He has invested a great deal of his time, generating goodwill for the Group. He is our ambassador, subtly nudging the outside world to the presence of Sanmar. Listening to him, you are humbled by his charisma and drawn to his amiable nature. This, in essence, is N Kumar, Vice-Chairman and Member of The Sanmar Group Corporate Board. He has no ace up his sleeve, he simply does what is to be done towards building institutional partnerships and he does it in his inimitable style. Kumar is at the forefront giving momentum to the India-Singapore relationship, under the auspices of the International Enterprise Singapore and the Confederation of Indian Industry. His account of the India-Singapore partnership:
Institutionalising Partnerships:
International Enterprise (IE), Singapore (formerly known as Trade Development Board) needed a base to promote the India-Singapore partnership. In 1992, I was appointed Honorary Business Representative for South India for the IE, a government body that promotes trade and commerce. Two years ago, IE decided, for the first time, to convert the individual-based representation to an institutionalised partnership and set up the India Advisory Panel(IAP). Today, the IAP is seven-member strong with eminent industry stalwarts like K V Kamath, Sunil Mittal, Mukesh Ambani, Kiran Mazumdar Shah,
S Ramadurai, Ashok Soota, Tarun Das and M S Banga on the panel. It plays a recommendatory role to IE and meets the Prime Minister, Singapore ministries and institutions to help strategise the Singapore-India alliance and set it in the right direction.
A second institutional body I have been associated with in spearheading the India Singapore ties from the Indian shores, is the CII core group. The group, consisting of past and current presidents of the CII, makes annual visits to Singapore and drives the India-Singapore partnership on a continuing basis when they meet the PM and other economic and political arms of the Government of Singapore.
Today, these two initiatives help drive the economic activity from both ends and have laid the foundation for stronger economic ties between India and Singapore.
Why Singapore:
Singapore has built itself on an outstanding model, epitomising its commercial viability; the political correctness, transparency, good governance, focus, diligence, geo-political advantage, etc, have made it a gateway to Asia, for the world and the rest of Asia.
What we have today:
Looking back over this arduous
15-year process and with Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) happening a year and a half ago, I think we have achieved what we set out to achieve:
• Establishing strong economic relationships between the two countries and driving it on a continuous basis
• Establishment of an India Advisory Panel
• Promoting India in Singapore
• Promoting Singapore companies in India through IE
• Opening a gateway to China
• Luring the large Indian and Chinese diaspora in Singapore towards India
• Facilitating Singapore investments in India
• Most of all, the culmination of all such initiatives into the India-Singapore Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), which is a new beginning.
" In the final analysis this is yet another exercise for Sanmar in the aspect of being a responsible corporate citizen to the business community and to the nation at large. "
Singapore and Post-CECA Spin-off:
Singapore is the third largest investor in India, after Mauritius and USA, with FDI at 321m USD in 2005.
Investments from Singapore into India
(Cumulative)
1992 4.4 million USD
2005 962.5 million USD
(Source: Secretariat of Industrial Assistance, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, Government of India published at the IES website)
India was Singapore’s 13th largest trading partner in 2005. Total trade with India reached a record 16.6 billion SGD in 2005, increasing by 41.3% from 11.8 billion SGD in 2004.
(Overall trade)
1992 2,392 million SGD
2005 16,605 million SGD
(Source: IE Singapore)
Significant GLC Investments
Major GLCs like Temasek Holdings, PSA, Ascendas and others have increased their exposure into India. Singtel has substantial investments in the Bharti Group - The largest mobile telecom service provider in India.
Challenges:
The former PM and now Senior Minister of Singapore, Goh Chok Tong, the architect of the India-Singapore ties, set the ball rolling in a climate of liberalization in India. In spite of cultural similarities and other favourable factors, India was not exactly the easiest of business partners.
It is to Senior Minister Goh’s credit the ‘India Fever’ caught on and the government-listed companies (GLCs) came in. However the movement also needed non-government entrepreneurs to tie up with Indian businesses. Singapore has a large segment of Chinese entrepreneurs who have traditionally, vested their business interests with China.
This is the segment we wanted to draw and today it is happening. Thanks to our continuous efforts, delegations from the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce come regularly to India to explore opportunities.
CECA and Beyond:
CECA represents the stamp of confidence and a foundation on which Singapore-India will work towards forging a positive future in trade and commerce.
The automatic step forward is in logistics, followed by the manufacturing sector, the IT sector including the area of disaster recovery, education, etc. The possibilities are endless. With CECA, Singapore can facilitate India’s involvement in ASEAN and help recognise India as a viable trading partner. With India as a business ally, Singapore can establish a partnership triangle, with India and China on an equal footing.
Manufacturing Industry:
The idea is to synergise the best of both countries. Singapore has excellent logistic capabilities, governance, infrastructure etc. India has the manpower and talent pool. Many companies such as Nokia, have moved their manufacturing facilities to India.
