June 2019 – Into India

My interview with His Excellency Dr A.M. Gondane, High Commissioner of India to Australia – first extract “tariffs and trade”

One 12 June, I had the privilege of a one-on-one interview in Canberra with the Indian High Commssioner, Dr AM Gondane. Here is the first of a series of short extracts from that interview:

Dr Gondane: “Australian tariff rates are low and ours are at a higher level. There are differences and we know that Australia is a very open economy. It is natural for Australia to desire Indian tariffs to match the Australian model, but this will take time. We have actually made a lot of progress and opened more than 90% of our tariff lines for restarting the negotiations.

“There are some sticking points, but I think, with careful negotiation and goodwill, the free trade agreement could be reached. Because India’s tariffs are higher it will naturally take longer to get them down.

“Both Australia and India are negotiating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) forum (meeting in Melbourne this week) which could be another avenue for increased trade.

“The RCEP provides good scope for commonality and the opening up of India and Australia economies – both are active in the RCEP,” the High Commissioner said.

The 15 Member countries of RCEP are Australia, India, China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Singapore, New Zealand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Philippines. They are meeting in Melbourne this week.

Dr Gondane concluded with a wide ranging comment about the Indian Ocean region and pointed to Prime Minister Modi’s vision for the Indo-Pacific:

“The period of doubling of Indian economy has reduced and we can reach US $ 5 trillion within the next few years. We are already the fifth largest economy in nominal terms and third largest in purchasing power parity. That is why the Indian Prime Minister has elaborated on what is our conception of the Indo-Pacific. Australia is an important partner in the Indian Ocean. These two powers will be of great consequence in the next twenty years.”

Time to make an FTA with India a top priority – my rant!

What is the Australian Government doing to get a Free Trade Agreement with India? Very little, maybe nothing.

Austrade certainly knows the importance of increasing India trade: “With trade wars, powerful neighbours, and the odds on a recession narrowing within the next two years, considering Indian market entry has never been more mission-critical for Australian business.”

One statistic shows why the FTA makes a difference – according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, in 2016–17 (the latest year for which there is data), only 2,087 Australian exporters engaged with India (no FTA), compared to 7,214 for China (we have FTA).

Time for Prime Minister Morrison to make this a personal priority, engage with Indian PM Modi and overcome any remaining obstacles to a free trade deal.

Our China exports are around A$190 billion while India is far behind at around A$20 billion.

We can do much better than this – but it takes an FTA to kick start it.

Come on Australia!

India-Australia trade relations set to grow at critical time

Many of us have championed closer economic ties between Australia and India. It is now more important than ever to get closer to India.

As Austrade expresses it – “With trade wars, powerful neighbours, and the odds on a recession narrowing within the next two years, considering Indian market entry has never been more mission-critical for Australian business.”

Some key statistics:

•In 2018, Australia’s total exports to India grew 10% to A$22.3 billion. India ranked number five in Australia’s export destinations.

•Two-way trade increased by a similar percentage to A$30.4 billion, making India Australia’s sixth largest two-way trade partner.1

•Australian investment in India increased almost 12% to A$15.6 billion, slightly ahead of India’s investment in Australia at A$15.1 billion.

However – and here is why Australia needs to balance trade – according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, in 2016–17 (the latest year for which there is data), only 2,087 exporters engaged with India, compared to 7,214 for China.

Time to think India.

Family businesses in India are the world’s most upbeat

Family businesses in India are on a growth trajectory, with 89 per cent of them expecting to grow in the next two years, according to a survey.

The global survey, ‘Family Business Survey 2019’ by PwC, was done among 2,953 family leaders across 53 countries, including 106 family business leaders, between April 20 and August 10, 2018.

The survey has revealed that 89 per cent of family businesses in India expect to grow in the next two years, with 44 per cent of them looking at growing aggressively and 45 per cent expecting steady growth.

