Pierre ROSOLATO (E83)
Essec International (Asia).

The alumni-run “Cercle Diplomatique” is always blessed with speakers who bring optimism and realism when they present the potential, strengths and weaknesses of their countries…and of the French way to approach to them.

France and India: a new chapter

H.E.Mr. Ranjan MATHAI, Ambassador of India, brilliantly illustrated this with his exposé on November 13, “France and India: a new chapter?”  While India and France have always shared the vision of a multi-polar world, with the potential of being power centers, but the keys are soft power and culture.  The “new chapter” will be led by the business community, with new players emerging on both sides, as well as private individuals in the domain of knowledge, media and culture.

Pierre Daban (President of ESSEC International), with
H.E.Mr. Ranjan Mathai

Strengths and weaknesses

About macroeconomics, His Excellency pointed out that services now generate 55% of India’s GDP; manufacturing is growing at over 10% and the share of industry should grow in coming years – an environmental challenge – and that while agriculture currently has the lowest growth, the arable surface also brings great potential for the future.

India’s weaknesses were made perfectly clear: remaining poverty and illiteracy, many layers of administrative decision-making, and infrastructure being the most notable examples.  These were balanced against India’s manifest strengths: growth through domestic demand, democracy, freedom and creativity, the talent pool and a sophisticated business sector.

Franco-Indian collaboration

France and India were recognized by His Excellency as ancient trading partners; collaboration started early, even in high-tech sectors such as space. Today opportunities abound in infrastructure, energy, food processing, and biotechnologies, amongst other industries.

The Q&A session touched areas such as retail, the film industry, advertising, insurance, finance, and legal services. Questioning on sports business appeared of special interest to the Ambassador, for whom India should host more major events such as the Commonwealth Games, which will be held in Delhi in October 2010.

His Excellency concluded by linking France’s love of “terroir” and India’s sense of balance with nature, and quoted Rabindranath Tagore: “For our perfection we have to be vitally savage and mentally civilized”.