Inter-Cultural relationships are very important – they enrich you, said Carlos Ghosn, President & CEO, Renault and Nissan. He was addressing CEOs at the Taj Land’s End in Mumbai on 3rd April at an event organized by the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IFCCI).
Earlier, welcoming Ghosn, the President, IFCCI, Arun Nanda, said that French corporates were increasingly visible in India and that names like L’Oreal, Lafarge, Alstom, Alcatel, Total and Elf and Saint Gobain were now well known. French Banks were becoming major players in this country. He said that will the world held Ghosn’s achievements in awe, Ghosn himself was not a superman, just a human being, intent on getting results, setting goals and holding people accountable.
Nadir Godrej, erstwhile President of the Indo-French Technical Association (IFTA), welcomed Ghosn and introduced him to the audience in his customary manner of verse, saying
In Paris he imbibed much knowledge.
He studied at Polytéchnique
For engineers that’s very chic.
Perhaps this great geographic spread
Enabled him to get ahead.
A global man was quickly made,
Ace of technology and trade.
At Michelin first he made his mark.
Louis Schweitzer soon saw that spark
And Carlos Ghosn was soon ignited
And Renault’s wrongs were quickly righted.
Incisively he saved the day
And when expenses blocked the way
Like a hot knife through cold butter
He earned the title, “Le Cost Cutter”.
And Nissan which was in a rut
Steadily began to strut.
In his talk, Ghosn said that people are always comfortable with their own kind because they know each other, but there is precious little to learn from that. Working with other people can be difficult, but such inter-cultural relationships are enriching, because you learn new things, new customs and new methods of working. Ghosn was appreciative of the fact that India had the capacity to absorb foreign cultures and to welcome foreigners – it was the sign of an open society – one which wants to learn from others and improve itself.
Ghosn also spoke of the Mahindra-Renault relationships and said that the initial partnership to manufacture the Logan (which was launched earlier in the day) would serve as a platform for other ventures. He said that he always believed that if one could see value in a relationship, it could be taken forward. If there was no value, the relationship would not progress.
175 CEOs heard Ghosn at an event that was supported by the Indo-French Technical Association and sponsored by Godrej, BNP Paribas, Societe Generale, Calyon Bank, Saint Gobain Sekurit and Totalfinaelfindia Ltd.
