Venkat Raman –
New Zealand’s advanced policy in telecommunications and healthcare are clear examples of potential areas of collaboration between business houses of the two countries, Nandan Nilekani, Co-Founder of Infosys and former Chairman of Unique Identification Authority of India, said.
“While New Zealand has innovative, sophisticated solutions which Indian companies could benefit from through partnerships, the solutions have to be reconfigured and architecture modified to bring down costs and cater to a bigger population,” he said, speaking at the Business Summit 2015 of the New Zealand-India Business Council at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Auckland on Friday, March 13.
“New Zealand has many innovators and innovative products, which could be helpful for India. If challenges of ramping up scale are achieved, then people in India will start to look at New Zealand businesses as partners,” he said.
Go to States
Dr Reuben Abraham, Executive Director, Indian School of Business (Hyderabad, India) and a non-resident scholar at the Urbanisation Programme of the New York University advised New Zealand businesses keen on establishing a presence in India to look for the best deals offered by independent States.
“Each of the States or regions offers incentives and facilities for foreign investors. There are immense opportunities for involvement, including infrastructure projects ranging from airports to industrial towns,” he said.
Prime Minister John Key underscored the need to tap the enormous business and trading prospects between the two countries
“What India says and what India does, matters, unlike some countries. There is no question that there are massive opportunities for New Zealand companies,” he said.
Opportunity Year
Mr Key described 2015 as “A Year of Opportunity for the relationship,’ not least because the Cricket World Cup is beaming images of New Zealand into tens of millions of Indian homes,” he said.
“The Summit is a chance for leaders in politics, business and policy in New Zealand and India to engage and learn from one another,” he said.
NZIBC Chairman Sunil Kaushal outlined the objectives of the Summit and pledged to work together in specific areas identified by government officials and business leaders.
A detailed report and analysis of the Summit with pictures will appear in our next (April 1, 2015) issue.
Photo Caption:
John Key presenting a memento to Nandan Nilekani watched by Sunil Kaushal (left). Picture by Jagie Singh, Lion Beats Studio