A ‘do-able’ Synergy:
The backend engineering facility can be based in India and Singapore could serve as the front-end to take advantage of the international platform. Legal counsels can be based in Singapore. The Singapore brand in terms of governance is well built. Taking advantage of this, IPRs can be held in Singapore. Today India Inc has come of age and is a brand by itself. Indian companies are acquiring businesses overseas and trading directly with China. But ultimately it’s all about people to people interaction. Singapore still scores in providing us a bridge to China, to help identify synergies and strengthen China-India partnerships with their greater understanding of the Chinese people and the culture.
Education:
Education is a two-way lane in the India-Singapore corridor. For instance, one of the two schools selected by the Singapore Education Ministry for an attachment program for students and teachers, was Sri Sankara Senior Secondary School, Adyar. Presently they are trying to do a similar exercise to bring a Singaporean school team to visit Chennai. It would be an exercise in culture exposure for both. There are more such initiatives underway.
Why Sanmar:
As we go global, a Singapore strategy is an excellent proposition. Singapore will provide us the exposure we need to go international for greater inorganic growth. They would do the due diligence for us and help with the network and provide us a strong platform in Asia and beyond.
The bottom line however, is a commitment to the economic activity of the country. Though the networking opportunity comes by default, it is all about giving back and contributing. As for my role in playing ambassador, I am but the face of the Group, a catalyst, facilitating the whole process for the Group.
In the final analysis this is yet another exercise for Sanmar in the aspect of being a responsible corporate citizen to the business community and to the nation at large.
" N Kumar is the Honorary Business Representative of the International Enterprise Singapore (formerly Singapore Trade Development Board)."
" A past-President of the CII, he continues to play an active role in its activities. He is an industry representative at the WTO and has made representations as a CII delegate. N Kumar is also the Honorary Consul General of Greece in Chennai."
British Council International School award
Best Heritage Club award of INTACH
Bank of Baroda Rolling Trophy for the Interact Club
Rotary Club’s Best Interact Club award
As part of the International School award programme formulated by the British Council, Sri Sankara Vidyashramam Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Tiruvanmiyur, has successfully complied with and completed all the activities to win the award. The school will receive the award in October 2006, which will be valid for a period of three years.In addition to this, The Heritage Club, Parampara, of the School, was adjudged the best among 500 Heritage Clubs established in schools across the country.
The ‘Best Heritage Club Award’ instituted by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) was started under The Heritage Education and Communication Service in the year 2003. Among the entries received by INTACH from various schools across the country, the Heritage Club at Sri Sankara Vidyashramam was adjudged the best.
The students of the Club vied with one another to spread to the people the benefits of rain water harvesting, renovated the Marundeeswarar temple tank at Tiruvanmiyur and even celebrated traditional days like Aadi Perukku and Ayyanar Thiruvizha by lighting lamps at the temple tanks. They also spent 15 days at Dakshina Chitra, a heritage centre that reflects upon the cultural and architectural splendour of ancient south India. putting up exhibits on management of water resources and special folk performances.
They visited Illalur and Echangadu villages on the outskirts of Chennai and stayed in the homes of students there and brought them over to Chennai to spend time here and experience the fast-paced city life. The students also took part in other events including tree planting and in mass chanting of prayers. “In the larger context, heritage education helps students develop a sense of responsibility and an understanding of problems around,” said Kalpalatha Mohan, the Principal of the school. The school was the proud recipient of a cash award of Rs. 10,000 for the best Heritage Club in the country.
The Interact Club of the school has been awarded the Bank of Baroda Rolling Trophy by The Madras Voluntary Blood Bureau for the fourth consecutive year in appreciation of mobilising the maximum number of 347 donors in a school during a blood donation camp.
The school’s Interact Club has also received the ‘Best Interact Club Award’ for the academic year 2005-06 from among 24 schools that function under the Rotary Club of Madras District 3230.
M Charru Gaayatri and Manasa
Narasimhan, President and Secretary
of Interact Club, receive the BOB rolling
trophy from film actor Madhavan.
British Council International School Award
Sri Sankara Senior Secondary School, Adyar, has successfully qualified for the British Council International School Award for 2005-06 working very hard over the last academic year to win the prestigious award. The letter informing the school of the award states that it is also a reflection of the commitment of the school to integrate internationalism and citizenship in school education.
The British Council International School Award is an accreditation scheme for recognising international curriculum work in schools. The award consists of a certificate and the use of the award logo for a period of three years. The school will receive the award at a function to be held in Mumbai this October.
KJIEE certificate for Sri Sankara Senior Secondary School
Sri Sankara Senior Secondary School enrolled itself in the Kuruvila Jacob Initiative for promoting Excellence in school Education programme (KJIEE) in August 2004. This gave the school an opportunity to interact with member schools of the city to share the best practices and to exchange views on various issues.
The core team for Total Quality Management from CII arranged several meetings to discuss the TQM techniques that could be effectively applied to the various processes in the school. The core team comprising the Principal, the Vice Principal and two other members of the faculty, conducted workshops and ensured that there was participation from the entire staff of the school.
The programme, which began in August 2004, extended up to March 2006. In May 2006, a self-appraisal report was presented to the management in the presence of the member of the KJIEE team. The school received the Certificate of Participation from KJIEE in August this year.
An interactive session at the TQM meeting held
at Sri Sankara Senior Secondary School.
A section of the gathering at the TQM meeting.