I am happy to know that Indian Overseas Bank is celebrating its Platinum Jubilee this year. Late M.Ct.M. Chidambaram Chettyar, the founder of Indian Overseas Bank was a far-sighted person, who made phenomenal contribution to Indian banking and industry. Indian Overseas Bank, the smallest of the 14 banks nationalized in 1969, has travelled a long path. In this period, I also had the pleasure of participating in some of milestone events of lOB such as the opening of the 1000th branch in Chennai in 1984. I am glad to see that the Bank has grown to be one of major public sector banks with over 2000 branches and over Rs.2.25 lakh crore business.

The Bank's focus on mid-corporates, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, agriculture and retail banking are the outstanding features of this bank. I hope the Bank has a strategy to enlarge its reach and operations in India and overseas. The Bank has demonstrated its unique character as a socially conscious, caring and consistently profitable institution of repute and I have no doubt that many more landmarks will be achieved in the years to come.

I wish the Indian Overseas Bank successful future.