About Pictures. Their stories. Picstories.
We talked of IT. What is IT? It is the arbitrage between the per hour rate in the US and India. We have gone from zero to $20 billion in exporting software, employing about 1 million people in 10 years. These million people changed the brand of India, consumption pattern and gave us the confidence that we can do everything.
The arbitrage has narrowed but is still there. It will disappear in a few decades by which time our software exports may be $100 billion. From a million people, it will benefit 10 million people. If that is what has happened in software, imagine what will happen in agriculture.
Let me give you some numbers. Take potatoes, the most common food across the world. From Bill Gates to my driver, everybody eats potatoes. Now, plot the prices. Farmers in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar get about Rs 4-5 a kilo; in the Middle East, the wholesale price is about Rs 25-30 a kilo. In the US, Sam's Club, it is Rs 90 a kilo. In Europe, it is Rs 110 a kilo. The arbitrage is 1:20. If we get our produce right, and if the US market is opened up, you will be surprised how quickly we reach $20 billion.
The food market is much bigger than the software services market. And the money goes straight into the hands of millions of farmers. The spinoffs are enormous -- jobs, houses, durables, a whole new consumption boom will start in rural areas.
- Mukesh Ambani
For full interview pls log: http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/jan/19inter.htm
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4 comments:
"So ultimately, Mumbai will get what its voters want and not what its citizens wish!!!"
Can't really see how living in a proper house makes somebody more entitled to citizenship over those living in slums. At least the slum dwellers who voted have demonstrated they have stake in the democratic system. The urban "citizen" seems to be busy making money that may come in handy to bend the laws.
1. If squatting on illegal prime land in cities and taking help of politicians in legalizing them is ok by you, I have no further arguments to make.
2.I agree that slum dwellers have proven that they have more at stake in democratic system and hence time has come for rich and middle class to vote if they want a life they deserve in a city like Mumbai.
3. The "urban" citizen is like any other citizen in this country. Everyone, with whatever limited resources they have (rich and poor) are busy bending laws. Bending laws is not an urban phenomenon alone.
It's sad how most urban citizens have given up on voting. We have perhaps begun to question our relevance in the electoral process. We have a voice only during the elections, some of us must be thinking that way and opting not to vote. I am trying to see both perspectives because there is very limited choice. There are two devils to choose from in every state. Whichever you choose, you end up as the burghera anyway.
http://outlookindia.com/article.aspx?263879
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