Gurus take some lessons from the Chelas-UK Story
Posted : October 31, 2004 at 6:42 am [IST]
The UK now has more successful “small-sized” businesses than any other country in the world after the US, a survey reveals. Britain is followed immediately by India. The British Asian communities in the UK in general and Indians in particular, have “totally transformed the business culture of Britain”.
The survey published by the New York-based Forbes magazine lists Britain and India at number two and three in the league of countries with the most successful “small-sized businesses”. This definition of “best under a billion” includes publicly trading firms with revenues of under $1 billion and a five-year return on capital of, at least, 5 per cent. The companies were then ranked by sustained gains in sales and returns and on the latest-year market momentum.
The list of 105 such companies has 31 entries from the UK, followed by 24 from India. France has 19, while Italy manages one only. Tim Ferguson, international editions editor of Forbes, said: “A country’s climate for entrepreneurism is reflected in these ranks.”
Britain may have once been branded “a nation of shopkeepers” but over a period of time, business was hemmed in by trade union-driven working practices, much like in Bengal. Asian immigrants have taught their former colonial master a few tricks of the trade.
Before Indians from Uganda as well as India came, it was unknown for small corner shops and businesses to stay open seven days a week. Now, it is common practice. The big supermarket chains like Tesco and Sainsbury have been trying to swallow the Asian businesses whose practices they copied. Asians have also brought a spirit of competition which was lacking before, a competitive edge in all their dealings.
Indians have made a big impact information technology, retails and wholesale sales, consumer goods and cash & carry as areas. The days when Indians were lumped with other “coloured immigrants” in the UK as being a drain on the British welfare state by the Right-wing have long since gone.
However, it will be not out of place to agree that Indians have prospered in Britain because they were allowed to do so under Margaret Thatcher, who, whatever her other faults, introduced radical economic reforms.
It is interesting to look into the lists of Indian companies that include some purely manufacturing companies too.:
The Indian companies listed are Aurobindo Pharma, Balrampur Chini Mills, Bharat Forge, Cipla, Corporation Bank, Essel Propack, Graphite India, Gujarat Ambuja Cement, HDFC Bank, i-flex Solutions, Indian Hume Pipe, IPCA Laboratories, J&K Bank, JB Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals, Jubilant Organosys, MphasiS BFL, Neyveli Lignite Corporation, Nicholas Piramal India, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Satyam Computers, Sesa Goa, Shanthi Gears, Sun Pharmaceuticals and Zee Tele Films.
- Indra
Category: Manufacturing |
Leave a Comment