Articles 1 to 10 of 108
Numbers Mask Changes in India's Media and Entertainment Industries
Strength in numbers was the focus of this year's FRAMES conference, an annual event focusing on India's media and entertainment sector. Panelists at the conference, which is organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), noted that as the second most populous country in the world, India boasts a potential audience for projects behind only China in terms of size. But amid the salivating over the market's potential, there was also talk of other trends -- such as the entry of big business into the media sector -- that could have significant impact.
Carmakers Turn to Expats to Steer Their Business in India
Most multinationals hire an Indian executive to head their business in India. Their logic is simple: India is a complex market, and locals know best how to navigate its many twists and turns. So why is the automotive sector on a different track? Why do most carmakers bring in expats to steer their operations in India?
Ravi Venkatesan: Winning in India Can Help Companies Win Globally
Under Ravi Venkatesan's leadership from 2004 to 2011, Microsoft India's revenues grew fivefold and the country became one of the fastest growing markets for the software firm. Last year, the 49-year-old Venkatesan quit as chairman of Microsoft India to explore new ground. He is now working on a book about why it is imperative for multinationals to succeed in India. Venkatesan suggests that the capabilities that companies develop in India can help them win all over the world.
Amid Worries of a Slowdown, Charting India's Future Growth Trajectory
India's growth trajectory has been losing some direction recently, a victim of political bickering and an economic slowdown. Though concerned about the deceleration, Indian business leaders attending the recent 16th annual Wharton India Economic Forum in Mumbai remained upbeat about the country's long-term potential. They also offered suggestions about how India could regain some of the lost momentum.
Will India's Current Diversification Trend Pay Off for Companies?
Reliance Industries, India’s leading private sector company, has garnered notice with its recent announcement of a major foray into the media and entertainment sector. Reliance’s move is also reflective of a larger trend of companies moving outside their comfort zones. Of course, diversifications are not new to Indian firms. But unlike earlier, the current spate of activities is strategically driven, rather than mere opportunism. There have been some failures, however, and the final outcome of many of these efforts remains to be seen.
The Vanity Deal: Why Indian Firms Are on a Buying Spree
Indian companies are on a buying spree. While some acquisitions are in sync with the firms' existing businesses, others are buys designed to catapult the company making the purchase into the global arena. Chinese and Japanese firms have been making similar moves for years, and Indian companies are only now catching up. But experts caution that the businesses must be careful to choose "trophy" purchases that will enhance shareholder value.
Can (and Should) Bollywood Go Hollywood?
Corporatization is changing Bollywood -- as India's Hindi-language film industry is popularly known -- offering new opportunities for investment in a sector that is expected to be worth US$2.7 billion by 2015. Companies are finding more legitimate avenues, such as banks, to finance their films, and diversifying revenue streams to move beyond box office receipts. While some worry that the shift clashes with traditional methods of filmmaking, others say that it's not happening fast enough.
Is Small-car Manufacturer Maruti Suzuki Suffering from an Identity Crisis?
India's Maruti Suzuki has been known for years as a manufacturer of small cars. Recently, it has forayed into the luxury space and has also become a big exporter. In addition, it supplies original equipment and complete vehicles to Nissan, sells used cars and runs driving schools. All this could be considered complementary activities or -- as some critics contend -- unnecessary diversions. Can Maruti afford to spread itself thin? At the same time, can it afford to ignore the market beyond the compact car?
Indian Restaurant Chains Have Overseas Expansion on Their Menus
The restaurant business in India is booming as consumers' disposable incomes increase. As a result, food and hospitality chains are moving into the interior of the country. Many entrepreneurs are also outward bound: They are expanding their chains to other countries, exploring expansion opportunities and capitalizing on the growing popularity of Indian fare in the United States, China and beyond.
Diamonds Are Not Forever: Industry Moves from Israel to India
In the 1980s and 1990s, Israel was the world's major producer of polished diamonds. However, high labor costs have made the industry in Israel uncompetitive. As a global realignment takes place, Israeli companies are finding niches in value-added segments, and they are also focusing on their technology development skills. Meanwhile, India has become the world's largest manufacturing center for cut and polished diamonds, contributing 60% of the world's supply in terms of value and 85% in terms of volume.
