Welcome 2013, happy new year!

As the clocks tick on, another year is about to pass over and we entering not only a new year. Wishing you all a very happy and prosperous new year.

A brief looks Nature, Economic, Political and Technology happening over 2012

Nature: The hype created around Dooms day - 21st Dec 2012 was quite interesting and funny. This can be made into movie, in line with movie '2012' and sure would be a block buster.

Some of the stories which went around .... Earth would stop its rotation due to magnetic pole swift, Yellow stone volcanic eruption and its impact, huge sized Asteroid hitting the earth similar to one happened during time of Dinosaur.

All of which were scary only to remind us how blessed are we, to just to carry on by taking all nature's action for granted. Apart from above hoax, 2012 had been relatively peaceful year.

Economy: Another year passed by with currency wars happening as usual. Paper currency continued to loose stream as investment focus was on more trusted 'yellow' metal - Gold. On year on year basis, as of Dec 2012, there is around 20% hike.

From my view point, it looks like gold has reached it saturation point for the given economic condition of the world. From now on any hike may be slower one, unless there is further turmoil in Economy.

From economy growth perspective, the response was mixed and one can say it was sluggish all across the globe. After few years of growth, there had been a fall in India GDP this year.

The economic outlook for India does not seem to look promising particularly with higher NPA (Non performing assets - Recent RBI report) in banking sector with inflation refusing to come down.

Political: Political climate across there globe was much quiet. 2011 saw political changes in middle east, but 2012 was quite. 2013 could be a crucial year for India, before the general election before proposed election in 2014.

Technology: Virtualization and mobile communication continued to grow. Virtualization in form of cloud computing and mobile communication packed with feature are being widely marketed. In future mobile phones might become once valet and even used towards identity of a person apart from his signature or picture.

With every passing year, not only do we become old, but also become more mature and with keener understanding of life. Lets learn to live without regrets and focus our energy towards our goals.

GOOD LUCK AND BEST WISHES FOR THE YEAR AHEAD!!!

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Where is my India?

Where is my India? - This is statement put up by one of the leading news TV channels in the last few days, after the brutal crime happened at the capital in mid December 2012. Without losing time, the guilty need to be punished at the earliest.

The matter should not end with this, the question "Where is my India?" should act as a trigger at this point of time to bring in necessary reforms. About couple of decade back, Doordarshan and news papers where the only source of ‘news’ for public. Everyone is aware of quality of news produced by Doordarshan and even though news paper were privately run provided better coverage of news, unfortunately, one was not getting a complete 360 degree view point about the happenings and communication was one way.

Opening up of economy, evolved the media sector. 90’s saw growth of private TV channel, but the focus of these private channel was on entertainment , as the thought would have been only entertainment would provide sustainable business model for these media channel. Hence, the focus was not on quality of news provided OR analysis of news.

Come 2005, exclusive news channels were born. These news channels started providing a 360 degree view point of news and there has been no hiding of information. For any kind of major incidence happening in India, the media channel is there to provide the necessary information across India. In addition to news channels, the communication facilities and options like mobile, facebook and twitter has provided faster dissemination of information with support evidences.

Reforms in economy alone would not benefit the country, there needs to reforms all around, keeping in mind many factors and has to happen quickly. As this did not happen, some of the sectors have changed drastically due to technology, opening up of economy and professionalism while many sectors are resisting changes to happen. Some sectors in India have moved forward, while some others lag way behind. Anyways its matter of time, changes happen for good. After all, change is the only permanent thing, none can prevent it.

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'End of the world', Phobia....

Mayan's calendar ends on 21st December 2012, which is today and so?.....
I would like to link this up with history and also Hinduism. Mayan's calender started around 3000 BC, around same time as Kali yuga had started after the end of Dwapura Yuga around 3000 BC.

As per Hindu mythology, Kali yuga is set to last for 4,32,000 years and we have hardly reached about 5000 years. Kali yuga is suppose to be the last phase of earth after Sathya, Treta and Dwapara yuga and each of these yuga's had lasted for close to million years.

Mayan calendar could end today and start again tomorrow.

Also wish to point out the famous Bhagavat Gita Quote, 

Hence, tomorrow would be another day.

None, can predict whats is store for each one of us tomorrow.

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FDI in retail, back again..

FDI in retail industry refuses to die down, its back again in the parliament.
One could see mixed responses from about FDI in retail, I had read an article in The Hindu and read another article in Economic times few days back, with both providing a contradictory view point about FDI. Off course, I have written in my own blog about FDI in retail about a year back.

Having opened up almost all sectors including manufacturing, it really does not matter just to protect retail sector alone.

Going through the article in The Hindu, the following question came to my mind on which I do not have answers.

True, FDI should have been ideally allowed only for import substitute, promote export's. This has not been the case, FDI or imports were allowed in most of the sectors on which India could have managed by itself very well. For example FDI or imports were allowed in soft drinks, potato chips, real estate, fast food chain franchisees and many more consumer goods. Is repatriation of profit in form of foreign exchange not happening on these or have the economy not impacted?.

Let’s assume for argument sake, that export obligation is linked with FDI investment. A company setting up Indian arm and after couple of years of export , what if it set up an a subsidiary company in foreign soil, will not the foreign exchange flow as investment into the subsidiary company in foreign country from India?. If such interlinked subsidiary companies are set up in different country, how easy would it be track money flows into and out of India?.

As pointed out in the article in economic times the GDP growth was around 3.5% till about 1991, when the Indian economy was protected, however has GDP not grown much more after liberalization?. But then, Indian currency has also become weak since 1991 against most of the international currencies.

India has come a long way, after opening Indian door for investment in many sectors including manufacturing, in spite of many challenges faced and accepted the changes. There is no other option, but to accept change, take up competition and challenges where ever possible. End of the day, Darwin theory hold good in this global economy, which is ‘Survival of fittest’. A consumer, would feel OK to buy ‘Washington apple’ or ‘Nagpur Orange’ either in FDI hypermarket or mamji shop as long as they get quality product for the price one pay. Except for some changes and adjustment, both the retail shop is bound to survive in its segment.

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