The business conclave event was conducted at Col. Dr. Jeppiaar auditorium, JEPPIAAR ENGINEERING COLLEGE, CHENNAI on October 11, 2017 from 9AM to 1 pm. The Chairman and Managing director of Jeppiaar group of institutions, Dr. M. REGEENA JEPPIAAR presided over the Inaugural function and delivered the presidential address. 

Panel discussion on opportunities and challenges, in setting up smart cities was done by the experts from varied sectors, Mr. Simon Selvaraj – Local director, Strategic Lead-Chennai, Urban Solutions Srilanka, JLL. Bringing the expertise of Smart City rollout and sharing in-depth of on the ground, also responding to student questions in specific.

Ms. Rajani Seshadri - Chairperson Women’s wing – Cii, speaking on the entrepreneurial opportunities that come with the scale and responding to students queries on do's and don'ts while entering the entrepreneurial space.

Mr. S. Kathir Kamanathan- Chief Financial Officer, Lanco Tanjore Power Co Ltd. Sharing his expertise on opportunities that evolve with smart cities on infrastructure and services in the power sector with some real ground references, advising the students to learn more on the basic ground figures.

Mr.Suresh Krishn – ISHA Homes, President CREDAI, Chennai. Catching the students attention with saying smart cities are not done by the government alone, but an equal effort from the citizens and what infrastructure would become in a smart city, so the scale of opportunities. Shortlisted business cases were presented by students from different collages across Tamilnadu, before the experts. Around 2000 students have participated in the function.

The Chief Guest, Mr. ISAAC HEWLINGS, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Trade, British Deputy High Commission, Chennai has addressed in the valedictory function and distributed prizes for the winners of the JIEC 2017, students found him very approachable while he did respond and appreciate every interaction opportunity with the student and had patience for pictures with the students His input s for the students on how to develop themselves and contribute to development of smart cities was very innovative. It was a morning of eye opening thought processes.