Mr Atul Punj, Chairman, Punj Lloyd Group, today received the 'Best First Generation Entrepreneur of the Year' award at the India Business Leader Awards ceremony held at Taj Lands End, Mumbai. The award recognises his outstanding achievements in the making of Punj Lloyd, a $ 2 billion global diversified conglomerate with operations spanning across 16 countries. 

The India Business Leader Awards are a continuation of the tradition set by CNBC's Asia Business Leader of the Year Awards, which are considered Asia's most definitive business leadership awards. This is the 4th edition of the India Business Leader Awards with the spotlight on Committed Capitalism and the way it has enhanced the standard of living across the world.  

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Atul Punj, said, "I am honoured to be the recipient of this prestigious award. I attribute this achievement to my team". 

Mr Punj established Punj Lloyd in 1989 with a Rs 2 crore engineering business and liability worth Rs 5 crore from an out-of-family settlement. Today, Punj Lloyd Group is a multi-crore conglomerate, recognised as an Engineering, Procurement and Construction specialist across the globe with interests in the aviation, defence and marine sectors. Mr Punj has been instrumental in accelerating the Group's phenomenal growth, spearheading its operations across the Asia Pacific, Middle East, Caspian, Africa, South Asia, China and Europe.  

Through a combination of strategic acquisitions and joint ventures with partners in Germany, UK, Saudi Arabia, and India, he led the Group to enhance its scale and competitive position to acquire a leadership position in the industry with an impressive list of international and national clients. 

Punj Lloyd was the first private company to sign a nuclear deal post the 123 agreement when it signed the MoU with Thorium Power Ltd. in December 2008 to capitalize on the newly opened nuclear power sector of India.  

Punj Lloyd is a co-promoter of Pipavav Shipyard Ltd, opening multiple opportunities for the Group in defence besides providing fabrication facilities for platforms and vessels.  

With his unflagging commitment to the Group, Atul Punj is a source of encouragement to his entire team, integrating his 15000 strong multi-cultural manpower with common goals and vision. It is his altruistic initiatives that have resulted in setting up of the Institute of Physical Infrastructure at the new ISB campus at Mohali, the craftsmen training institutes for training and the implementation of the Life Enrichment Project for worker welfare at the Punj Lloyd sites. 

Mr Punj is also actively involved with trade associations. He is a Member of the Construction Federation of India, Construction Industry Development Council and the National Council of Confederation of Indian Industry. 

In 2008 Punj Lloyd was announced as the 'Best Infrastructure Company' at the NDTV Profit Leadership Awards. Mr. Punj was also awarded the Ernst & Young 'Entrepreneur of the Year 2007' in the Infrastructure & Construction category.

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