[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] Gautam Adani, chairman of India's Adani Group and Asia's richest person, has pledged a donation worth $7.7 billion (approximately 10.0369 trillion KRW) to commemorate his 60th birthday. The donation will be used for various social contribution activities.
In an interview with Bloomberg on the 23rd (local time), he said he would manage the donation through the Adani Foundation. He also explained that "(this donation) is one of the largest in the history of Indian business," and that it commemorates not only his 60th birthday but also the 100th anniversary of his father, Shantilal Adani's birth.
Turning 60 on the 24th, Chairman Adani has actively engaged in philanthropy since joining the ranks of global billionaires such as Mark Zuckerberg and Warren Buffett. The amount he announced is close to half of what the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation donated last year.
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Chairman Adani, whose net worth reaches $92 billion, has added $15 billion to his fortune this year thanks to a surge in his company's stock price, becoming a global tycoon. He said, "Within the next few months, we will convene three expert committees to formalize strategies and decide on fund allocation in the three areas of healthcare, education, and technology development." Members of the Adani family will support the committees, and he plans to add one or two more areas within the next few months.
Starting in 1988 as a small agricultural trading company, the Adani Group has grown into a conglomerate encompassing coal trading, mining, logistics, power generation, and distribution. Recently, it has also expanded into green energy, airports, data centers, and cement. As a billionaire and founder, Chairman Adani has pledged to invest a total of $70 billion by 2030 to make the group the world's largest renewable energy producer.
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