“Regulatory changes are getting family businesses to bring in order and professionalise the business, and disruptive technology is pushing them to transform. These new market dynamics are cultivating a renewed sense of ambition in family businesses, making them resilient in the face of change,” PwC India Partner and Leader, Entrepreneurial and Private Business, Ganesh Raju K said.

In terms of expansion, a little more than half of the family businesses are open to internationalisation, while 40 per cent are looking at diversification, the survey said.

Nearly half of the family businesses in India are open to mergers and acquisitions both within India and outside thus reinforcing the belief that inorganic growth will facilitate synergies and achieve incremental revenue, it said.

A lot of Indian family business owners are looking at private equity or venture capital funding or are looking at listing their business on stock exchanges.

Further, the survey said, more and more companies looking at professionalising their business functions are distinguishing between ownership and management as they feel partnering with the right talent might help family businesses to adapt to the changes.

About 73 per cent of Indian family businesses have the next generation working in the business and 60 per cent plan to pass on the management or ownership to the next generation.

It also found that 92 per cent of family businesses in India allow family members to work in the business. When it comes to spouses or partners, three-fourth of family businesses allow them to own shares and two-third allow them to work in the business.

BUT – there is some evidence the next generation of young Indians will want to branch out and create their own startups rather than the traditional path of joining the family firm.

RMIT University is changing the India-Australia education relationship

After decades where Australian universities have often been accused of taking the money for Indian students but not giving back – innovative ways of “giving back” have emerged from Melbourne’s RMIT University.

These efforts have been led by Professor Suresh Bhargava, Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor India, who received a Victorian Government “Victorian International Education Award for Excellence in Innovation in Partnership and International Engagement” for its work in India. (Pictured above)

What has RMIT University done?

It seems to me they have created a unique blend of Government, research, industry and universities across India to form an amazingly extensive network of relationships – as shown in this diagram.

The RMIT-AcSIR Program has at least eight leading Indian research centres and laboratories involved in a program which will target 100 PhD students.

As Dr Alan Finkel AO, Australia’s Chief Scientist, said: “Very few of us have the opportunity to do something that is first in the world and worthwhile. One without the other is common. Both together is ground-breaking.”

Dr Megan Clark, Head of the Australian Space Agency, also commented: “This is a wonderful achievement and will make such a difference for the future.”

Difference – RMIT University is setting out the groundwork for a new collaboration which will bring India and Australia closer together.

With the Modi Government poised to shake up Indian higher education and global relationships, now is a good time for all of our universities to build on this leadership from RMIT University.

Diverse India on show as new MP’s sworn in this week

Multicultural India was on show this week when newly-elected members of the Indian Parliament (Lok Sabha) were sworn in.

Linguistic diversity was in full play with the oath being taken in different languages as several newly-elected members sported colourful attire, traditional shawls and headgears while a section wore a saffron look.

320 of the 542 MPs took the oath during the first day of the two-day long swearing-in ceremony.

Prime Minister Modi was the first to take oath as member of the lower house, nearly four weeks after leading the BJP to a resounding victory in the Lok Sabha polls with the party retaining power winning 303 seats.

Addressing the media outside parliament before the commencement of Parliament session, Modi set the tone for the business in the House, saying the opposition need not “bother about their numbers” as their every word is “valuable” to the government.

The remaining 222 members will take oath on Tuesday.

The world’s biggest democracy is on show!

The next steps will be critically important for Adani in Australia

Now that the Adani mine in Queensland has passed what seems to be the final hurdle, while it will still be a focus of protests it is now important for Adani Group to create and build a long term image and relevance in Australia. Adani Group is widely misunderstood here.

Few if any Australians are aware of the diversified role of Adani in areas such as solar power (below).

There have been mistakes. While “overstating” projects might be good communication in many countries, it is a disaster in Australia which is the home of the “tall poppy syndrome” (want to chop you down) and cynicism. In Australia it is best to under-estimate a project and then deliver beyond expectations.

