{"id":3421,"date":"2023-04-28T12:45:41","date_gmt":"2023-04-28T11:45:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogg.lnu.se\/china-research\/?p=3421"},"modified":"2023-06-05T13:22:32","modified_gmt":"2023-06-05T12:22:32","slug":"my-impressions-from-studying-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogg.lnu.se\/china-research\/?p=3421","title":{"rendered":"My impressions from (studying) India"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is an attempt to summarize my impressions from quite a number of trips to the \u201ccontinent\u201d of India. Yes, l see India rather as a continent than representing a single country. When having noticed that India recently has surpassed China as the country with the largest population in the world and when having become aware of the enormous distances from the North to the South and from the West to the East, foreigners should conclude that India is characterized by different geographical, political, ethnical, religious, cultural, social, institutional and economic conditions. All this\u00a0 in one country!<\/p>\n

Understand and comment on these above-mentioned Indian conditions in a friendly and appreciatively way when meeting Indian business people! Foreign business people should stick closely to good relations and business deals. This conclusion looks logical and will remain valid in the long run.<\/p>\n

Why is India gaining momentum?<\/strong><\/p>\n

India is currently receiving much more international analytical and commercial attention than a few years ago. There are several explanations<\/strong> for this development:<\/p>\n

–\u00a0 A lot of positive reports on India could be read more recently in the international press – partly in order to create or show a kind of contrast to China;<\/p>\n

–\u00a0 India\u2019s status as a democracy seems to be acknowledged more carefully by current non-Indian corporate leaders;<\/p>\n

–\u00a0 India has started to plan and implement economic reform policy more ambitiously;<\/p>\n

–\u00a0 India received recently the most positive GDP outlook of all countries for 2023\/2024 by several global forecasters, by the IMF as well;\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

–\u00a0 the Western global corporate world regards Indian companies to a lesser extent as future competitors than they do when it comes to Chinese global players;<\/p>\n

–\u00a0 China lost certainly recognition in a substantial number of Western countries by not opposing to the Russian war in the Ukraine (which India also rejected to do but India was able to apply its political bonus in the West);<\/p>\n

–\u00a0 some serious policy failures in China (e. g. the reactions on corona) may have turned global commercial attention somewhat stronger to India than ante coronam.<\/p>\n

One may summarize as follows: The global business community still seems to judge China as more dynamic – but India still seems to be better able to attract more sympathy points from democratic countries and their corporations all over the globe – and this way also become increasingly interesting to foreign investors. Further growth potential can be explored by sizeable improvements of mainly infrastructure, institutions and education. However, necessary policy changes can take long time to be implemented.<\/p>\n

How to meet Indian business people<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here we come to a very important issue for Western business people. When meeting Indian managers or other kinds of Indian colleagues, Westerners often feel that meetings or negotiations are handled more or less the same way in India as it is done at home or in familiar countries in the neighborhood. However, this may turn out to be a completely wrong reaction or attitude.<\/p>\n

The other way around: Indian business culture<\/strong> is very different from the Western. Though not covering everything in this article, my experience from India can lead to a number of conclusions or recommendations as follows:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. 1. Accept the Indian rule of the game! Don\u2019t hesitate to use or say titles!<\/li>\n
  2. 2. Focus on communication, first on telling and showing who you are!<\/li>\n
  3. 3. When you meet initially in India, don\u2019t act straight forward to a deal!<\/li>\n
  4. 4. Accept a dinner without business talk. Talk about your family!<\/li>\n
  5. 5. For Indians, the family is very important. Take your time to listen!<\/li>\n
  6. 6. Don\u2019t talk about politics which Indians usually do not like to take up!<\/li>\n
  7. 7. Don\u2019t be very critical! Indians are rather euphoric or happy. Relax!<\/li>\n
  8. 8. Indians are religious. Never question their religious habits \/ seriosity!<\/li>\n
  9. 9. Never ask or talk about the Indian caste system!<\/li>\n
  10. 10. During negotiatins: Never let your hosts feel any time pressure from you!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Obviously, one should look for information about how to behave in India. Sensitive topics should be avoided, appreciated topics like family, religion and knowledge about India should be preferred.<\/p>\n

    If intense commercial relations to Indian companies are planned, it would be a good idea to learn Hindi. Indians even appreciate low skills in Hindi. Do not forget that India already today is the no 5 economy in the world and will probably have moved into the third place around five years from now. The potential is enormous but necessary economic, institutional, social, environmental and educational changes should happen faster than in the past.<\/p>\n

    India will – as far as one can see today – develop into a giant market for direct foreign investors, exporters and purchasing managers.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    Hubert Fromlet<\/em><\/strong>
    \n<\/em>Affiliate Professor at the School of Business and Economics, Linnaeus University
    \nEditorial board<\/a><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Back to Start Page<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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