Visiting Business People

'Nepal Is Mature Market For Notebooks' (july 2011)

Nov 30, -0001 0 3 minutes 31 seconds to read

…

'We Want To Be Ready When The Economy Takes Off' (2011)

Nov 30, -0001 0 6 minutes 46 seconds to read

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'We Must Use Land In A Very Discretionary Manner' (july 2011)

Nov 30, -0001 0 4 minutes 42 seconds to read

…

'Nano Will Make Motoring Affordable In Nepal' (july 2011)

Nov 30, -0001 0 8 minutes 20 seconds to read

…

You Train Animals But You Educate People

Nov 30, -0001 1 6 minutes 18 seconds to read

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Communicate The Customer’s Way

Nov 30, -0001 0 4 minutes 55 seconds to read

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â€˜Customer Satisfaction Only Exists Where There Is Oversupplyâ€™

Nov 30, -0001 0 7 minutes 10 seconds to read

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â€˜Dealers Grow Confident With Exposure To New And Innovative Productsâ€™

Nov 30, -0001 0 4 minutes 38 seconds to read

…

˜We Are Looking Into Nepal's Hydro And Highways"

Nov 30, -0001 0 5 minutes 43 seconds to read

…

“We Are Innovators, Not Followers”

Nov 30, -0001 0 4 minutes 38 seconds to read

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â€˜Fiat Punto And Linea Are Two Great Cars To Start Business With, In Nepalâ€™

Nov 30, -0001 0 4 minutes 52 seconds to read

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â€˜We Can Significantly Increase The Sales Of Panasonic Products In Nepalâ€™

Nov 30, -0001 0 4 minutes 18 seconds to read

…

â€˜Simmtronics Has A Huge Market Potential In Nepalâ€™

Nov 30, -0001 0 3 minutes 56 seconds to read

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â€˜The People In Nepal Learn New Technology Very Fastâ€™

Nov 30, -0001 0 7 minutes 17 seconds to read

…

â€˜First Target Is Two Digit Market Shareâ€™

Nov 30, -0001 0 13 minutes 59 seconds to read

…

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No Laughing Matter

The Sweet Rewards of Power

By Madan Lamsal

. . .
read more »

