We have put together real stories from people who have experienced India first-hand, along with their personal advises on how India had been part of their successful ventures.

My India Experience
Bert van Hijfte
CConsultancy
www.cconsultancy.nl

My first trip to India goes quite a long way back. In 1987 I traveled to Delhi as a journalist to experience the country first hand and come back with some stories on the Indian economy and the TATA Group in particular. And so I did. Crisscrossing Rajasthan visiting the Rambagh Palace in Jaipur and The Lake Palace hotel in Udaiphur and finishing in the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai this was quite an introduction to the country. All this resulting in an extensive introduction for the Dutch into The Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) and its subsidiaries collectively known as Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces.

From then on many more visits and publications followed for among others De Volkskrant, Het Parool and several travel magazines. Studying the country, talking to hundreds of people from ministers to rickshaw wallahs, I realized more could be done to promote this complex and fascinating country and ´sell´ it in the Netherlands. Reform of the economy made it clear that India was an economic power in the making that would make its presence felt in the 21st century.

In 1997 I started CConsultancy, a consultancy firm on the effects of globalization and the new world order with India at its centre piece. For public and private organizations in India, The Netherlands and the EU that are interested in doing business with or investing in the EU and India we offer expert advice, training and coaching:

1. Cultural awareness and sensitivity training with special attention for India, The Netherlands and EU.
2. Introduction workshops India: Doing business in a different world. Basic information about India: History, religion, culture, politics, economics, business culture(s), demographics and consumer (markets).
3. Introduction workshops for Indians: How to be successful in the Netherlands and EU.
4. Training and coaching India for (cross-cultural) teams, managers and program directors/VP’s etc. Sector expertise, cultural awareness and sensitivity, and bridging the communication gap to improve cooperation and efficiency.
5. Market entry studies and analysis on opportunities and challenges: Sectors, businesses and people.
6. Detailed studies on specialized topics (tax, corporate governance) in cooperation with third parties

And although things were tough when I started in the nineties, interest and business has changed quite remarkably since then. It is a joy to be able to work in such a fascinating environment. The importance of India and the interaction between the Netherlands and India will only increase in the years to come, and that makes it even more fascinating.