In a significant achievement, India-born Surinder Kaul, has been elected to the Central Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, the supreme body responsible for the management of the affairs and business of the Institute.

According to the Institute, this is the first time an Indian has been elected to the Council in its 123-year-old history.

Kaul won a four-year term defeating veteran senior Council member Douglas Llambias from London constituency.

David Illingworth, consultant, KPMG who took over as the president of the Institute complimented Kaul for his outstanding achievement.

He also recalled that Kaul, as chairman of the London Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in India, had played a pivotal role in bringing the institutes of the two countries together.

"We are two large institutes of chartered accountants in the world and it is important for the future of the profession there should be close cooperation. We also want to develop relations with important professional bodies throughout the world," he said.

Kaul said, "I feel it is not only a great privilege for me personally, but also for the Institute of Chartered Accounts in India, of which I am the chairman of the UK chapter. I feel there is a lot of opportunity for the two principal institutions of the world to come closer and benefit from contacts that already exist in business, trade and commerce between the UK and India.

"Indian economy in the next decade will dominate the world economy and professionals in India should get ready to face the challenges. During my council membership I will endeavour to further build bridges between India and Great Britain," Kaul said.

The ICAEW was incorporated by a Royal Charter in May 1880. It is the largest professional accountancy body in Europe with more than 124,000 members working in business and public practice in 142 different countries.

Over 15,000 members live and work outside the UK. The Institute also has some 9,000 students and its qualification is recognised around the world.

Those who congratulated Kaul on his achivements included, R Bupathy, president of the ICWA, Justice Dr A S Anand, former Chief Justice of India and now chairman of the National Human Rights Commission and Indian High Commissioner to the UK Ronen Sen.