NEPSE

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			'title' => ''Nepal Is Mature Market For Notebooks' (july 2011)',
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			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Albert Tung is&nbsp;the Regional Director for India and SAARC Region of Asus, a Taiwan-based computer manufacturing company. He was in Nepal recently to attend a dealersâ€™ meet of his company. Asus is gaining momentum in computer products and IT sector worldwide and is claimed to be number three for notebooks in consumer segment and number one in motherboards, worldwide. In an interview with New Business Age, Tung talked about the companyâ€™s strengths and strategies for Nepal. Excerpts:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What was the purpose of this dealersâ€™ meet in Kathmandu?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We have come from Taiwan for the Asus dealersâ€™ meet in Kathmandu which has participation from all our major dealers here as well as some from Bangladesh. Through this event, we wanted to appreciate our dealers for their efforts. During the meet, we updated dealers with product knowledge and apprised them of our productsâ€™ performance worldwide. With the conclusion of this meet, we are encouraged to work harder in this market.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<b>What are the potentials of Asus products for the Nepali market?</b></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We see good potential for our growth in the Nepali market. We need to work with our partners more closely to have better business. Asus has always emphasised on superior product and quality design. Though we are fairly new in Nepal, we are working hard to introduce our products among the targeted consumers here. The competition is tough as established rivals like Apple are already ruling the market. I have learnt that itâ€™s a mature market for notebooks. So, even though we are primarily known for motherboards, the challenge is to introduce our notebooks to the end users.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What distinguishes Asus from its competitors?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Asus is basically a motherboard manufacturing company. All computers require CPU and motherboard and worldwide, Asus is number one in motherboard technology. This is where our core competence lies. For example, while purchasing a good notebook, you should not only consider the brand but the technology inside as well which is vital.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How strong is Asusâ€™ international market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Asus leads the market worldwide when it comes to motherboard which is a very important component inside a PC. Encouraged by our top position with motherboard technology, we have also achieved number three position in consumer segment for notebooks worldwide. We want to continue the good work and lead the market for as long as possible.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Do you have any specific strategies in mind to penetrate the Nepali market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">We have been in this industry for 10 years in notebook and 20 years in motherboard technology. For the Nepali market, our strategy is to cooperate with the local partners here and tell them about our superior product quality, service and technology. Besides commercial advertising and branding, we are focused on taking care of our product quality once the consumer starts using it. Our simple strategy is to penetrate the market with honesty. We want the market to know that they should select an Asus product for its quality technology.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Computer technology is changing rapidly. How challenging is it to maintain a competitive edge in the market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Computer technology is changing with new technologies related to CPU, memory and other specifications coming up quite frequently. At Asus, we have the confidence because of our technology and the expertise in designing a motherboard. We know we have an edge in the market because of the support from our proven motherboard technology.</div>',
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	Ali Jaleel is Dellâ€™s General Manager for South Asia Developing Markets Group. He heads the Growing Economies business and looks after the markets in 20 countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Brunei, Nepal and Mongolia. He was in Nepal recently to launch Dell Inspiron R series laptops. In an interview with New Business Age, Jaleel shared his views on Dellâ€™s position and prospects in the Nepali market. Excerpts:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">You have just launched your new Inspiron R series laptops in Nepal. How will this launch boost your outreach plan to penetrate Nepalâ€™s consumer computer market?</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">We are very excited to launch this particular product which we also call the queen series. It is unique because you can actually change the lids and use various designs as per your liking. We are hoping that we will see very positive response for this product. The infrastructure is also quite developed with Gen Next (Generation Next Communications) as our partner and reseller here in Nepal. We now have outlets at locations that were not there before.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	Â </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">What made the Gen Next, your partner here,&nbsp;win the award of Dellâ€™s most valuable partner for Nepal?</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">They have been very impressive and done all the right things. They focused not just on sales but also on after sales, on above the line (ATL) activities, growing the market outside Kathmandu etc. Therefore, we feel they have the right ingredients. Along the way, we are going to learn new things from them and I am sure they too are going to learn from Dell. We both feel that it is going to be a long-term relationship. Nepal is a strategic market for us and we want to be ready when the economy takes off.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	Â </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">As for the awards, our partners from South Asia and Korea join us in various locations once a year.&nbsp;It is usually in Malaysia or Singapore because our regional headquarter is in Singapore and factories are in Malaysia. We have started a tradition of selecting partners on the basis of extraordinary performances. This is where Gen Next was selected for their stand out performance and awarded with Dellâ€™s most valuable partner for Nepal.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	Â </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">How is your experience in the Nepali market so far?</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">We have been here for many years actually but mostly in an enterprise-way and not in a direct one. We have started making investments here only about six months ago. Gen Next is relatively new for us here but our business has really taken off in the last year or so. Nepal is a good market for us where our business has been growing steadily. There are a couple of very positive signals â€“ one is that the economy is very resilient and the other is, when exponential growth happens, it is good news for all organisations that have invested.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	Â </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">Who are your major competitors in the local market and where do you stand vis-a-vis the competition?</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">We would consider HP to be our closest competitor.&nbsp;We are competing with Acer and Lenovo in consumer base and IBM in the enterprise base. It is actually good to have competition because it keeps everyone on their toes and focuses on consumersâ€™ interests first.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	Â </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">What gives you the confidence that the New Inspiron R Series will hold its own in the market thatâ€™s already flooded with similar products? How do you plan to position yourself in the market for this particular product and establish brand identity?</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">We are very confident about the product and the quality. The innovation we have put in is something very unique. We are quite confident that it will find its own niche, build a loyal customer base and do us good.&nbsp;When you talk about a product, it is important to have different ranges because people have different requirements. Some may like a 12-inch screen while some other prefer a 15-inch screen. Therefore, we have positioned this particular product by giving options of varied screen sizes.&nbsp;They also have the option of making their notebook look different according to their mood. The reception has been very positive during its launch in some other countries a few weeks prior to that of Nepal. It is now available in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, India and China besides Nepal.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	Â </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">We are already showing our intent to grow here and you must have started seeing it already. This is just the beginning for this particular product. Technology moves very fast so we have to keep focusing on the Dell brand. And under Dell, we have to keep focusing on Inspiron as well as other products.&nbsp;We will continue to appear above the line to establish brand identity.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	Â </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">How do you assess the Nepali market overall? What are your expectations from the market in the foreseeable future?</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">Overall, I was very impressed with the sophistication of some people I spoke to. They are very well informed. In enterprise base, customers from various industries know exactly where they want to be and the technologies they want to embrace. This is very good because it means half the work is done since we donâ€™t have to educate the customers who are already very informed. Similarly, people seem to be quite well informed about technology in consumer base as well. The young generation here is very internet savvy and has all the information. As a matter of fact, they ask questions about technologies which are not yet available in Asia which is really interesting. These technologies are either introduced or are being planned to introduce in countries like the US. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">We do feel that we will continue to have organic growth which is fine with us because we are making the investments now. We are hoping that once the elections happen and a new government comes in, there will be more projects. A good number of projects especially on the government side are something we are eager about. That will definitely help us grow exponentially because right now, our growth is pretty organic.</span></div>',
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			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 11pt;">World-renowned architect Hafeez Contractor was in the city to launch his first project in Nepal called Westar Skyliving -- a twin-tower apartment block close to Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza in the heart of the city. Targetted at the high-end clientele, this 14-storey luxury high-rise apartment project on 7.10 ropanis will have 77 percent of the project area reserved for open space and water bodies. Contractor is a member of Bombay Heritage Committee and New Delhi Lutyens Bungalow Zone Review Committee. After completing his graduate diploma in architecture from Academy of Architecture in Mumbai, he finished his graduation and MS in Architecture from Columbia University, New York. Among other projects, Contractor has also designed The Imperial I and II, the tallest buildings in India. His projects are spread across India, South Africa, UAE and the US among other countries. In an interview with Pinaki Roy of <i>New Business Age</i>, Contractor talked about Nepalâ€™s transforming skyline and the housing industry. Excerpts:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What is your assessment of the housing industry in Nepal?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">We are facing shortage of houses in Nepal and India. Not only that, housing shortage will be greater in the days to come with rising population and more people moving into the cities. Therefore, we have to find a way out to deal with the problem of housing shortage. We should discourage the individual housing system in every South Asian country including Nepal.&nbsp; The land is ever decreasing with construction of stand-alone houses and the truth is that we canâ€™t produce additional land.</span> There is an immediate need to redevelop old buildings here. By doing so, taxation levels can be increased and the cities can get rich. The cities can then plough money into&nbsp; infrastructure which is most important.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Tell us in brief about your association with Westar Skyliving. </span>I am interested in Nepal because apartment culture has been developing here of late. The people buying these apartments should be offered hassle-free living conditions and I hope my expertise of over 30 years will help fulfil this objective. This particular project â€˜Westar Skylivingâ€™ was proposed to me by its promoter Golyan Group and it interested me due to its international standards. With my involvement in this project, I want to demonstrate innovative ways of designing and executing an&nbsp; apartment project.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Given the fact that Nepal falls in the Seismic Zone 5, how do you view the increasing construction of high-rises here?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">The fact remains that high-rises are a very important today because we have a restricted amount of land. And, we have to make use of the land in a very discretionary manner. Up till now, we have been wasting land by keeping open spaces where we can do nothing. We need proper, large green spaces and we have to think about our subsoil water which is going down because of the indiscriminate growth of our cities. The water gets washed off and does not percolate down. High-rises are very important indeed and it is equally important for the people involved to build high-rises in the right manner. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Earthquakes are going to come some day or the other so we should be better prepared for that. Design&nbsp;and construction of skyscrapers should be as per the code otherwise we are in big trouble. I feel the government should take a very firm stand against people who are not adhering to this. In the event of an earthquake, buildings may collapse because the builders may not have designed the buildings as per earthquake loads. Suddenly, the media and everyone else will start saying that high-rises are bad.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Will you be involved in more Nepali projects in the foreseeable future such as public structures and slum redevelopment?</span></strong></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
	Yes, definitely. Besides working with the private sector, I will be looking for opportunities to work with the government as well. The government must look at providing sustainable housing options to the citizens of this country. Itâ€™s sad but true that despite having tremendous potential, the apartment business has not registered the desired growth in Nepal. We must look to introduce easy apartment systems that will accommodate large number of people under single roof. I will be working in this direction in Nepal.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Whatâ€™s your recommendation for the Nepali architects? </span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I have come to Kathmandu after 2-3 years and I saw a lot of glass buildings. I would be very happy if a touch of local architecture and materials are given to the buildings being constructed. It happens that while living in one region, we like what is there in the other region. This phase will go away with time and you should let it happen. You should maintain old buildings because heritage is extremely important.</span></p>',
