Kuwait, the best place to live in - SK Wadhawan

S.K.Wadhawan, Chaiman of Samara Auto Parts Company is a self-made aspiring Indian who turned to be one among the powerful businessmen in Kuwait. He is the Chairman of Indian Business Council (IBC) established under the patronage of Indian Embassy, Kuwait, to promote business, trade, investment and related activities for the members of the council in Kuwait, India and other parts of the World. Samara Auto Parts is completing its 50 successful years in Kuwait.

IIK: Congratulations for the 50th anniversary of ‘Samara’ Auto Parts.

S.K.W: Thank You.

IIK: Completing five decades of business in Kuwait, How do you find the journey?

S.K.W: It’s a very happy note that ‘Samara’ is completing 50 years. I should say Thank You Kuwait for supporting me right from the beginning. ‘Samara’ was with a single sponsor for long 44 years. It was my previous sponsor himself who compelled me to find a new one, just because he was old and not able to handle the business. With the support of such a person I was lucky enough to have a smooth journey.

IIK: You have seen and have been working with two generation of Kuwait. What is your observation on the changes?

S.K.W: Of course changes are there and we can very well make them out. The kind of relation and amity that Kuwait had with India in earlier days is almost unknown to the younger generation. Having seen and interacted with an elder generation of Kuwait who valued India and Indians at a higher status I feel that today we need comparatively more efforts to make them understand what we are.

IIK: What would be the favorable steps forward to promote ourselves?

S.K.W: In earlier days people from Kuwait had chances to go to India for trade reasons and they could understand in person, the potentials of Indian market. Today such explorations are not there. Here arises the role of our Embassy to propagandize Indian capacities. Organizing road shows, seminars, promotional exhibitions etc with a clear vision of staging our potentials is one among the various means.

IIK: What is the support that we receive from Indian government in this matter.

S.K.W: The trade relation between these two countries started long back and even now both governments are keen to maintain and develop it. The recent one being the opening of visa with multiple entry for 5 years. Giving such chances for the new generation investors to explore more of our country will surely promote the trade.

IIK: According to you what is the prime sector to be introduced?

S.K.W: There is a clear imbalance in the import and export between India and Kuwait. We can overcome this by introducing and promoting Indian tourism. Before invasion we had a tourism office here and now the Dubai office is taking care of those affairs in Kuwait. This again has limitations. We should have tourist office functioning from Kuwait which can considerably contribute to the proper marketing of our tourism opportunities. For example, I can say, medical tourism which is gaining attention worldwide has wide possibilities in India.

Apart from that the medical facilities and systems in India are sophisticated and competitive with any others in the world. Still the Kuwaiti nationals opt for western countries for better treatments. This should change. It is our responsibility to introduce and let them know our capacities in terms of facilities and cost effectiveness which again will shift the focus from west to east.

IIK: How far is Indian Business Council effective in bridging Indian and Kuwait markets?

S.K.W: Kuwaitis from old generation has well established business in India. Indian Business Council is serving both markets for the last 11 years. The platform we provide for the Indian and Kuwait investors is effectively used by them in setting up, developing and utilizing the opportunities. The chances we suggest and introduce for the new Kuwaiti entrepreneurs to visit our land has proved to be beneficial. From private sector we get enquires on the Indian market and we guide them with their requirements in co-operation with FICCI, ASSOCHAM etc.

IIK: What made IBC to think of an award for the successful entrepreneurs including the Kuwaiti nationals during the 10th anniversary celebrations?? What was the response for such a gesture from an Indian organization?

S.K.W: Kuwait business community and investors have been helping us for decades. It is our privilege to recognize them for their contributions along with the successful Indian businessmen. The response was awesome!! They appreciated IBC and are looking forward for the same in future. Seeing the acceptance we have also decided to continue it and next month, during our 11th annual celebration, we are honoring more of them along with our successful businessmen in Kuwait.

IIK: IBC members were included in the delegate team during the visit made by the Amir and the Prime Minister. How was that helpful for mutual business opportunities.

S.K.W: I would say those visits were really fruitful. Both government has signed many contracts. During the prime minister’s visit, representing IBC, Mr.Manoj Kabra could make a presentation on how to do business in Kuwait addressing the investors in India. Response was good and we got some enquiries for further details.

IIK: You have similar business in India and Kuwait. How do you compare both?

S.K.W: Both countries have their own system and depending on that positives and negatives are there. Still running a business in Kuwait is simple with well framed laws and comparatively more trustworthy employees. I have staffs here who is with me since the beginning. They know the importance of hard work and dedication to carry on in a foreign country. Back in India with around thousand staffs it’s not easy to manage. The external factors affecting the business are many, over there. Even at the government level, to get things done from various departments is totally a different approach in India.

IIK: But here we have a notion that only ‘wasta’ works.

S.K.W: To an extent it is there. But our country is also not free from ‘wasta’ system. Only difference is that, there we name it differently.

IIK: Being in Kuwait for last 54 years, how do you find the life here

S.K.W: I have spent major part of my life in Kuwait and from my experience Kuwait is the best place to live in and do business. Hard to accept, but it’s a fact that if you obey the law and live within the framework of law, the kind of comfort and peace Kuwait gives us is not seen even back in India. I am always grateful for what Kuwait has given me. Sukhran Kuwait. iend cheated on me