This initial approach hurt the project and much of the bravado might well have been the Queensland Government – but dealing effectively with local politics is another important task for the group.

Here are some challenges, opportunities and ideas for the future brand of Adani in Australia:

Build up the media, political and community profiles of your local Australia team
Create some leadership profile opportunities for Mr Adani
Clarifying the Adani approach of “vertical integration” which is not well understood in Australia
Accept that protests and negative media will continue but strive to at least get your proper share of media space
Carefully select the media you will deal with – and provide media tours of Adani in India – with full transparency
Support and become involved in coordinated media relations programs with Indian High Commission in Canberra
Have Mr Adani seen as a “promoter of Australia” by leading an annual group of Indian business leaders to visit and explore opportunities in Australia
Bring some scientific R&D work to Australia – for example with RMIT University as a collaborator – this has the advantage of giving Adani relevance outside of Queensland
Create an alliance with Indian foundations which are high profile here – for example ASHA Foundation educates slum dwellers and is well known for having a slum young person graduate from Melbourne University. Provide scholarships for more to come here
Create or support a meeting of leading Australian and Indian resources and environmental scientists in some annual dialogue
Have a regular presence in Canberra
Develop some “owned media” content that is highly professional, well written and not propaganda
Facilitate Australian business and political missions to India, leveraging close contacts

Australia’s Cotton On enters India market

Cotton On, Australia’s largest fashion retailer, has made its entry into the Indian market through online shopping platform Myntra.

This is a smart move – low cost, quick results and great active market researh.

The brand plans to compete with the likes of H&M and Forever 21 in India, by opening its flagship store — either in Delhi or Mumbai — in the third or fourth quarter of 2020.

AVS Global Network, a retailer of global fashion brands that focuses on retail through digital platforms, is responsible for launching Cotton On in the country.

AVS Global Network has managed to secure an exclusive contract with online retail platforms Flipkart, Myntra and Jabong to sell Cotton On products in India for the next year and a half.

Cotton On Group was established in 1991 and is present in 19 countries including New Zealand, South Africa and Singapore, with about 1,500 stores across the globe.

The Australian giant has eight brands in its kitty, namely — Cotton On, Cotton Kids, Cotton on Body, Factorie, Ruby, Typo, Supre and Lost. Each one of them caters to a different market segment.

Cotton On is testing the Indian waters by selling its products online before investing in stores.

I like this strategy for India, China and other South-East Asian countries – they are increasingly buying apparel online, compared to other Western markets.

Perhaps online is your starting point for India too?

Some inspiring quotes from Indian PM Narendra Modi

We are harbingers of peace. We come from the land of Gandhi and Buddha.

All religions and all communities have the same rights, and it is my responsibility to ensure their complete and total protection. My government will not tolerate or accept any discrimination based on caste, creed and religion.

The diversity of India, of our civilization, is actually a thing of beauty, which is something we are extremely proud of.

I believe that a government has only one religion – India first. A government has only one holy book – our Constitution. A government has only one kind of devotion – towards nation.

Our country does not believe in the concept of your God and my God. We believe that all gods are one. We have different ways of accepting Him. All ways lead to Him.

Modi 2.0 – What will Modi do in 7 major policy areas?

Health

Telemedicine and diagnostic laboratories

More medical colleges

National immunisation programs

Modernisation

50 cities to have metros

Toilets for all Indians

State road network expansion

Inclusion

Banking access for all

Pension for small shop keepers

Poverty reduced to single digit

Economy

Grow to $5 trillion by 2025 and $10 trillion by 2032

Infrastructure spend

Credit scheme for MSME’s

Governance

Simultaneous elections

Time-bound delivery of public services

Upgrade governance standards

Education

Indian institutions to rate in top 500 in world

Medical and specialist doctors

Foreign Policy

Increase diaspora interaction

Multilateral cooperation on terrorism and corruption

Increase diplomatic corp

PLUS since this is PM Modi, expect the unexpected in this new 5 year term as Indian Prime Minister.