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			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Johnny Oommen</strong> is the Head of International Business, Passenger Car Unit for Tata Motors Limited. Oommen has a proven track record in bottom-line results, strategic marketing, problem solving and people management. He has also worked for top brands like BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce, General Motors India and even Sony Entertainment Television. Oommen was in Kathmandu last month to launch the much-awaited Nano car in Nepal. In an interview with <i>New Business Age, </i>he shared his views on Nanoâ€™s market prospects and its suitability for the Nepali roads. Excerpts:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Nano is now in Nepal. How do you feel about it?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	It is a momentous occasion for us. When we launched the Nano in India nearly two years ago, we were clear that a product like Nano will find its way to markets that are closer to India. Nepal, as you can see, today is one of the earliest markets outside India that we have decided to hit with Nano. We are very optimistic and confident that Nano will find acceptance across Nepal.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How is the car doing in India?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We have principally launched in India and Nepal is one of the earliest markets outside India. In India, the car has stabilised and is doing quite well. We initially had supply problem then we went into producing as much as the pipeline demand we had. Today, we have really expanded production and distribution capacity and we have 617 dealerships and sales point in India.&nbsp;We are going to introduce 300 exclusive Nano outlets in the coming month. So, the Nano is definitely looking good in terms of results in India.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>In Nepal, Nano is going to cost much higher than in India because of high tax rates. How do you see that?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Well, even in India, the pricing has moved up because of increase in import cost, material cost and distribution cost. So, today Nano is more expensive than it was two years ago. In Nepal, the duty and tax structure is such that there is 240 per cent increase over the price that we have in India. Despite that we are able to bring the Nano into Nepal in extremely attractive price. We believe that despite all that multiplier, we are offering a product that will make motoring affordable to a lot of Nepali population. Just to give you an example, starting price of the Nano Standard is Rs 798,000. Thanks to the tie-ups, we have got into with as many as 10 banks, we will be able to, for instance on the Standard, take a down payment of Rs 10,000 and work out a monthly instalment of Rs 11,111. So, that is a very attractive proposition. I think we are only adding to the expectation around Nano being a very affordable, acceptable motor.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Do you have any volume-wise target sales for Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Sky is the limit. We are looking at various segments. We believe as a car, it has potential for people who are currently without a car.&nbsp;Letâ€™s say they are using two-wheelers. We are looking at the people who have just started working, first-time job holders, young couples, small families, and of course people who already have one or two cars and are looking at additional small vehicle in the family. We believe, if we look at each of these segments, there is a lot of potential and we have increased production capacity in India so we are in a position to fulfil the demand in the Nepali market.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How do you see the Nepali market demand for cars,&nbsp;especially for Nano?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Even though the industry for a couple of years may not have grown as per the expectations of most of the automobile manufacturers and even the Nepali economy, we believe that the Nano is a product so attractive, packed with features like space, compactness, safety, manoeuvrability and fuel efficiency, all these are extremely attractive points. We believe with all these, it should be able to attract far more people in Nepal. We believe in creating a new segment. While people may be considering other cars, it will draw new people into the world of motoring. In that sense, it is really a limitless kind of thing. It is difficult to predict but our expectations are high.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How did you find the reaction of people here after the soft launching and beginning of Nano Yatra?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	So far, it has been overwhelming. We have received more than 5,000 enquiries, which is not a small number. It is very encouraging. We are only looking forward to actually start delivery. We will be announcing booking today and hopefully within a monthâ€™s time we should be able to start delivering.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Nano is the cheapest car in the world. How was it possible to make a beautiful car in such low price?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	The perception of cheapest car might have a lot of people believing that we must have cut corners or compromised. The truth is that Nano is the result of intelligent innovation. We have designed the car in a completely new way so that we were able to rethink how to manage cost and a lot has been done without making compromises. In terms of compactness, it is eight per cent more compact than the closest competitor. In terms of space inside, it is 21 per cent more spacious than closest competitor. In terms of gradability, it is as good as any other competitor. In terms of ground clearance, it is as good as or better than cars in one or two segments above the Nano. In terms of fuel-efficiency, the Automotive Research Association of India has certified fuel-efficiency of 23.6 kilometres per litre. Even in city driving that becomes around 20 kilometres per litre. It is still by far the best among others in Nepal. So, all of this is what we call innovative. These are all important to the customers and in fact they are better than what competitors offer. We have been able to do this in lower costs and that is what we would like to gift Nepal today.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Sometime back, there were questions raised on the safety of Nano because there was abrupt fire on board. How has the company addressed the safety issue?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">On the couple of incidents that happened, I must inform you that essentially they were to do with placement of some foreign object in the car. We can only certify that the Nano is an extremely safe product. It has been built with the highest standards of quality and after these couple of incidents; we actually improved whatever we needed to ensure that any such acts of unauthorised placing do not happen. It is difficult to expect any such incidents in the future. After those incidents happened, notwithstanding the fact that we knew Nano is a safe product, we submitted the car to a fresh investigation of design and everything in entirety. That investigation team included experts from outside Tata Motors so that it is a completely new investigation. You can often be blind to certain things because you believed the product for six to seven years is absolutely a safe product with the robust design and state of the art innovation. Despite our researches and belief, later we decided to make the robust car even more robust. We made enhancements to make it even more robust.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	As a testimony of our confidence in the product, we are offering for the first time in the Nepali market, a four-year or 90 thousand kilometre warranty. Nobody else does that. We are extremely confident about the product and I think this warranty provision itself certifies the fact that we believe in safe, sturdy and robust car.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Given the hilly terrain and not so perfect roads even in cities, is Nano the right car for Nepal?</strong></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Nano Yatra has been going on for a month now. It has covered around six thousand kilometres. That is not very long distance but we are glad to report you that it has performed extremely well. It is very robust and sturdy. It has gone across Nepal and we still have a lot of territory to cover. We will be doing 40 thousand kilometres. We are very confident that it will prove itself because we have extensively tested the car in India. The car has been driven on the highest motorable road in the world, Khardungla. We have gone across terrains and we are confident that the same performance that Nano has shown elsewhere will be shown in Nepal. Given the hilly terrain and narrow road, there could be nothing perfect than Nano. Its small size and its gradability makes it really perfect vehicle for Nepal.</span></p>',
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			'description' => 'Johnny Oommen is the Head of International Business, Passenger Car Unit for Tata Motors Limited. Oommen has a proven track record in bottom-line results, strategic marketing, problem.......',
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			'id' => '357',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => 'You Train Animals But You Educate People',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="color: rgb(178, 34, 34);"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><img align="left" alt="" border="3" height="285" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/william.jpg" style="width: 250px; height: 285px;margin:10px;padding:10px;" vspace="2" width="250" /><br />
	William Westgate is the Director of Studies at London College of Management and Leadership. After completing his degree at University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, he moved to London and started on the Midland Bank graduate training programme in 1984. Over the next 20 years, he rose to become Senior Vice President at HSBC Securities and Vice President and Director at Toronto Dominion Bank. He retired from investment banking in 2004 to take up a post lecturing in Business and Economics at Woodhouse College, one of the UK's top performing state colleges. Westgate is a founding partner in the London College of Management and Leadership and brings his knowledge of industry, enthusiasm for teaching and vast resources to the training sessions he delivers. He visited Kathmandu recently for the preliminary preparation of Finance &amp; Management Training scheduled for August this year&nbsp; targeted towards senior and middle level bank employees in Nepal. During his visit, he met the CEOs from major banks and financial institutions as part of his preparation. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, Westgate shared his views on the overall banking industry in the country and the upcoming training programme. Excerpts:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
	</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">How do you assess the banking industry in Nepal during this short visit of yours?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	It's ahead of the curve and banking has to be so. People do say that there are too many banks given the current economic level. When you are talking about a new Nepal, you have to develop the infrastructure, resources, processes, technologies and training people to a level where the economy is going to be. If you don't have the vision, you are left in the dust. Some of the bankers I have met recently do have a vision.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Finance and banking is not just another industry. It's integral to economic development, right from micro lending to massive project financing, ATMs, consumer products you name it. You cannot make economic progress without a functioning banking system. The banking system in Nepal has a lot of ground to cover though. There are billions of rupees that need to be brought into the formal banking system. You must also get rid of a practice like hundi because that's not good for the economy. We need transparency as these are big social issues.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">What is this Finance &amp; Management Training all about?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Well, I don't pretend that I am going to solve all the issues. Banking is a complex industry. In my experiences as a banker, there are a lot of things to know. But there are certain things that you have to know. So, it's a situation of nice-to-know vis-Ã&nbsp;-vis need-to-know We have designed this course based on what the bankers here really need-to-know. Cost of capital, time value of money, sales and distribution of financial products etc are essential for the people in the banking corporations, irrespective of their positions, to know. So, those are the aspects we hope to bring to our training.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">How did your preparation go towards the training programme?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Prior to coming here, I did a lot of research. But nothing matches meeting face-to-face the people who matter. I would say that it has given me invaluable education and encouragement. The conversations I have had here have given me a lot of good practice as well as ideas. I have met some of the most capable people running the banking industry here, however, they are restrained by current conditions. What we hope to do is bring fresh air new western thinking. But we have to tweak it to suit the Nepali market. Because what works for selling bonds in Wall Street is not going to work for selling a loan in Kathmandu. But the principles always stay the same; there are certain things that never change. We are hoping to adjust and adapt tactics as per local requirements.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">You had a lucrative investment banking career going well for you. What is it that stimulated your transition to lecturing and training?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Yes, I had a fantastic career as a banker. But for me, banking is more than just the money. I reached an age of my life where I didn't wish to remain a banker anymore. I love to explain things to people and making presentations using technology. I am an enthusiastic person and like to engage other people. It was more about aspiration and I wanted to move on to what I really enjoy doing.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What was the idea behind founding the London College of Management and Leadership? How do you think you have made a difference?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We set ourselves apart because we bring a combination of real practical experiences with academic rigour. All my life, I have collected notes mentally and physically wondering I wish I knew that and why didn't someone tell me that earlier. In our teaching, we focus on what the students need-to-know For example, while doing an MBA, the students don't need to know half the MBA because they will never use it. We make sure that the students pay real attention to what they would be practicing in the course of their work careers. Doing so helps us earn a lot of trust from the students. I admire good training and I hate bad training. Inspirational training is something I have always loved and therefore, bring it into practice.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">How exactly will the training programme benefit Nepal's banking professionals?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">As I have already said, the training will bring in fresh air, thinking and new ideas. People starting their careers in banking now are a lot more fortunate compared to 20 years ago. Today, there is technology available to make training sessions very engaging process. They say that you train animals but you educate people. The programme will follow a holistic approach. Banking has many components and when we put them all together; the participants will better understand their roles, departments, banks, the industry and the economy. It will allow them to have a creative and original thought about banking. It will also help them think out of their respective work briefs and cubicles and expand their horizons. </span></div>',
			'published' => true,
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			'description' => 'William Westgate is the Director of Studies at London College of Management and Leadership. After completing his degree at University of British Columbia in....',
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '356',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => 'Communicate The Customer’s Way',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="color: rgb(178, 34, 34);"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><img align="left" alt="" border="3" height="312" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/stephen.jpg" style="width: 255px; height: 312px;margin:10px;padding:10px;" vspace="2" width="255" /><br />
	Stephen Reynolds is the Founder and CEO of Stephen Reynolds Seminars (SRS) International, a leading provider of corporate training in Thailand and Asia. His website describes him as an Expert in Psychology of Sales and Marketing as well as creator and trainer on THE ONE Advanced Sales System and Magic WORDS Communication Systems. A well-known speaker on Leadership, Communication and Sales, Reynolds has trained leaders from over 60 companies in Thailand, Philippines and Malaysia in the past three years. He has over 27 years of experience, which he leverages to make his seminars, training and public speaking engagements bursting with information, guidance and direction that is both practical and relevant. He was in Kathmandu recently, on the invitation of National Banking Training Institute (NBTI), to impart two-day training to Nepali professionals. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, Reynolds shares the tools and techniques that he teaches to make positive changes. Excerpts:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
	<br />
