Spreading tentacles

"Talent, taxes and time zone,” are the three benefits that the Canadian province of British Columbia offers to Indian investors, said Joel Fernandes, India director of International Trade and Investment Office of that province’s government. Fernandes whose "mother is a Parsi and father Goan” was one of the speakers at the January 23, 2018 meeting of the members of the Bombay chapter of the World Zarathushti Chamber of Commerce (WZCC) at the Royal Bombay Yacht Club. British Columbia, with the "lowest tax rates in Canada,” has ample talented professionals from the media, financial services and technology. The time difference with India (13½ hours behind Bombay) works to the advantage of businesspeople, while setting up conference calls, according to Fernandes.
Organized as an opportunity to network with trade consuls, the meeting brought together about 50 of the Chamber’s members. Others present were Ahmed Sadeghi, acting consul general, Iran; Peter Kern, consul, Germany; Vijay Iyer, senior trade advisor, consulate general of Switzerland; Saroja Sirisena, consul general for Sri Lanka and Christian Kirsch, founder of the International Delphic Council (IDC). Representatives from Brazil and Belgium were scheduled to attend but did not; Kern left after a very brief introduction.
While welcoming the attendees, chapter chairman Tehmton Dalal referred to WZCC as the "only chamber of commerce that is worldwide.” "We have recently added Australia and New Zealand (as a region) too,” international chairperson of the Women Entrepreneurs subcommittee of WZCC Behroze Daruwalla stated. A question and answer session with the consuls, with Daruwalla as compere, was part of the proceedings. Pheroze Kharas, global vice president Yazdi Tantra and past global president Minoo Shroff were among the international board members of the Chamber present, along with India leader region president Percy Master.

"If Canada is to grow, we need you (Indian businesspeople),” Fernandes said. Clean technology and advanced manufacturing (with robotics) are some of the areas that the trade director sees scope for Indian companies in the North American country. "Canada wants your children… Donald Trump (has) screwed it up for US education,” Fernandes said. The trade director was referring to visa restrictions for students wishing to study in USA, due to which opportunities in Canadian universities can be explored. "We have niche events and round table conferences regularly” that WZCC members could be part of. He reminded those present that he was taking a delegation of Indian businessmen to British Columbia between March 14 and 16. "I am only a phone call away… we will even help you prepare your business plan,” he said.
According to Sadeghi, the investment climate in Iran was conducive for investment from all countries, not only India. "Come, our doors are open,” he appealed to the members present.
A team of six within the Swiss consulate helps Indian exporters do business with that country and also promotes Swiss investments in India. In the 70th anniversary year of the bilateral treaty with the European country, Iyer said that "more than 250 Swiss companies have representations in India and about 120 Indian companies, in Switzerland. Life sciences, hospitality training and tourism are some of the "obvious sectors” that provide collaboration opportunities to Indian businesses, he noted. "We want to move away from the Yash Johar-type of tourism.” Filmmaker Johar was known for filming romantic movies in that country. The Swiss want to promote their country as a location for adventure sports. Businesses proposing to collaborate with Swiss companies can approach their consulate and also network with members of the Swiss-Indian Chamber of Commerce; swissnex India located in Bangalore since 2011 aims at connecting Switzerland with India’s startups, he stated.
In response to Daruwalla’s question "Why should Indians invest in Sri Lanka?” Srisena responded: "We liberalized our economy many years prior to India… India is one of the largest trading partners of Sri Lanka.” The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka, established in 1992, and their Chambers of Commerce "will be happy to facilitate your members’ entry into Sri Lanka,” said the consul general.
Art and culture provide us the "chance to tie the world together… (they are) the glue of society, the real driving force in society… not money, not modern conveniences… if we are not careful (about paying heed to art and culture), we may lose our roots,” according to Kirsch. "Understand the values that your customers possess,” he exhorted the business people and professionals present. Earlier, Jamshed Mistry, vice chairman of the Bombay chapter of WZCC and legal advisor to IDC had introduced Kirsch as a retired banker who set up the Council in 1994 to promote the modern version of the ancient Delphic Games to strengthen intercultural dialog through art.
According to Kirsch, culture is the "other side of tourism… India has spirituality to offer to the world… there is a large economy connected with spirituality… Ayurveda, wellness, yoga,” he emphasized. On behalf of the IDC, he offered to assist with training teachers to foster creativity in the youth. "If you are the best, something new will show up soon; if you are the first, you will have that advantage a long time,” according to Kirsch.
Speaking to Parsiana prior to the start of the meeting, Kirsch told us that business relationships would be more fruitful if one saw the benefits of working together and if one connected on an emotional level. "If you focus on selling and buying only, you may be collecting peanuts and miss out on the coconuts,” according to him. He quoted violinist and conductor Yehudi Menuhin: "If you are experts in polishing a single note, you are in danger of losing your ability to hear the melody.”
According to Kirsch, value systems are endangered within the European Union. "You (Indians) are by history, deeply rooted in religion… you are in touch with higher powers… When businesspeople interact keeping in mind culture, they ‘meet at the highest level.’”
After a vote of thanks by corporate secretary Adi Siganporia, networking continued over high tea.
In addition to Dalal and Mistry, the other office bearers of the Bombay chapter of WZCC include honorary secretary Jasmine Dastur, honorary treasurer Xerxes Master and members Homai Mehta, Kainaz Balsara, Rohinton Unani and Dinyar Marolia.