Mr. Shantanu Shirvastva

Mechanical Engineer from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. Shantanu was conferred with the Distinguished Alumnus Award by the Board of Governors of the Institute in 2009.

Worked as a diplomat at the Indian Embassy in Hanoi, Vietnam for over 5 years during the early part of his career.

Coming from a moderate background, Shantanu followed his dreams and ventured into the business from Vietnam with a small sum of $ 852. He is presently the MD & CEO of Ishan International Pvt. Ltd., MD & CEO of Pink Panther Productions Pvt Ltd, and Chairman of Ishan Foundation.

He is known for his contributions to the promotion of India – Vietnam and India – ASEAN business relations. He was the Chairman of India – ASEAN Business Promotion Council at ASSOCHAM and a member of the India – Thailand CEO’s Forum.

Shantanufounded the Indian Business Chamber in Vietnam (INCHAM)in 1998 asits founder Chairman. India – Vietnam bilateral trade used to be around 100 million dollars at that time and a solid initiative was needed to boost the bilateral trade. Shantanu’s contribution was widely applauded by the governments and people of both countries. It is noteworthy that bilateral trade has since risen to over 12 billion dollars.

India’s top daily newspaper Hindustan Times has named Shantanu as “the Man who put Vietnam on India’s Business Map”.

Shantanuhas received several prestigious awards including the ‘Friendship Order of Vietnam’ from the President of Vietnam for his contribution to the promotion of India - Vietnam cooperation and people-to-people contact. This is the highest civilian honour given to foreigners in Vietnam and Shantanu is amongst the very few foreigners to have been conferred with this prestigious award.

A book called “Shantanu’s 30-year Relationship of Love Respect and Cooperation with Vietnam” was released in Hanoi by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and the Ambassador of India. The book focuses on Shantanu’s contributions toward building strong bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Shantanu figures prominently in Baron’s Who’s Who of Asia Pacific Rim and was also nominated for the government of India’s “NRI SAMMAN Award”.

Shantanu has been a guest speaker at a large number of management institutes in the country as also the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO), Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC), CII, ASSOCHAM, and FICCI.

The Indian Council of World Affairs has published his articles in two of their publications on India – Vietnam relations.

Using his experience Shantanu has written a book called ‘$852’ to inspire budding start-ups. The book was released jointly by the Governor of UP Shri Ram Naik and the Vice-Chancellor of BHU.

Honors Received

• “Friendship Order of Vietnam”, the highest civilian honor for foreigners, was awarded by the President of Vietnam.
• “Distinguished Alumnus Award” from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur.
• Voted as one of the 50 top IIT Kanpur alumni in 50 years during the golden jubilee celebrations.
• Pride of place, alongside two ex-Prime Ministers of India, in the book published by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) listing best friends of Vietnam worldwide.
• Pride of place in American publisher Baron’s “Who’s Who of Asian Pacific Rim”.
• Special mention in the Report of the High-Level Committee (Government of India) on the Indian Diaspora.
• Book released on Shantanu's 30-year Relationship of Love, Respect, and Cooperation with Vietnam by Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and Ambassador of India.
• Book ‘$852’ written by Shantanu for inspiring budding start-ups. Book launched by Shri Ram Naik the Honorable Governor of Uttar Pradesh.