	</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">How do you assess the participants of this programme?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">The commonality among the trainees of this programme is that most of them had no sales background at all. Except for one participant, this was their first sales seminar. I tell people that what I am teaching is the most powerful sales technique in the world. It's usually helpful for them to go through other sales trainings as well so that they can contrast different trainings. Then they know what I am saying is true. But if they have never been to any other sales training, how can they compare. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Having said that, I think the training was incredibly fruitful. The participants were smart, involved and committed. They were hungry for the knowledge. It happens often in corporate training that the participants sent by their bosses are apathetic towards training as they don't want to be there. But it was an exception here in Nepal. The people were charming and needless to say, I was very happy. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">What's The One psychology of Sales and Marketing all about?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">The One I believe, is the most powerful and effective sales technique in the world. Sales is very complicated. There are many sales systems that are based on as many as 500 techniques but this is the only sales system in the world based on one technique. We are trying to take something very complicated and make it much simpler and easier to apply. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">We start with the relatively new psychology of Neuro-linguistic programming. It is an approach to psychotherapy and organisational change based on a model of interpersonal communication chiefly concerned with the relationship between successful patterns of behaviour and the subjective experiences underlying them and a system of alternative therapy based on this which seeks to educate people in self-awareness and effective communication, and to change their patterns of mental and emotional behaviour </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">How can communication techniques be made more effective for sales?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">There is no point in my inundating trainees with too much information that they can neither remember nor use. It's important to focus on a particular aspect which will make a difference. That is the challenge with sales. I go with the most powerful psychology and go right to the heart-of-the-matter how to sell face-to-face. ˜The One technique helps immensely as it is applicable for leadership, communication, negotiation etc. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">How do you define advanced psychological linking?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">It is when you take your products and link them together with the values of the person you are talking to. Basically, we are communicating the customer's way according to their values and vocabulary. The One focuses the entire sales process on the highest values of the person you are dealing with. It is a completely customised process. Sales is not just talking, you have to start seeing the psychology behind the word. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">Are you confident the trainees will be able to effectively apply the technique taught by you?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Well, I hope so. Or else, my effort will amount to nothing. In two days, I have given them a real foundation. They should be able to walk out and start to communicate better and instantly be able to see an increase in their sales.What they have learnt during the course of the training should also help them improve their communication at their workplaces. They should now be able to communicate better with their bosses,&nbsp; subordinates and customers. Sales is communication and vice versa. </span></div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2011-07-20',
			'modified' => '2012-10-31',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Stephen Reynolds is the Founder and CEO of Stephen Reynolds Seminars (SRS) International, a leading provider of corporate training in Thailand and Asia. His....',
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '355',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => 'â€˜Customer Satisfaction Only Exists Where There Is Oversupplyâ€™',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><img align="left" alt="" border="3" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/kevin.jpg" style="width: 223px; height: 231px;" vspace="2" />Dr Kevin McCrohan is a Professor of Marketing â€“ School of Management at George Mason University in Virginia, United States. A PhD from City University of New York, his research interests include marketing and efficient functioning of profit and non-profit organisations, competitive intelligence, information security, methods of marketing compliance for fiscal and philanthropic organisations and economic measurement to fill gaps in administrative data sets. Dr McCrohan has been a Senior Fulbright Scholar at the School of Management, Kathmandu University, Nepal as well as at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. During his recent visit to Kathmandu, he delivered a talk on â€˜Customer Satisfaction in E-Commerce: Issues and Solutionsâ€™ and its implications for Nepal as the main theme under â€˜SAIM Lecture Seriesâ€™ initiated by South Asian Institute of Management, Lalitpur. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, Dr McCrohan shared his views on the importance of customer satisfaction in e-commerce from Nepalâ€™s perspective. Excerpts:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
	</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">How does customer satisfaction work in an e-commerce scenario?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We have a relationship between the firm and the customer in which they trust each other over the course of a transaction. It is of overriding importance that all the participants that deal with that transaction online can be trusted upon, particularly with personal and financial information.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What was the focus of the talk programme today?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	It was to make people aware of the fact that the firms have the best of intention out in the cyber world, while dealing with customers online. Of course, there are scores of mischievous elements who are trying to steal money. In the bargain, it breaks the trust between the consumer and the firm. As a result, the consumers stop dealing with the firm. &nbsp;I was totally fascinated with the programme today. It was delightful and certainly a privilege to be here.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">It is very hard to monitor customer satisfaction on the web as you donâ€™t physically see the customer. How do you overcome this challenge and ensure they are satisfied?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	You can contact them after the purchase through e-mail and find out if they are satisfied and if the product is working out for them as promised. You could also do surveys with your online customers by asking questions pertaining to their satisfaction level with respect to your firm and its products. I must point out that when people complain, paying attention to those complaints is critical. Marketing is about word-of-mouth. In todayâ€™s age of online blogs, a bad experience is posted and gets conveyed to n-number of people.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	You need to benchmark yourself. In the western world like the European countries and the United States, there are customer satisfaction surveys that pop up online highlighting firms and organisations. The response thus generated can be tracked by the firms. For small firms, the best way is to design a questionnaire and occasionally contact the customers and try to determine how they can better serve them.&nbsp;They can appreciate the consumers for their valued feedback and thank them for helping them in their endeavour for ensuring improved customer service.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">To reduce customer apprehension and assure customers of legitimacy, how important is it to post â€œCustomer Certified Ratingsâ€ on the web site?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	If you can quote an online source, thatâ€™s even better. But if you can quote your own survey, that is still good. You can thank them and apprise them of your growth over a period of time. By doing that, you let the customer know you are monitoring customer satisfaction as it is important to you. You also convey a message that you are paying attention to what the customers tell you.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Online retail sales still make up only a small portion of overall retail sales in the US but satisfied consumers are expanding their purchases online. How do you view this?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Itâ€™s neither good nor bad. In late 1990s and early 2000s, a lot of research projected that the growth rate for e-commerce would reach unprecedented heights and everything will be online. But there was a vital element missing from those surveys. In a country like the United States for example, shopping is recreation. A lot of people are what we can refer to as, full-contact shoppers â€“ they love to shop.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	There is no way that e-commerce is going to replace the actual experience of going to the store with family and friends, feeling the goods and shop in person. Almost everybody compare the shops online but still end up at the store to buy products first-hand. The real challenge for large e-retailers is to somehow convince more people to actually buy online. I have a statistic that tells me 25-30 per cent of amazon.comâ€™s purchases are left in the cart â€“ people go through the process of selecting goods and are ready to buy but eventually end up not buying.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Customer satisfaction is non-existent in any kind of business in the third world countries. Except for the developed countries, do you see any potential whatsoever, for e-commerce in such countries?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">Exactly. One of the points I was trying to make during my presentation was that the concept of customer satisfaction does not exist in a country like Nepal. The market is in the United States and European countries. The beautiful carpets and woodworks that Nepali craftsmen make are phenomenal. The only way to reach the customers all around the world is to tell them about these products. In the US, a friend of mine wanted to buy a khukuri for his son. It took him five months in 1999 to contact the firm here. The only way he knew about khukuri was that I gave him one after one of my visits to Nepal. Now, all that can be done online.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	It is not an issue that customer satisfaction does not exist in Nepal. What matters is that it exists where you have to sell. Customer satisfaction only exists where there is oversupply. The tragedy of the world is that people in a lot of countries have so little to spare but those in the United States, Europe and Japan have a lot of money. Thatâ€™s the kind of consumers you have to reach. If some Nepali product needs to find a presence in the United States, for example, it has to be either word-of-mouth or online. So, a website showcasing local products to a worldwide audience will certainly help.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">People in rich countries are looking to buy something new and different. The products made in Nepal are certainly new, different and beautiful. You need to sell them to the people in these affluent countries. But then, if left unsatisfied, these people will go online and badmouth not just the product but the firm and the country as well. They will also go to the extent of recommending and advising others against dealing with the country they are disappointed with. Thatâ€™s where the customer satisfaction impacts, not in your country but in the market you are catering to.</span></div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2011-07-20',
			'modified' => '2012-10-31',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Dr Kevin McCrohan is a Professor of Marketing â€“ School of Management at George Mason University in Virginia, United States. A PhD from City University....',
			'sortorder' => '273',
			'image' => null,
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	),
	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '354',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => 'â€˜Dealers Grow Confident With Exposure To New And Innovative Productsâ€™',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12px;"><img align="left" alt="" border="3" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/boby.jpg" style="width: 220px; height: 255px;" vspace="2" /><span style="color: rgb(178, 34, 34);">Boby Johnson is the Senior Customer Marketing Manager (Export) - Asia Pacific, Philips Consumer Lifestyle. He was in Kathmandu recently for the Asia Pacific Regionâ€™s Dealersâ€™ Meet. He also launched Fidelio Docking Speakers for Apple products, 3D Television, LED Televisions, Home Theatre System, Air Fryer, Grooming products, Garment Care and Floor Care products for the Nepali market, during his visit. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, Johnson shared his views on the prospect for Philips products in Nepal. Excerpts:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How will this event help enhance the sales and market expansion of Philips products in Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	To start with, we have received tremendous print and broadcast media coverage for this event, which I think, is fantastic.&nbsp;This should help us get a lot of brand awareness and generate sales.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Are there any special packages for the dealers to facilitate market penetration?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We organise dealersâ€™ meet every year and it energises our dealers. After each conference, the dealers grow confident because they have been exposed to new and innovative products. These meets give them the added belief that they can sell. I am certain that the dealers are very happy with the new introductions that we are going to bring to the market this year. This would rejuvenate them and help them sell even more this year.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>About a month ago, one of your competitors launched similar products. Donâ€™t you think you were a bit late?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	I donâ€™t think so because this is nothing new. Sometimes, we launch earlier and at others, itâ€™s them who are earlier. It depends mainly on when you are ready for sales. I think what is important is how confident you are on your products. We are very confident with what we have.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How do you view the market potential of these products in Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Going by the reaction of the people I have met here, Air Fryer is one product that can register good sales in Nepal. Apart from that, 3D TV should do well. We also have very nice audio products like Fidelio range for Apple products which are very popular in Nepal. We are confident about all the products that we have here including kitchen appliances and beauty care products.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>There are similar products of premium brands in the market. How fierce would be the competition?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	I think the competition is good. Philips has been around for more than 100 years now. To be in existence for such a long period, you must be doing something very good.&nbsp;We are number one in so many categories worldwide, for example, shavers (male grooming), juicers, blenders and garment care. As a company, we are confident about innovation power and what we bring to the market. We do keep an eye on what our competitors do. However, we are also confident about our own innovation and position in the market.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How are these products doing in the Asia Pacific Market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	They are doing pretty well. Air Fryer, which is made in Singapore, is doing extremely well there. In Asia, all our products are doing very well.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What are your plans for the Nepali market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We have a very strong and good distributor in Nepal taking care of all business operations on behalf of Philips. Syakar Company is doing a great job. One of the reasons why we came to Nepal is to show our solidarity to encourage their dealers, distributors and sub distributors. I believe this will really help them grow the business further in Nepal. There are a lot of opportunities for business in this country. We are confident that we can do a good job in Nepal. We hope that besides the business, we establish Philips as a major brand in Nepal and distinguish it from other brands in the market.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What, according to you, are the problems and challenges in this market?</strong></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Wherever there are opportunities, there are challenges.&nbsp;We hope that the stability in the country will be ensured in the future. Besides political challenges which we all know about, I think the main challenge is the prevailing economic situation. The global economy is on the recovery path and we hope that it continues. We must stay positive and grab the opportunities in the market as they come our way.</span><br />
	</span></p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2011-07-20',
