October 03

After the hectic packing...rushing to airport....last minute discussion's with Vineet, I am finally airborne!

Just finished watching the movie "The Hangover” Got curious about how many more miles to London. I checked the map. Low and behold! I am 10,000 feet above somewhere between Tehran (Iran) and Baghdad (Iraq).

Wow! I wouldn't want to jump out of the window here ! The map also shows me that I would have flown over Pakistan, Afghanistan and will fly over the Black sea, Turkey and Continental Europe before I get to London.

It’s funny how a simple thing as height can change perspectives. With the regular route I don't think I would fancy my chances going through Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq on same day. I guess the wise men have it right...security is finally a state of mind.

Anyhow, I am looking forward to meet the rest of the delegation from NASSCOM drawn equally from SME sector and large IT companies. It would be nice to know, how the last few quarters has been for everybody and may benefit from any insights these companies may have received.

Europe market for IT Services has always been different and in some ways – still nascent and somewhat unexplored by Indian companies. Unlike US, which till recently gave us most of IT exports from India with almost all large Indian IT companies having setup local deliver center, Europe has been mostly local company play. The IT landscape here is mostly dotted with small to medium indigenous or local IT companies that have expanded pan EU in last decade or so. There is a fair degree of protectionism that one sees in local laws and even European customers want a near shore delivery. Not to mention the fact that language still is a major issue.

The itinerary is power-packed with meeting with trade bodies, partner companies, regulators, law makers and lots of other stuff that promises to be exciting. Will try to steam moments to share with you what is happening here.

October 06

We landed in London in the pleasantly cool weather. My first thoughts, “There are SO MANY INDIANS here! It isn't how I remembered London last” Anyway, I took the EUROSTAR – a real technology marvel. It's a train that connects London and Paris, covering the distance in a little over two hours...and travels below the sea!

Awesome experience of how distances can be bridged.

Paris never seems to get tired of its romantic appeal. Being an ardent admirer of Da Vinci and other renaissance masters, I am partially qualified to give a guided tour of the Parisian architecture. But I am really excited this time to see how the business environment of Paris functions. There is a perception that the European labor laws are very protectionists in nature and hence comes in the way of a competitive services economy. My impression of what I have seen in Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industries and Invest in Paris HQ is that, protection or no protection, France is becoming increasingly aware of the potential of Inward investment and going out of its way to facilitate it!

We just finished listening to Fancoise Benaud, the GLOBAL Chairman of Steria and Mukesh Aghi, the CEO of Streia India (Streia took over Xansa and have facilities now in NCR, Pune and Bangalore).

The bonhomie is evident between Som, Franchoise and Mukesh Aghi. We are all clapping in the background! It was a really inspiring speech from a Visionary ! No wonder Steria has outlasted its competition. They’ve just celebrated their 40th Birthday!

We got a taste of international diplomacy and protocol in the meeting with HE Sri Rajan Mathai, Indian Ambassador to France. He shared his deep insight and vision about the multifaceted Indo-French relationship, and also hosted a Indian LUNCH for us (great food...specially after three days of Pasta and smelly cheese)

HE Ranjan Mathai - standing between Som and Me.

Presentation form "Invest in Paris", I am convinced.....Vineet, where is our check book!

How can Paris be completed without the Eiffel Tower? Since it’s my third trip to Paris, I did not climb it anymore. We also walked down the Champs De Elyse, the Palace and the Louvre!

Taking a walk through Central park just next to the Lovers

Paris Leg is over! Everyone is excited to going shopping soon. I am looking forward to the lunch! To each one his own!

October 7th

Took the EUROSTAR once more and arrived back in London…..getting used to the SMALL (Pigeon hole) sized rooms in Central London hotel. My reaction again was, “Why so many Indians?”

The itinerary of London leg has also been jam packed.  We have had meetings with Intellect, the counterpart of NASSCOM in India, it was great to exchange notes with companies of similar stage of growth from UK and got a view of how the domestic Indian IT services market looks from the far.  I was impressed with the quality of mentoring available to SME and Entrepreneurs from the Ecosystem and how far the government really goes to support any business which has the potential of eventually becoming a successful enterprise and employment generator.

I seem to have a penchant for attracting work.  Mr. Som Mittal, President NASSCOM had to rush home and I got nominated as the Delegation Leader…so I’ll now have to fulfill all his speaking engagement!

Here I am delivering an invited talk on “Opportunities for ICT Innovation in India” at Kingston Smith offices in London. Believe it or not, I had only five minutes notice for delivering this 20 minutes talk.

Here I am talking again on how SME’s can prepare themselves as investor (at the offices of ALMT Legal), friendly companies and access new markets. This was followed by expert comments on “Indian Innovation Ecosystem”.

In three days I have delivered five talks…phew!!!

After a week of cold food even “Haldiram Moong Dal” is very tasty!

Just outside the office of Think London. We just finished a seminar by UK Trade and Investment Commission about the Tax Laws and Incubation system in the UK. Believe it or not, as an Indian-IT professional, it’s possible to live and work in London, drawing an UK salary and paying NO TAXES!! May be we should move there soon! Also, the new incubation scheme of SME’s has convinced me that we need to setup in London ASAP.

Just got off the phone with Vineet, checking if he can make it to the UK around the time of my return journey. UK has the potential to be an access or gateway to the rest of Europe as you become a part of the EU Economic Zone!