beyond the stage. — suggested by Speaker 1. Outcome: No final decision stated.

Action items

Action	Owner	Deadline	Time
Network during the forum and listen to different perspectives.	Not specified	Not specified
Attend “At Work” sessions early if interested because seating is limited and allocated first come, first served.	Not specified	Not specified

Topics discussed

Welcome and PAFI’s founding purpose

to 04:02 Speaker 1

Speaker 1 welcomed participants, noted strong attendance, and described PAFI’s founding purpose in 2008: a professional platform for dialogue, knowledge, and responsible engagement. Speaker 1 said this idea had developed into a 150-corporate-member community.

PAFI’s dialogue role and public-affairs profession

to 04:02 Speaker 1

Speaker 1 described PAFI’s engagement with government and its role in enabling continuing conversations rather than securing agreement or immediate outcomes. Public affairs was framed as a trust-based profession spanning strategy, policy, geopolitics, technology, regulation, and competitiveness.

Acknowledgements and community contribution

to 08:30 Speaker 1

Speaker 1 thanked the core group, 34 sponsors, 37 supporting organizations, 150 corporate members, PAFI bodies, named contributors, the secretariat, and longstanding members. The core group was said to have met about 10 times in the preceding six months.

Forum scale, programme, and international expansion

to 11:42 Speaker 1

Speaker 1 outlined the forum’s registration numbers, session programme, partner states, international conversations, overseas guests, inclusion of women and emerging professionals, and new discussion formats including “At Work.”

India 3.0 theme and closing invitation

to 14:53 Speaker 1

Speaker 1 explained the forum theme and urged active engagement in a disrupted world. The remarks concluded with a call for dialogue, trust, networking, and action, followed by an introduction to the next speaker, Shirdi S. Krishnan.

Important questions

Does the government listen to Puffy? — asked by Speaker 1
Partially answered Speaker 1 reframed the issue as whether PAFI has created a platform where government and the wider public-affairs community can have a conversation, rather than directly answering whether government listens.
What does India need from a platform like Puffy in the next phase? — asked by Speaker 1
Answered Speaker 1 said India needs spaces where different perspectives can meet and better conversations among business, government, policymakers, and experts.

Important numbers & facts

2008 — Speaker 1 said PAFI started in 2008 as an idea for a professional public-affairs platform.
150 corporates — Speaker 1 said PAFI has 150 corporate members.
10 times in the last six months — The PAFI core group reportedly met as many as 10 times while preparing for the forum.
34 sponsors — Speaker 1 thanked 34 sponsors.
37 supporting organizations — Speaker 1 thanked 37 supporting organizations.
fourteen years — Lakshmi Kanchan was said to have supported PAFI for fourteen years.
over 800 registrations — Speaker 1 reported more than 800 registrations for the forum.
next two days — Speaker 1 described the forum programme scheduled over the next two days.
27 substantive sessions — Speaker 1 said there would be 27 substantive sessions over the next two days.
two preforum events — Speaker 1 said two pre-forum events had taken place the previous day.
more than 30 sessions — Speaker 1 cited more than 30 sessions, including the pre-forum events.
over 100 speakers — Speaker 1 cited more than 100 speakers.
two partner states — For the first time, PAFI has Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu as partner states.
five sessions today; four sessions tomorrow — Speaker 1 said the “At Work” format had five sessions on the current day and four on the following day.
thirteenth annual Puffy annual forum — Speaker 1 welcomed attendees to the thirteenth annual PAFI Annual Forum.

Speaker highlights

Speaker 1

Main points

Welcomed participants to the thirteenth annual PAFI Annual Forum and described PAFI’s founding purpose.
Reported that PAFI has 150 corporate members and brings diverse stakeholders into dialogue.
Emphasized trust, sustained conversation, and profession-building as core to public affairs and PAFI’s role.
Acknowledged contributors, sponsors, members, and the PAFI secretariat.
Outlined the forum’s scale, new partner states, international conversations, and participation formats.
Explained the “India 3.0” theme and encouraged attendees to network and engage with different perspectives.

Positions

PAFI’s value lies in creating a platform for meaningful conversation rather than merely seeking government attention.
Better public policy emerges from better conversations, not louder voices.
The real measure of public affairs is trust rather than influence.
India should actively engage with global markets, technology, geopolitics, partners, and ideas in a disrupted world.

Questions raised

Whether PAFI has created a platform where government and the wider public-affairs community can have a conversation.
What India needs from a platform like PAFI in its next phase.

Follow-ups

Attendees interested in “At Work” sessions should arrive early because seating is limited and first come, first served.
PAFI’s future role and the needs India has from the platform remain an open strategic question for continued discussion.