Other Briefings
Domestic companies give multinationals a run for their money
April 21 – India has the second highest number of home grown companies that equally compete with multi national conglomerates, says a report put out by the Boston Consulting Group. India, which is second only to China had 11 companies that made it to the list, against China's 15. The report ranks 10 rapidly growing economies that are leading their markets and and fending off fierce competition with innovtive business models.
The report said that common signs of leadership amongst the companies were their ability to customise products and services to meet different requirements of the consumers. While technology and globalisation was on their side, the report said that the home grown companies have often found low cost innovative ways to go national allowing them to take the lead.
New India Briefing magazine out!
Big Ticket Strategic Investments into India
India’s Roadmap for Redevelopment
The new spring issue of India Briefing is now available and features an interview with India's minister of commerce and minister of finance covering why India is unlikely to face any slowdown in the face of a U.S. downturn, an article on registering your trademark in India – important as India is not signatory to the international Madrid Protocols governing most developed countries. We also focus on developments in India's auto industry, including the new Nano, and Tata's acquisition of Jaguar and Land Rover, and the new opportunities that now exist for foreign investors in the sector. We also feature India's civil aviation sector and the new successful operations of its first privately owned and managed domestic airports. The magazine concludes with India’s renewed partnership with Africa – Energy in exchange for aid.
Painting the global Canvas
April 17 – A robust economy, a new moneyed class, and the energetic participation of young expatriate Indians is giving India new clout in the world of art Long renowned for its beautiful paintings, sculptures and miniatures on temple walls of yore, the new booming, bustling, Indian businessman is investing in Indian art. Indians both at home and abroad believe investing in art can be as prestigious as a good address and as profitable as the stock market — or more so. And why not? While the Indian stock market has nose dived in the recent past, prices for art have tripled across the board, renewing not only interest in art pieces but also in art funds.
U.S. recession hits Indian IT companies
Infosys Technologies Ltd. Chief Executive Officer K. Gopalakrishnan, center, flanked by Chief Operating Officer S. D. Shibulal, right, and Chief Financial Officer V. Balakrishnan
April 16 – The U.S. recession might not affect the bouyant Indian economy, but India's IT services industry which sources a majority of its work from the west is showing signs of being hit.
On Tuesday, the Indian IT industrys' bellwether company, Bangalore based Infosys posted a lower than expected forth quarter profit. Net profit rose 9.2 percent to 12.49 billion rupees (315.04 million dollars) in the fourth quarter ended March, from 11.45 billion rupees. The profit missed analyst estimates of 12.6 billion rupees.
Brazil and India Strengthen Ties
India's first woman President Pratibha Patil (R) with Sao Paulo Industries Federation's president Paulo Skaf (L)
April. 15 – India hopes its trade volume with Brazil will reach US$10 billion in 2010, up from the US$3.1 billion registered in 2007, Indian President Pratibha Devisingh Patil told Xinhua in Sao Paulo Monday.
Indian expertise in information technology, pharmaceutical products and agriculture equipment can be exchanged for Brazilian know-how in the production of food and infrastructure facilities, sectors that India needs to develop in order to boost bi-lateral trade.
"Both Brazil and India are large and growing economies, with enormous opportunities for further rapid investment and growth. Our natural synergies and economic complementarities can be exploited for mutual benefit," she told an audience of the Federation of Industries in Sao Paulo.
Avoiding cultural catastrophes
April. 14 – Why do Indians have so many Gods? Why do they nod their heads when they mean 'no' and shake their heads when they mean 'yes'? Is it impolite to take a bottle of wine to your hosts house for dinner? ~ These and several other questions plague the thousands of expatriates posted in India.
Reading volumes of books on India, does not seem to prepare most foreigners who are posted to this vibrant, dynamic, pluralistic country of paradoxes. Nothing it seems can prepare one for the reality that is India.
Profiting from this latent demand are a host of companies that seek to culturally orient expats to the do's and don'ts of India. Each family is given a presentation on orienting themselves to the Indian way of life so that they are culturally aware and do not make any faux pases during their stay. From reading Indian body language, manner of speaking, hierarchy, negotiating business deals, cherishing family bonds, to learning to train household help, expats need to learn it all.
A university dedicated to NRI’s
April. 11 – India may very soon be exporting much more than software. As the knowledge industry grows in India, Indians and Non-resident Indians (NRI’s) alike want their children to be global citizens but with strong Indian roots. Realizing this latent demand, India will have its first university dedicated to NRI’s in the next three months, The Economic Times reported. The proposed university plans to draw on the expertise of the NRI doctors, engineers, and many qualified professionals.
In many countries of Africa, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, which have large Indian populations, NRI children find it difficult to gain admission, as these countries often prefer sons of their soil.
Terrorism to Tourism
April. 9 – Kashmir once called Paradise on Earth, is back to promoting itself as a tourist destination after a 20 year hiatus, when tourists flocked to it for its intricately latticed houseboats, lofty Himalayan mountains, green pastures, and fresh clean air.
The Northern Indian state is trying to attract wealthy tourists to play golf in its rolling hills in a bid to earn some revenue and change its image as a terrorist hideout. Certainly, the price is right — just US$20 for a round on the 18-hole course, US$10 for a golf cart rental and US$3 for a caddy
Excerpts from The New York Times say that the state is spending US$6.2 million to build a golf course in the winter capital, Jammu, to be completed later in the year, the fifth course in the region, and an international airport is scheduled to open in the summer.
