Entrepreneur of the Year

ANIL AGARWAL

Anil Agarwal

62-year-old, Indian born Anil Agrawal is the founder, Executive Chairman of worldwide metal and mining company Vedanta Resources Corporation. Born in Patna Bihar he found his passion for nature when as a child he used to often visit the river Ganges. Agrawal is based in London and is married with two children. Agrawal enjoys singing traditional Indian songs, cycling, he is a vegetarian and devout Hindu. In 2014 Agrawal pledged to donate 75% of his family's wealth to charity. Agrawal was also ranked 2nd in the Harun India Philanthropy list for donations made in 2014. Awards include The Economic Times, Business Leader Award in 2012, the Mining Journal Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009 and the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2008. In 1992 Agrawal created the Vedanta Foundation, the foundation has invested over USD $49 million and is focused on child welfare, the empowerment of women and education. Agrawal started his career in the 1970's when he began to trade in scrap metal, in 1976 he acquired Shamsher Sterling Corporation which amongst other things manufactured enamelled copper. In the 80's he created Sterlite Industries which eventually went on to become the first private sector company in India to set up a copper smelter and refinery. In 1995 Sterlite Industries acquired Madras Aluminium as well as stakes in two other mining companies. Vedanta Resources Plc was incorporated in 2003 to access international capital markets and was the first Indian firm to be listed on the London Stock Exchange. It has since evolved into one of the largest mining and metal companies in the world. Vedanta Resources philosophy is to fulfil customer needs in a safe and responsible manner, minimising the effect on the environment and maximising the benefits for the local communities. In the last 10 years the group has invested over US$20 billion in India on organic growth projects.

Praise for Anil Agarwal

Agrawal firmly believes that companies have a responsibility to contribute to the welfare of the community and through the Foundation has invested funds around the world to build hospitals, schools as well as undertaking programs to improve health, education and the livelihood of over 4.1 million people.

 

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