The Hindu : Karnataka News : `Settle Kashmir dispute, boost trade with Pakistan'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 30, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

`Settle Kashmir dispute, boost trade with Pakistan'

By Our Staff Reporter

Jack Trout, an authority on marketing strategy, addressing presspersons in Bangalore on Wednesday. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE, SEPT. 29. Jack Trout, renowned marketing strategist, today urged the country to redirect funds spent on the conflict in Kashmir with Pakistan towards building good infrastructure, a prerequisite for emerging stronger in the global economy. "Settle the Kashmir dispute and build trade relations with Pakistan," was his recipe for success.

A day before a summit with industry bigwigs here, Mr. Trout told presspersons that the global economy favoured countries where there was no religious or political unrest and where the rule of law was strong, without corruption.

Emphasising the need for good trade relations with India's neighbours, he drew attention to the U.S.'s strong trade ties with Canada and Mexico.

He said the United Progressive Alliance Government with a Prime Minister who had an economic orientation was good for the country. "But the coalition is very messy," he felt.

Mr. Trout was full praise for the Chinese, describing that country as a serious player in the global economy.

Asked about the Chinese success, Mr. Trout pointed to the lack of any opposition to Government decisions there. "That is a big advantage in a competitive environment," he noted. But he cautioned that China could face enormous environmental problems with its projects such as river linking.

In contrast, he said, India's achievements in the IT industry had not trickled down to its poor.

This could be achieved if the IT success was replicated in the manufacturing industry, thereby generating jobs. Last year, China attracted investments of $50 billion, while India got only $10 billion.

Mr. Trout will focus on "strategy" at Thursday's summit, organised by the Centre for Management Studies. "Strategies are all about building perspectives in the mind, the rules of simplicity and reality and leadership skills," he told presspersons.

On the outcry against outsourcing in the U.S., Mr. Trout said politically it had become a hot potato. "But not that many jobs are being lost due to outsourcing.

The big losses in the U.S. are because of bad strategy, not outsourcing," he said.

Mr. Trout is president of Trout & Partners, one of the most prestigious marketing firms in the world with its headquarters in Connecticut, U.S.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka

News Update

Stories in this Section