			'modified' => '2012-10-31',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Boby Johnson is the Senior Customer Marketing Manager (Export) - Asia Pacific, Philips Consumer Lifestyle. He was in Kathmandu recently for the Asia Pacific....',
			'sortorder' => '272',
			'image' => null,
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	),
	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '309',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => '˜We Are Looking Into Nepal's Hydro And Highways"',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><img align="left" alt="" border="2" height="296" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/img6.jpg" style="width: 203px; height: 296px;margin:10px;padding:10px;" vspace="1" width="203" />Atul Punj</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, the Chairman of Punj Llyod Ltd“ a diversified international conglomerate offering EPC services in Energy and Infrastructure “ was in Kathmandu recently on the invitation of Entrepreneurs Organisation. A US$ 2.4 billion turnover company, Punj Llyod Group has built projects across the world and continues to provide integrated design, engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) and project management services for the energy, infrastructure and petrochemical sectors. In an interview with New Business Age, Punj talked about his company's possibilities of working in Nepal. Excerpts:<br />
	<br />
	</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What's the purpose of your visit to Nepal this time?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	This is actually my first visit to Kathmandu. I was invited here by the Entrepreneurs™ Organisation to speak on entrepreneurship. It also gives me an opportunity to explore and get a feel of the city and the country and see what's happening.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Could you please elaborate on Punj Lloyd's business activities?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We cover everything from urban infrastructure to expressways. We operate through our twenty international offices and entities across the Middle East, the Caspian, Asia Pacific, Africa, South Asia, China and Europe. The ideology is that we move into a country and localise operations there as quickly as possible. We make sure that we are seen as a local company rather than a foreign entity that has come in only to explore business opportunities. So, we invest a lot of time and money in training people and imparting specialised skills.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Our Group's three brands - Punj Lloyd and PL Engineering headquartered in India and Sembawang Engineers &amp; Constructors in Singapore, each with their own subsidiaries and joint ventures, converge to offer complementary services, rich experiences and the best practices from across the globe. We offer EPC solutions across a wide spectrum of businesses: pipelines, tanks, terminals, refineries, power plants, airports and rail transit systems among others.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What are the key strengths of your group? What sets you apart from your competitors?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	The key strengths would be our varied experience and rich knowledge of local conditions. Ours is a 23,000 strong skilled multicultural workforce that has the experience of working in different geographies and diverse terrain. We set high standards of health, safety, quality and environment and have received accolades and recognitions from industry bodies and clients.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We have the ability to manage operations in diverse industries and economies, long-term relationships with world-class clients and mobilising financial resources. The huge fleet of equipment Punj Lloyd owns gives the company an edge over its competitors.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Punj Lloyd is said to be committed to the cause of community enrichment. How do you go about achieving that?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	In our pursuit of business, we endeavour to uplift the communities where we operate. Social and environmental concerns are closely interwoven in Punj Lloyd Group's core practices and decision making. From providing education to many underprivileged children through its own school to enriching the lives of thousands of workers at its sites, we are committed to the cause of community enhancement.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>A number of construction and infrastructure related projects in Nepal are being talked about of late. What has kept Punj Lloyd from getting involved so far?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	I think the major reason for this has been the political instability here. Nobody knows which direction the country is heading towards. Hopefully, things will settle down sooner or later. The opportunities are definitely very large particularly in the hydropower area. Highway is another huge opportunity. We will look into it and see how we can take advantage of these.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How do you view the current business environment of Nepal? What areas of feasible business opportunities do you see for your company here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0.1pt;">I think the opportunities for businesses in this country will be largely based on political stability. Of course, there is a lot of investment and capital required to get the economy back to a position of strength. There is immense hydroelectricity potential in Nepal. The opportunity to produce and export power to India and other countries in the region is enormous. So, the relevance of hydropower is quite natural to us. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>It might interest you to know that most projects in Nepal face local opposition.&nbsp;How do you handle such situation in locations that you have been working?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Well, it's no different in India either. Any vibrant democracy which is developing has the same people power issue. Building roads, land acquisition etc are critical issues to deal with. It's important to talk to the local population and make them understand the benefits that the project will bring to them. For instance, you can build schools and primary healthcare centres for them and also offer employment.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	I think communities do understand that projects can make a contribution towards their development. We have learnt this over the years and therefore, we have an excellent track record for successful completion of projects within tight schedules. This lends credibility to the Group and encourages clients to trust it with repeat orders.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Are you looking at possibilities of partnering the Chaudhary Group here? Is there a certain time period you are looking at to commence operations in Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Everything is open right now. We are looking at opportunities depending on how they unfurl. We hope to start sometime within this year depending on how soon we can formalise things.&nbsp; <span style="font-size: 6.5pt; color: rgb(237, 28, 36); letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><br />
	</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	 </div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2011-05-31',
			'modified' => '2012-10-31',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Atul Punj, the Chairman of Punj Llyod Ltd “a diversified international conglomerate offering EPC services in Energy and Infrastructure“was in Kathmandu recently on the invitation of Entrepreneurs Organization.',
			'sortorder' => '232',
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '308',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => '“We Are Innovators, Not Followers”',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><img align="left" alt="" border="2" height="259" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/img5.jpg" style="width: 259px; height: 259px;margin:10px;padding:10px;" vspace="1" width="259" />Bernard Lee Meng Sum</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> is the Deputy General Manager (International Marketing and Investment) of Demak Motors, a two wheeler manufacturer based in Malaysia. He was in Kathmandu recently to launch two motorcycles models of his company through its dealer Agni Incorporated Pvt Ltd. Demak Motors won the Golden Bull Award 2010 for being one of the 100 outstanding SMEs in Malaysia. The company plans to penetrate&nbsp;the East and South East Asian markets in the foreseeable future. In an interview with New Business Age, Meng Sum shared his ideas on Demak Motors market prospects in Nepal. Excerpts:</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Why is Demak Motors attracted to Nepal ?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We have been keeping track of the market potentials for bikes in Nepal. Quite naturally, we see a very good growth here. We would like to be the number one in the Nepali market as a Malaysian brand. This year, our corporate strategy is to expand in the East Asian market and Nepal. We have tied up with a very good company, Agni Incorporated, to penetrate the potential market here.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>You have launched two models of Demak bikes. Is there any particular reason for choosing these two models over others?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Our market study revealed that dirt bikes and cruisers have large potential in Nepal. As you can currently see, the Nepali market is monopolised by street bikes. We surely are going to introduce more models with time. These will include scooters, electric motorcycles and hybrid scooters which have not been seen in the Nepali market as yet.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Who do you see as major competitors for your bikes here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We don't see anyone as a competitor right now. We are the innovators rather than the followers. We don't consider ourselves as competing against Indian brands. But we will position ourselves as the market leader in the dirt bikes and cruisers segment of the market.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How is Demak doing in the Philippines where it entered recently?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We are doing quite well in Philippines right now. The Philippines market is completely different than Nepal in terms of economy and market environment. We are currently the number five brand in Philippines but we will rise to number four next year.<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What sort of growth do you expect in Nepal business?&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	It looks a fantastic market to us. Nepal is located between China and India who have several automobile giants in their ranks. As a Malaysian brand, we are proud to have entered the Nepali market. It takes an extensive effort for us to be here. We hope it will be a success story in the coming days for the entire East Asian market.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Which segment of the market are you targeting to sell your bikes?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Well, it is a huge market. We are offering products that are different, classic and nostalgic. We are targeting college boys and teenagers in the age range of 20 to 28 years.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What is the sales target you have in mind for the first year in Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	For the first year, we are looking at selling 2,000 units. In the consequent years, we plan to grow at 10 percent on a yearly basis.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Your company won the Golden Bull Award 2010 for being one of the 100 outstanding SMEs. What kind of strategies did the company adopt to find such success within seven years of operation?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We believe in our marketing, our products and the wonderful teamwork that we have in our company. The Chinese philosophy which we practice in Malaysia is: there is no mountain that we cannot conquer as long as we put hard work and dedication to our assignments.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>You are establishing a production plant in Sri Lanka. Can you tell us about it?</strong></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Sri Lanka will be the export hub for us to penetrate the East Asian and South Asian markets.&nbsp;We chose Sri Lanka because this is the shortest distance in terms of distribution of our products to Nepal, Bhutan and our next target market India. We see potential in India for our dirt bikes, specially our scooters and electrical bikes.</span><br />
	</span></p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2011-05-31',
			'modified' => '2012-10-31',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Bernard Lee Meng Sum  is the Deputy General Manager (International Marketing and Investment) of Demak Motors, a two wheeler manufacturer based in Malaysia.',
			'sortorder' => '231',
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '259',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => 'â€˜Fiat Punto And Linea Are Two Great Cars To Start Business With, In Nepalâ€™',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<img align="left" alt="" border="2" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/rajeev.jpg" style="width: 181px; height: 265px;" vspace="2" />Rajeev Kapoor, the President and CEO of Fiat India Automobiles Limited, was in Kathmandu recently for the launch of Linea and Punto cars in Nepal. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, Kapoor talked about Fiatâ€™s market prospects in Nepal.&nbsp;Excerpts:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>You are launching two models of Fiat cars here. What made you choose these two specific models?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	These are excellent models and unique in terms of styling, safety and low pollution. We feel that Punto gives the right size and drivability options to small families. On the other hand, Linea is a sedan that is luxurious and has a huge boot space for carrying a lot of bags. It is a very stable car and practically won every award in India. Therefore, they are two very good vehicles to start business with, in Nepal.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What is your observation of the market here? Is there any target sales of these two models?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	I think we should be able to get around five percent of the market share with these two cars. Then depending on how the models perform here, we can plan an official strategy on introducing other models. We hope that the affordability for buying cars in this country grows. Because it will help us sell more units and give shape to a long-term plan here.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How are Fiatâ€™s passenger cars doing in the Indian market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Fiat is doing very well in India. We sold about 23,000 units last year. The Indian market is growing at around 13 to 14 per cent every year. We also want to grow correspondingly with the Indian market this year. We are already working on a small car to be launched in 2012 end or 2013 beginning. So a lot is happening in India. The market there is becoming very competitive. However, introducing Fiat models in Nepal is a different ballgame altogether because we are not restricted to bring models only from India.&nbsp;Depending on the need, we can introduce models directly from Fiat in Italy as well if the price is right.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How do you view the competition with other brands in the Nepali market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Hyundai is dominantly the market leader in Nepal followed by Toyota and Maruti. There are a host of other brands too. Tata Motors, one of our joint venture partners in India, is also a major player here. The competition is definitely going to be there. And itâ€™s always good to have competition as it makes us agile and focused on keeping the quality and the price parity right.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What are the challenges you foresee for the market here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	The most glaring challenge for us is that we are a late entrant.&nbsp;Others have been selling their cars for many years now and are established players. Therefore, we need to carve a niche here. This is why we have introduced these two cars that are absolutely different in touch, feel, look and safety. We need to immediately move forward. That is why instead of only launching the car, we have first worked on strengthening the after sales aspect of it.&nbsp;We have already set up a spare parts and service centre with all the tools required. It is our effort to make sure that customers get immediate after sales service. Itâ€™s important because for us, the customers come first. So, we are launching the car after setting everything else in place. The customers can buy our cars without worrying too much about after sales service and availability of spare parts.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What is the market response for Fiat cars in the South Asian market compared to American and European markets?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Fiat has many established brands such as Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Maserati and Ferrari. Fiat is very strong in European markets, Brazil and even Turkey. Fiat is now venturing into China and Russia. Indian operation is already running steadily. It is also entering the US market now. A lot is happening in the automotive world. Due to the slowdown in the European, American and Japanese markets, the focus now is on countries like Brazil, Russia, India and China. So, Fiat is also eyeing these â€˜action marketsâ€™.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Do you have any specific plans for the Nepali market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We are reasonably focused on the Nepali market. We will be engaging ourselves in supporting our dealer here, Batas Brothers Motors, in all possible ways. We will make sure that besides the availability of spare parts and after sales service, we will make the latest models available here. We will make sure that when we plan a product, we will accordingly plan a strategy for Nepal too. I see a great future for Fiat in Nepal. This country is going to grow. As the infrastructure grows, there will be a requirement for more cars. And we want to be here and be a part of it. I can assure you that Nepal will always get the top line products here. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>',
