• Home
  • Contact
FICCI blog
  • Home
  • Contact
Home  /  Domestic Economy  /  Swing, stance and steadiness – Narendra Modi’s 100-day report card as seen in golf

Swing, stance and steadiness – Narendra Modi’s 100-day report card as seen in golf

Written by
Domestic Economy economy, golf, reforms Comments are off
Share this..
Twitter0
Facebook2
LinkedIn0

When Tiger Woods was in India, this gentleman was one of those passionate fans walking with him through the course and making careful notes of his swing and stance.

For the golfer in Didar Singh, secretary general of FICCI, he knew the game in India had come of age with Tiger’s arrival in the country. But Singh, who probably played more golf that Tiger himself, is aware of the long learning curve the sport has taken for he has been up and early at golf course for over 35 years from Assam to Delhi.

Delhi Golf Course where Singh plays is a perfect haunt to catch up on the all the buzz around policy and economy. With the new government in place, the expectations are high. “This government means business and that it’s also helping change the perception is a step forward.

There is an impression that India will be progressively allowing for more ‘ease of doing business’. So what makes him optimistic in less than 100 days of work by this sarkar? “Budget is a good signal. And indications on the ground are supporting growth.

Manufacturing is improving, export figures are better than before.” Though he admits infrastructure, the sector with the least fillip (but maximum scope) at the moment, remains sticky.

The long period taken to revive it makes the task of policy makers and industry, harder. It can only grow through public and private partnership where we need to bear in mind one important thing according to Singh. “The approvals need to come with speed and promptness.”

Given that India needs over one trillion dollars to grow infrastructure, it may be difficult to get the private sector on board without actually reassuring them of bringing those projects to fruition.

As Singh says of golf, “the single most important thing is to follow through” and the government may take that lesson from the sport on building infrastructure.

[soliloquy id=”5735″]
Singh, a former officer with the Indian Administrative Service picked up golf when he got posted in areas where there was little else to do for recreation. In Assam where golf courses and tea gardens alternate the landscape, golf was a great antidote to a long day of work. “I believe golf is incidental to golf,” he shares citing how the game allows him to go beyond just the sport and enjoy partnership of friends, business associates and a great time outdoors. It also gives Singh some time with himself to clear his mind and plan new initiatives.

FICCI has been a busy post for him. They have been taking delegations overseas to Europe, UK and Japan in a bid to revive the diminishing image of India in trade after the slowdown had hit. “That we make for a great democratic market is not going to change and so as a country we remain hugely attractive.”

The talk of a more streamlined and stable environment for foreign investors has urged stakeholders to look back at India after the elections, which brought a majority mandate. “No wonder suddenly several state representatives from the world are making a beeline to come here,”Singh asserts.

And this is further emphasised by the new BRICS Development Bank of which the Indian prime minister is the first president.Central to all these international effort though is the refocus on FDI.”Going for reform is part of the growth piece. Insurance bills absolutely crucial and India must signal that we mean business by getting it through. Defence of course is a massive sector waiting to be tapped.”

Retail has been a disappointment for international firms but Singh insists on unleashing its domestic potential first by making India more consumers centric, even if global retailers stay out.

As Didar Singh bets on FICCI’s forecast of ‘closer to 6% GDP growth’ he hopes small efforts will bring big results as they do in golf. A smaller and surer swing lifts the ball well and puts it on the fairway.

——-

First published by Shaili Chopra on Monday, August 11, 2014 at DNA
Images on this page are copyright free.

 

 Previous Article FICCI CEO’s Poll post Union Budget 2014
Next Article   Categorization of Private Security Workers as Skilled / Highly Skilled workers under Central & State Minimum Wages

Related Posts

  • Expectations of Individual Taxpayers from Budget

  • Union Budget 2017-18 is an opportunity to boost economic growth … but balancing multiple objectives will be tricky

  • Expectations from Union Budget 2017-18

  • Popular Posts
  • Recent Posts
  • Direct Selling – An Avant-garde Model
  • A Billion+ Customers need a Million Sales and Service Touch Points
  • Changing Times for Mining and Steel Sector in India Post COVID 19
  • Insurance Jobs of the Future
  • Massive potential for farmers, consumer by strengthening millet value chain; Let’s strive to put ‘Millets on every plate’
  • Energizing travel towards a sustainable future
  • Mining for a Green Future- What Lies Ahead
  • Technology transfer and collaboration – an important tool in enhancing the healthcare ecosystem

Drop us a line..

March 2023
M T W T F S S
« Jan    
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  

FICCI Tag Cloud

banking budget business business confidence CAPAM 2017 Knowledge Paper capital markets Changing Face of Insurance crime direct selling economic relations economy economy insights Economy of Jobs economy watch education environment FDI ficci finance financial foresights fintech growth GST healthcare homeland security india industry innovation insurance MSME oil opec policy policy reforms RBI reforms retail skills Skills for All SME survey technology UK universal basic income women
   Get Updates via RSS Feed

   FICCI website

Social Media

  • Connect on Facebook
  • Connect on Twitter
  • Connect on LinkedIn
  • Connect on Instagram
  • Connect on YouTube

Archives

Popular Posts

  • Energizing travel towards a sustainable future
  • Mining for a Green Future- What Lies Ahead
  • Massive potential for farmers, consumer by strengthening millet value chain; Let’s strive to put ‘Millets on every plate’
© Copyright 2018. FICCI.