INDIA OFFERS DENMARK A GREAT DEAL

INDIAN AMBASSADOR TO DENMARK: “Personally, I think that relations between Denmark and India are good but pedestrian, only progressing at walking speed. If Danish companies dared to think more innovatively with entrepreneurial vision in relation to what India can actually offer to Denmark, the relations between the two countries would become far more valuable and productive than they are today.”

So says the Indian Ambassador to Denmark, Partha Sarathi Ray. He points to three focus areas which the Indian Government has prioritized: agriculture, infrastructure and manufacturing.

“I won’t dwell on the obvious, the IT and bio-tech areas, where a number of Danish companies have already outsourced and are making use of India’s knowledge and expertise. Not just because it is less costly in India, but primarily because of the quality of the work. But when we look at our three priority areas, I think relations are stagnating. Danish companies think in a pattern which is too traditional.”

Agricultural India

Ambassador Ray emphasizes that India has the world’s second largest arable land for cultivation at its disposal, and that the climatic conditions for agricultural production are optimal.

“Here Denmark can and should play a very substantial role in development. Today we see a number of European and American countries as investors and partners in Indian agriculture. But with the agricultural knowledge, food technology and expertise in fishing that I know exist in Denmark, a lot more could be done. Not just for the Indian market, but also with exports from India in mind.”

Ambassador Ray is very conscious of the limitations of India’s infrastructure regarding roads, harbours and airports. “But work is being carried out at high speed to make improvements, and we know that Danish expertise and capital could also play a role here. I know that Danish companies already are involved in railways and harbour operations in India, just as Danish designers have helped with the airport buildings at Hyderabad”, he says.

Fragmented

On the subject of manufacturing, Ambassador Ray points to the need of establishment of integrated production lines.

“India is a subcontinent having uneven regional growth. In India, you cannot just order companies to act in a certain way. Denmark is a small and very uniform country where manufacturing occupied a place of pride. In India, in the past, manual work was not considered as noble as the work of the mind. This mindset is now changing. That is something, we can learn from Danish companies”.

Denmark’s leading position in renewable energy has also been noticed in India.
“In the energy sector, we are looking for everything which can benefit India”, says the Ambassador. “And here we strongly emphasize that the environment must be treated with as much care as possible. Unfortunately, India does not lie in the same wind belt, with the same advantageous wind conditions, as in Denmark. Nonetheless, there are areas in India where wind turbines can be usefully installed. Especially in these days when increasing oil prices are close to making wind turbine technology competitive.

Outstanding doctors

On one issue, Ambassador Ray is concerned. He does not understand the many restrictions applying to Indians, with specialist backgrounds and a willingness to bring additional value to Danish companies, who want to work in Denmark.