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			'description' => 'Rajeev Kapoor, the President and CEO of Fiat India Automobiles Limited, was in Kathmandu recently for the launch of Linea and Punto cars in Nepal. In an interview......',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '258',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => 'â€˜We Can Significantly Increase The Sales Of Panasonic Products In Nepalâ€™',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<img align="left" alt="" border="2" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/Hidenori.jpg" style="width: 199px; height: 271px;" vspace="2" />Hidenori Aso, the Managing Director of Panasonic India Pvt Ltd was in Kathmandu recently for Panasonic Small Appliances Dealersâ€™ Meet. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, Aso shared ideas about different home appliances from Panasonic and his plans for popularising the brand in the Nepali market. Excerpts:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What brings you to Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We are launching a range of new products that include Micro Wave Oven, Hair Dryer and Straightner, Menâ€™s Shaver, Travel Shavers and Trimmers, Vacuum Cleaners, Blenders/Juicers and Food Processors. We also have a new rice cooker which we have customised as per the Nepali consumersâ€™ requirement. Ours is not just a rice cooker, it can also make various other dishes. Here in Nepal, Momo is very popular. So, we have modified the product and added a Momo-maker to it. We are confident about the quality of our product. And we are providing five years warranty to the heater of the cooker. Our local business partner here, Triveni Byapar Company Pvt Ltd, is aggressive about increasing the business here. We especially want to increase our small appliances business here.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How is your small appliances business doing in the Indian as well as other markets?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Our business is doing quite well in India. In terms of growth, the market is almost doubling every year which is very encouraging. Next financial year onwards, our cooker factory will start producing one million cookers on an annual basis. Besides India, we are also trying to penetrate into other neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka and of course, here in Nepal.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>You have high end products like HD TVs as well. What is the market response for such products?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We have already launched the 3D Viera in India as well as here in Nepal. The response is quite good. The market for air conditioners is also expanding in India.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What is your expectation from the dealers meet that you have organised?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	At the dealers meet, we want to showcase our new products such as the Momo-maker. We want to emphasise on the point that Panasonicâ€™s quality is the best. Therefore, we are giving five years warranty for the heater, the main component of the cooker. We also want to increase our network. This is why we have invited 150 dealers from all over Nepal for the meet.<br />
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What is the market share of Panasonic products in Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We are currently at par with our competitors here when it comes to the market share. But we are going very aggressively about our business. I am confident that we can significantly increase the sales of Panasonic products in Nepal with our business partner.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How do you distinguish yourself from the competition in the market as there are numerous brands selling similar products?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Our advantage is that we have a wide range of products with us. We have some products that our competitors do not have. For example, small appliances, kitchen appliances, beauty and health care products etc. We also have TV and Air Conditioners. When it comes to having a wide variety of products, Panasonic is definitely the market leader.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What are the challenges you face in the local market here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Talking about the challenges, we donâ€™t have good human resource here. We are trying to build a competent work force now. We are trying to make it more professional because Nepal, in general, follows very traditional methods. But since ours is a very professional product category, we need to change things around. We hope that doing so will appreciably boost our sales figures here.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What are you plans for expanding the market here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	At the dealersâ€™ meet, we have the provision of â€˜on-the-spot bookingâ€™.&nbsp;We are giving very good incentives to our dealers which will help them gain momentum in the market. It will ultimately popularise our products and give us a strong foothold in the Nepali market.</div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
	We are trying to introduce a great number of products from many countries. We want people to have the entire range and provide quality service to them. I think that within the next two to three years, we would be in a position to dominate the Nepali market. </p>',
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			'id' => '257',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => 'â€˜Simmtronics Has A Huge Market Potential In Nepalâ€™',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<img align="left" alt="" border="2" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/arif.jpg" style="width: 193px; height: 233px;" vspace="2" />Arif Khan, the Director of Simmtronics Semiconductors Ltd FZE was in Kathmandu to attend the official launch of Simmtronics products in Nepal. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, Khan discussed his companyâ€™s prospects in the Nepali market. Excerpts:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Could you tell us what Simmtronics is all about?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	It is a memory manufacturing company that was established in 1992. We have our manufacturing facility based in Singapore and our exports are done out of Singapore. As for Nepal, for logistics purpose, the goods come here via Dubai. We have an impressive range of products and all of them carry three years international warranty. During these 19 years that we have been in operation, we are already established in many countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Iran, Iraq, Russia, India and the entire Middle East.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How and when did you start distributing your products in Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We have been supplying to Nepal for the past one year through Explore Asia, our local distributor here. However, I thought of an official launch this time for a number of reasons. Multinational Companies like HCL, Samsung, HP,Dell etc have been showing an interest in the Nepali market for some time now. It generated curiosity in me so I wanted to find out more. Though the IT companies perceived Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as emerging markets, I discovered that they have reached their saturation point. Comparatively, Nepal is a virgin market and there is plenty of scope here. Therefore, we decided to enter the market now and introduce our brand so that we can capitalise on it in due time.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What kind of prospect does the Nepali market hold for you?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Nepal is a dynamic market, undoubtedly. I have gone through the sales data and figured that this is an upcoming market. If we place our products at the right price, provide good quality and after sales service, there is no reason why we canâ€™t establish Simmtronics as a leading brand here. We will make best efforts from the companyâ€™s side. At the same time, we trust our distributor and the dealers here in Nepal to reciprocate our efforts.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How do you distinguish yourself from the competition?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We are vendors as well as we manufacture our own products. 40 per cent of the components required to make a computer are manufactured at facilities owned by us. But a majority of our competitors donâ€™t have their own manufacturing facility, thatâ€™s where we score over them. Additionally, we have strong partners like Intel, VIA and IBM who have been with us for about 10 years now. The advantage we have as manufacturers are that we can sell products at very competitive prices.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What do you think of your future prospects in Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	I am confident that in about six monthsâ€™ time, we will command 80 per cent of the market share in Nepal. The figures that I have with me tell that the market here sells about 12-15,000 motherboards, close to 12-15,000 memories, around 6-7,000 personal computers and 2000 laptops every month. This suggests that the market potential is huge. To make the most of this situation, I have a plan that I will execute in partnership with my distributor here. I can promise you that Simmtronics is going to be aggressive. We will participate in IT related events and road shows as well as have our advertising system in place. To create a long standing goodwill, I will ensure that quality is maintained for our products in the Nepali market.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Whatâ€™s the kind of investment you are putting in the market here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	At present, we have planned to invest US$ 50,000 as the initial capital for promoting our products here. We have earmarked this amount only for the purpose of Simmtronicsâ€™ advertising and promotions. Apart from that, the investment by way of giving our products to the dealers and getting the money back from the market will be about US$ 1 million, to start with. </div>',
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	(int) 13 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '256',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => 'â€˜The People In Nepal Learn New Technology Very Fastâ€™',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<img align="left" alt="" border="2" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/aashis.jpg" style="width: 196px; height: 284px;" vspace="2" />Ashish Navinchandra Bavishi, the General Manager for International Business of Netcore Solutions Pvt Ltd was in Nepal recently for service expansion in partnership with Digitainment Pvt Ltd. Netcore is an Indian company that provides digital communication solutions for products specialising in email and mobile phones. The biggest names in banking and financial institutions along with various other companies endorse Netcore solutions. Bavishi looks after international business in Africa, South East Asia and South Asia Region. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, he shared ideas about his companyâ€™s potential in the Nepali market. Excerpts:<br />
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Could you tell us in brief about your company?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Netcore was started in 1998 with Linux based email servers. Over time, we started cloud services which hosts anti spam antivirus solutions. We entered into SMS solutions in 2003-04 and later on, we came up with enterprise solution and started different ways of using SMS. Netcore is probably the first Indian company to use SMS as an advertising platform. We helped corporate houses reach their clients through mobile phones because it is more personalised and penetrative than any other medium. Now we have medical services on SMS as well as M-coupons and M-connector which are business intelligence suites. We also provide email and SMS marketing services, voice based services. Around 20 million visitors log on to our web portal www.oneindia.in every month. Currently, we are trying to offer services like email, SMS, infotainment content etc in Nepal through telecom operators. The three different areas where we are working are enterprise solutions, data solutions and digital marketing.<br />
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How well are you doing in India and other countries?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	In India, we are the leaders in Linux based solutions. All our services are doing excellently in India. We are a team of 300 people; half of them are in technology. We are the market leaders in India for email servers, hosting anti spam integrated solution and digital marketing. After the telecom operators, we are the largest SMS sender in India with 10 to 15 million outgoing SMS daily. Netcore has pioneered most of the things that we currently do. We are also expanding our mobility and messaging solutions in other countries. We already have a presence in more than 17 countries. The entire IT fraternity is embracing cloud based solution rather than in-house solution. This is where Netcoreâ€™s expertise along with Linux based solution is so vital. We have a very capable leadership which encourages us to reach new heights. Being a customer oriented company, we believe in providing the best services for our clientele so that helps us maintain our top position.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What brings you to Nepal this time?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We are working in association with Digitainment here in Nepal for enterprise solution and solution for the telecom operators. We understand that the majority of people cannot afford smart phones. However, they are looking for VAS (Value Added Services) and infotainment solutions etc on their mobile phones which are not being catered well. We are trying to reach and cater to the lowest category of the society with our solutions. My brief experience tells me that this is a great market. People have started understanding the power of technology due to the advent and popularity of Internet, mobile phone and television etc. The people here learn to use new technology very fast. Contrary to my earlier belief, Nepal is not a tourist destination only. I find this market very promising as there are a good number of corporate houses here. And we are looking at them as our prospective clientele. We plan to replicate our image as a customer oriented company in Nepal. Hopefully, that will help us become the market leader here.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Tell us about the products and services you plan to establish here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We want to bring all types of solutions: digital marketing, enterprise solution and data products. The primary intention is to engage customers with the brand and cater to the corporate clientele with â€˜no price tag for the solutionâ€™. People are paying a lot of money for legacy solution as they donâ€™t have any alternative. Once they have an alternative which is better than what they are paying for, they would certainly opt for that. We will make efforts to educate the market and introduce all the products that we have in India.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>A large population in Nepal does not have access to Internet. Is that a challenge for you?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	The solutions that we provide are not Internet based only. We will be coming with a bouquet of solutions via telecom operators to reach around 5 million people. We understand that SMS is the best option for penetration as it reaches everyone and it is easier, personal and cheaper. We focus primarily on SMS but at the same time, we also look at email and enterprise solutions.<br />
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How would the customers benefit from your services?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Let me give you an example of email servers here. Linux based operating solution costs one third of the total price of legacy solution so that will create value addition for our customers. They stand to get better quality at a lower price. When we started out in India five years ago, the outgoing SMS charge was around 50 paisa. Today, it has come down to as less as five paisa per SMS. I think that can be replicated here in Nepal in the next two to three years. We will create benefit for our users by reaching more subscribers. We will give them more information for their mobile because mobile is the next big thing. All around the world, everything is making a shift from other technologies to mobile. SMS is the easiest medium for 70 per cent of the mobile subscribers. So, we are targeting mobile users and trying to cater to them. We are trying to cater to the entire market using SMS services as they promise to be the star performers among all value added services. All I can promise you is that this market will certainly get benefits from us. Within a yearâ€™s time, you will see the changes and results coming out.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Technology is changing faster than ever. How challenging is it to operate in such an environment?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We have a sizeable technology team in India which is highly efficient. We share our knowledge on technology with our partners in different countries regularly. We want to extend our services keeping in mind the technology available to us here. We have been tackling with technology since our inception. We lead the market because we have pioneered on all fronts. I think we can cope with the change in technology given our competent team stationed in India. If required, we can always hire more knowledgeable employees to deal with new situations. Netcore is particularly interested in creating infrastructure for effective functioning. It has three data centres, one in India and two in the US which work in tandem with each other.&nbsp;If a particular centre is not working properly, another one takes over automatically. Our main focus being a technology company is to create technology and impart ensuing services to the customers.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What is your plan on working with the local companies in order to get established here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We are very proud that we have tied up with Digitainment as our partner here. It will be responsible for liaison with the local companies. Itâ€™s an established fact that people trust their own people more. I am confident that Digitainment will help Netcore cater to the market here in an efficient manner. Itâ€™s our policy to work with local partners in any country that we start our operations in. We have already talked to many companies so in a way, we have started work here. Itâ€™s only a matter of time before our operations run in a full-fledged manner here.</div>',
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<p class="ANSWER" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="color: rgb(165, 42, 42);"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Takeyushi SATO <i>(left in the pic)</i> and Dattatraya Joshi, Managing Director and Vice President, respectively, of Hitachi Koki India, a subsidiary of Hitachi Koki Japan, were in Nepal to officially launch their products â€“ the Hitachi power equipments through Kathmandu Power Solutions (KPS). Excerpts from a joint interview:&nbsp; </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><br />
	</span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<em><span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">How is Hitachi Koki doing in India? </span></span></em></p>
<p class="ANSWER" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Dattatraya Joshi: It was set up in 1996 and it has its headquarters in Bangalore.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>We are into marketing of power tools in India where we have seven branches. We have an assembly facility in Bangalore. We also import finished products of Hitachi from Japan, Malaysia, China and other places. <br />
	</span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">How do you view the market of electronics in Nepal?</span></em></span></p>
<p class="ANSWER" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Joshi: Before appointing KPS as our distributer, we have had a small survey on the market in Nepal. Since we have studied this market carefully, we have understood the opportunities here. We know the competitors, their strengths, strategies and weaknesses. Certainly, we are very confident about having a reasonable market share in Nepal in the coming months. <span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><br />
	</em></span></span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">What are the features of your products?</span></em></span></p>
<p class="QUESTION" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Takeyushi SATO: Our products are basically power equipments like mechanised drillers, cutters and screw drivers. Joshi will tell more on it. Joshi: Our products have unique features compared to our competitors. In Nepal, we have launched 28 products. Hitachi worldwide has 700 different models. We will introduce more products in Nepali market as per the demand and requirement.<span style="">&nbsp;</span> <br />
	</span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">What prospects do you see for your products in Nepal?</span></em></span></p>
<p class="QUESTION" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">SATO: I see a lot of prospects here. Our products consume less electricity and have long life. They are good in quality. Joshi: Nepal is basically severe power-shortage country. Our low power consuming products will prove quite handy here. We also know that many power projects are in the pipeline. Our products are eco-friendly and are quite useful in construction works. We see a lot of opportunities here. <br />
	</span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">What could be the problems and challenges in Nepal?</span></em></span></p>
<p class="QUESTION" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">SATO: I do not see that much challenge as our main feature will be the after sales service. Chinese or other products may not have that. <br />
	</span></p>
<p class="QUESTION" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Joshi: I do not see a major challenge here. Our power tools are innovative and durable. The power tools market in Nepal is dominated by Chinese products, about which the people have the general perception that they are simply â€˜use and throwâ€™ items. We want to show the users a different path in which they will be entitled to get the qualitative after sales service as well.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>After months or years of use, the end users can go to the service provider, fix the machines and reuse them.<span style="">&nbsp;</span> <br />
	</span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">What could be your market strategy in Nepal?</span></em></span></p>
<p class="ANSWER" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Joshi: We will share our Indian experience and advise our distributer KPS here in creating distribution network, ensuring constant availability of our products and doing some promotional activities.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>We will formulate more marketing strategy depending upon the situation. <br />
	</span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">What about market share?</span></em></span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">SATO: Our first target will be to achieve a two-digit market share. <br />
	</span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Who are your competitors?</span></em></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">SATO: Bosch, a German multinational is the market leader in Nepal in the upper segment, i.e., the branded products. The other major players are Makita (Japan) and Dewald (USA). Including Hitachi now, the competition will be among these four branded companies. We do not have competition with low priced Chinese products, as we are not targeting that particular market segment. Our focus is only on upper segment.</span> </p>',
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			'id' => '404',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => ''Nepal Is Mature Market For Notebooks' (july 2011)',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Albert Tung is&nbsp;the Regional Director for India and SAARC Region of Asus, a Taiwan-based computer manufacturing company. He was in Nepal recently to attend a dealersâ€™ meet of his company. Asus is gaining momentum in computer products and IT sector worldwide and is claimed to be number three for notebooks in consumer segment and number one in motherboards, worldwide. In an interview with New Business Age, Tung talked about the companyâ€™s strengths and strategies for Nepal. Excerpts:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What was the purpose of this dealersâ€™ meet in Kathmandu?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We have come from Taiwan for the Asus dealersâ€™ meet in Kathmandu which has participation from all our major dealers here as well as some from Bangladesh. Through this event, we wanted to appreciate our dealers for their efforts. During the meet, we updated dealers with product knowledge and apprised them of our productsâ€™ performance worldwide. With the conclusion of this meet, we are encouraged to work harder in this market.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<b>What are the potentials of Asus products for the Nepali market?</b></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We see good potential for our growth in the Nepali market. We need to work with our partners more closely to have better business. Asus has always emphasised on superior product and quality design. Though we are fairly new in Nepal, we are working hard to introduce our products among the targeted consumers here. The competition is tough as established rivals like Apple are already ruling the market. I have learnt that itâ€™s a mature market for notebooks. So, even though we are primarily known for motherboards, the challenge is to introduce our notebooks to the end users.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What distinguishes Asus from its competitors?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Asus is basically a motherboard manufacturing company. All computers require CPU and motherboard and worldwide, Asus is number one in motherboard technology. This is where our core competence lies. For example, while purchasing a good notebook, you should not only consider the brand but the technology inside as well which is vital.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How strong is Asusâ€™ international market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Asus leads the market worldwide when it comes to motherboard which is a very important component inside a PC. Encouraged by our top position with motherboard technology, we have also achieved number three position in consumer segment for notebooks worldwide. We want to continue the good work and lead the market for as long as possible.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Do you have any specific strategies in mind to penetrate the Nepali market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">We have been in this industry for 10 years in notebook and 20 years in motherboard technology. For the Nepali market, our strategy is to cooperate with the local partners here and tell them about our superior product quality, service and technology. Besides commercial advertising and branding, we are focused on taking care of our product quality once the consumer starts using it. Our simple strategy is to penetrate the market with honesty. We want the market to know that they should select an Asus product for its quality technology.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Computer technology is changing rapidly. How challenging is it to maintain a competitive edge in the market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Computer technology is changing with new technologies related to CPU, memory and other specifications coming up quite frequently. At Asus, we have the confidence because of our technology and the expertise in designing a motherboard. We know we have an edge in the market because of the support from our proven motherboard technology.</div>',
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			'description' => 'Albert Tung is the Regional Director for India and SAARC Region of Asus, a Taiwan-based computer manufacturing company. He was in Nepal recently to attend a dealersâ€™ meet of his company. Asus is......',
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			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => ''We Want To Be Ready When The Economy Takes Off' (2011)',
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			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Ali Jaleel is Dellâ€™s General Manager for South Asia Developing Markets Group. He heads the Growing Economies business and looks after the markets in 20 countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Brunei, Nepal and Mongolia. He was in Nepal recently to launch Dell Inspiron R series laptops. In an interview with New Business Age, Jaleel shared his views on Dellâ€™s position and prospects in the Nepali market. Excerpts:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">You have just launched your new Inspiron R series laptops in Nepal. How will this launch boost your outreach plan to penetrate Nepalâ€™s consumer computer market?</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">We are very excited to launch this particular product which we also call the queen series. It is unique because you can actually change the lids and use various designs as per your liking. We are hoping that we will see very positive response for this product. The infrastructure is also quite developed with Gen Next (Generation Next Communications) as our partner and reseller here in Nepal. We now have outlets at locations that were not there before.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	Â </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">What made the Gen Next, your partner here,&nbsp;win the award of Dellâ€™s most valuable partner for Nepal?</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">They have been very impressive and done all the right things. They focused not just on sales but also on after sales, on above the line (ATL) activities, growing the market outside Kathmandu etc. Therefore, we feel they have the right ingredients. Along the way, we are going to learn new things from them and I am sure they too are going to learn from Dell. We both feel that it is going to be a long-term relationship. Nepal is a strategic market for us and we want to be ready when the economy takes off.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	Â </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">As for the awards, our partners from South Asia and Korea join us in various locations once a year.&nbsp;It is usually in Malaysia or Singapore because our regional headquarter is in Singapore and factories are in Malaysia. We have started a tradition of selecting partners on the basis of extraordinary performances. This is where Gen Next was selected for their stand out performance and awarded with Dellâ€™s most valuable partner for Nepal.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	Â </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">How is your experience in the Nepali market so far?</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">We have been here for many years actually but mostly in an enterprise-way and not in a direct one. We have started making investments here only about six months ago. Gen Next is relatively new for us here but our business has really taken off in the last year or so. Nepal is a good market for us where our business has been growing steadily. There are a couple of very positive signals â€“ one is that the economy is very resilient and the other is, when exponential growth happens, it is good news for all organisations that have invested.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	Â </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">Who are your major competitors in the local market and where do you stand vis-a-vis the competition?</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">We would consider HP to be our closest competitor.&nbsp;We are competing with Acer and Lenovo in consumer base and IBM in the enterprise base. It is actually good to have competition because it keeps everyone on their toes and focuses on consumersâ€™ interests first.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	Â </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">What gives you the confidence that the New Inspiron R Series will hold its own in the market thatâ€™s already flooded with similar products? How do you plan to position yourself in the market for this particular product and establish brand identity?</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">We are very confident about the product and the quality. The innovation we have put in is something very unique. We are quite confident that it will find its own niche, build a loyal customer base and do us good.&nbsp;When you talk about a product, it is important to have different ranges because people have different requirements. Some may like a 12-inch screen while some other prefer a 15-inch screen. Therefore, we have positioned this particular product by giving options of varied screen sizes.&nbsp;They also have the option of making their notebook look different according to their mood. The reception has been very positive during its launch in some other countries a few weeks prior to that of Nepal. It is now available in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, India and China besides Nepal.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	Â </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">We are already showing our intent to grow here and you must have started seeing it already. This is just the beginning for this particular product. Technology moves very fast so we have to keep focusing on the Dell brand. And under Dell, we have to keep focusing on Inspiron as well as other products.&nbsp;We will continue to appear above the line to establish brand identity.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	Â </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">How do you assess the Nepali market overall? What are your expectations from the market in the foreseeable future?</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">Overall, I was very impressed with the sophistication of some people I spoke to. They are very well informed. In enterprise base, customers from various industries know exactly where they want to be and the technologies they want to embrace. This is very good because it means half the work is done since we donâ€™t have to educate the customers who are already very informed. Similarly, people seem to be quite well informed about technology in consumer base as well. The young generation here is very internet savvy and has all the information. As a matter of fact, they ask questions about technologies which are not yet available in Asia which is really interesting. These technologies are either introduced or are being planned to introduce in countries like the US. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">We do feel that we will continue to have organic growth which is fine with us because we are making the investments now. We are hoping that once the elections happen and a new government comes in, there will be more projects. A good number of projects especially on the government side are something we are eager about. That will definitely help us grow exponentially because right now, our growth is pretty organic.</span></div>',
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			'description' => 'Ali Jaleel is Dellâ€™s General Manager for South Asia Developing Markets Group. He heads the Growing Economies business and looks after the markets in 20 countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka........',
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			'id' => '402',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => ''We Must Use Land In A Very Discretionary Manner' (july 2011)',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 11pt;">World-renowned architect Hafeez Contractor was in the city to launch his first project in Nepal called Westar Skyliving -- a twin-tower apartment block close to Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza in the heart of the city. Targetted at the high-end clientele, this 14-storey luxury high-rise apartment project on 7.10 ropanis will have 77 percent of the project area reserved for open space and water bodies. Contractor is a member of Bombay Heritage Committee and New Delhi Lutyens Bungalow Zone Review Committee. After completing his graduate diploma in architecture from Academy of Architecture in Mumbai, he finished his graduation and MS in Architecture from Columbia University, New York. Among other projects, Contractor has also designed The Imperial I and II, the tallest buildings in India. His projects are spread across India, South Africa, UAE and the US among other countries. In an interview with Pinaki Roy of <i>New Business Age</i>, Contractor talked about Nepalâ€™s transforming skyline and the housing industry. Excerpts:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What is your assessment of the housing industry in Nepal?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">We are facing shortage of houses in Nepal and India. Not only that, housing shortage will be greater in the days to come with rising population and more people moving into the cities. Therefore, we have to find a way out to deal with the problem of housing shortage. We should discourage the individual housing system in every South Asian country including Nepal.&nbsp; The land is ever decreasing with construction of stand-alone houses and the truth is that we canâ€™t produce additional land.</span> There is an immediate need to redevelop old buildings here. By doing so, taxation levels can be increased and the cities can get rich. The cities can then plough money into&nbsp; infrastructure which is most important.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Tell us in brief about your association with Westar Skyliving. </span>I am interested in Nepal because apartment culture has been developing here of late. The people buying these apartments should be offered hassle-free living conditions and I hope my expertise of over 30 years will help fulfil this objective. This particular project â€˜Westar Skylivingâ€™ was proposed to me by its promoter Golyan Group and it interested me due to its international standards. With my involvement in this project, I want to demonstrate innovative ways of designing and executing an&nbsp; apartment project.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Given the fact that Nepal falls in the Seismic Zone 5, how do you view the increasing construction of high-rises here?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">The fact remains that high-rises are a very important today because we have a restricted amount of land. And, we have to make use of the land in a very discretionary manner. Up till now, we have been wasting land by keeping open spaces where we can do nothing. We need proper, large green spaces and we have to think about our subsoil water which is going down because of the indiscriminate growth of our cities. The water gets washed off and does not percolate down. High-rises are very important indeed and it is equally important for the people involved to build high-rises in the right manner. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Earthquakes are going to come some day or the other so we should be better prepared for that. Design&nbsp;and construction of skyscrapers should be as per the code otherwise we are in big trouble. I feel the government should take a very firm stand against people who are not adhering to this. In the event of an earthquake, buildings may collapse because the builders may not have designed the buildings as per earthquake loads. Suddenly, the media and everyone else will start saying that high-rises are bad.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Will you be involved in more Nepali projects in the foreseeable future such as public structures and slum redevelopment?</span></strong></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
	Yes, definitely. Besides working with the private sector, I will be looking for opportunities to work with the government as well. The government must look at providing sustainable housing options to the citizens of this country. Itâ€™s sad but true that despite having tremendous potential, the apartment business has not registered the desired growth in Nepal. We must look to introduce easy apartment systems that will accommodate large number of people under single roof. I will be working in this direction in Nepal.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Whatâ€™s your recommendation for the Nepali architects? </span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I have come to Kathmandu after 2-3 years and I saw a lot of glass buildings. I would be very happy if a touch of local architecture and materials are given to the buildings being constructed. It happens that while living in one region, we like what is there in the other region. This phase will go away with time and you should let it happen. You should maintain old buildings because heritage is extremely important.</span></p>',
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			'title' => ''Nano Will Make Motoring Affordable In Nepal' (july 2011)',
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			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Johnny Oommen</strong> is the Head of International Business, Passenger Car Unit for Tata Motors Limited. Oommen has a proven track record in bottom-line results, strategic marketing, problem solving and people management. He has also worked for top brands like BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce, General Motors India and even Sony Entertainment Television. Oommen was in Kathmandu last month to launch the much-awaited Nano car in Nepal. In an interview with <i>New Business Age, </i>he shared his views on Nanoâ€™s market prospects and its suitability for the Nepali roads. Excerpts:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Nano is now in Nepal. How do you feel about it?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	It is a momentous occasion for us. When we launched the Nano in India nearly two years ago, we were clear that a product like Nano will find its way to markets that are closer to India. Nepal, as you can see, today is one of the earliest markets outside India that we have decided to hit with Nano. We are very optimistic and confident that Nano will find acceptance across Nepal.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How is the car doing in India?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We have principally launched in India and Nepal is one of the earliest markets outside India. In India, the car has stabilised and is doing quite well. We initially had supply problem then we went into producing as much as the pipeline demand we had. Today, we have really expanded production and distribution capacity and we have 617 dealerships and sales point in India.&nbsp;We are going to introduce 300 exclusive Nano outlets in the coming month. So, the Nano is definitely looking good in terms of results in India.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>In Nepal, Nano is going to cost much higher than in India because of high tax rates. How do you see that?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Well, even in India, the pricing has moved up because of increase in import cost, material cost and distribution cost. So, today Nano is more expensive than it was two years ago. In Nepal, the duty and tax structure is such that there is 240 per cent increase over the price that we have in India. Despite that we are able to bring the Nano into Nepal in extremely attractive price. We believe that despite all that multiplier, we are offering a product that will make motoring affordable to a lot of Nepali population. Just to give you an example, starting price of the Nano Standard is Rs 798,000. Thanks to the tie-ups, we have got into with as many as 10 banks, we will be able to, for instance on the Standard, take a down payment of Rs 10,000 and work out a monthly instalment of Rs 11,111. So, that is a very attractive proposition. I think we are only adding to the expectation around Nano being a very affordable, acceptable motor.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Do you have any volume-wise target sales for Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Sky is the limit. We are looking at various segments. We believe as a car, it has potential for people who are currently without a car.&nbsp;Letâ€™s say they are using two-wheelers. We are looking at the people who have just started working, first-time job holders, young couples, small families, and of course people who already have one or two cars and are looking at additional small vehicle in the family. We believe, if we look at each of these segments, there is a lot of potential and we have increased production capacity in India so we are in a position to fulfil the demand in the Nepali market.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How do you see the Nepali market demand for cars,&nbsp;especially for Nano?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Even though the industry for a couple of years may not have grown as per the expectations of most of the automobile manufacturers and even the Nepali economy, we believe that the Nano is a product so attractive, packed with features like space, compactness, safety, manoeuvrability and fuel efficiency, all these are extremely attractive points. We believe with all these, it should be able to attract far more people in Nepal. We believe in creating a new segment. While people may be considering other cars, it will draw new people into the world of motoring. In that sense, it is really a limitless kind of thing. It is difficult to predict but our expectations are high.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How did you find the reaction of people here after the soft launching and beginning of Nano Yatra?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	So far, it has been overwhelming. We have received more than 5,000 enquiries, which is not a small number. It is very encouraging. We are only looking forward to actually start delivery. We will be announcing booking today and hopefully within a monthâ€™s time we should be able to start delivering.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Nano is the cheapest car in the world. How was it possible to make a beautiful car in such low price?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	The perception of cheapest car might have a lot of people believing that we must have cut corners or compromised. The truth is that Nano is the result of intelligent innovation. We have designed the car in a completely new way so that we were able to rethink how to manage cost and a lot has been done without making compromises. In terms of compactness, it is eight per cent more compact than the closest competitor. In terms of space inside, it is 21 per cent more spacious than closest competitor. In terms of gradability, it is as good as any other competitor. In terms of ground clearance, it is as good as or better than cars in one or two segments above the Nano. In terms of fuel-efficiency, the Automotive Research Association of India has certified fuel-efficiency of 23.6 kilometres per litre. Even in city driving that becomes around 20 kilometres per litre. It is still by far the best among others in Nepal. So, all of this is what we call innovative. These are all important to the customers and in fact they are better than what competitors offer. We have been able to do this in lower costs and that is what we would like to gift Nepal today.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Sometime back, there were questions raised on the safety of Nano because there was abrupt fire on board. How has the company addressed the safety issue?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">On the couple of incidents that happened, I must inform you that essentially they were to do with placement of some foreign object in the car. We can only certify that the Nano is an extremely safe product. It has been built with the highest standards of quality and after these couple of incidents; we actually improved whatever we needed to ensure that any such acts of unauthorised placing do not happen. It is difficult to expect any such incidents in the future. After those incidents happened, notwithstanding the fact that we knew Nano is a safe product, we submitted the car to a fresh investigation of design and everything in entirety. That investigation team included experts from outside Tata Motors so that it is a completely new investigation. You can often be blind to certain things because you believed the product for six to seven years is absolutely a safe product with the robust design and state of the art innovation. Despite our researches and belief, later we decided to make the robust car even more robust. We made enhancements to make it even more robust.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	As a testimony of our confidence in the product, we are offering for the first time in the Nepali market, a four-year or 90 thousand kilometre warranty. Nobody else does that. We are extremely confident about the product and I think this warranty provision itself certifies the fact that we believe in safe, sturdy and robust car.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Given the hilly terrain and not so perfect roads even in cities, is Nano the right car for Nepal?</strong></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Nano Yatra has been going on for a month now. It has covered around six thousand kilometres. That is not very long distance but we are glad to report you that it has performed extremely well. It is very robust and sturdy. It has gone across Nepal and we still have a lot of territory to cover. We will be doing 40 thousand kilometres. We are very confident that it will prove itself because we have extensively tested the car in India. The car has been driven on the highest motorable road in the world, Khardungla. We have gone across terrains and we are confident that the same performance that Nano has shown elsewhere will be shown in Nepal. Given the hilly terrain and narrow road, there could be nothing perfect than Nano. Its small size and its gradability makes it really perfect vehicle for Nepal.</span></p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2011-09-01',
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			'description' => 'Johnny Oommen is the Head of International Business, Passenger Car Unit for Tata Motors Limited. Oommen has a proven track record in bottom-line results, strategic marketing, problem.......',
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			'id' => '357',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => 'You Train Animals But You Educate People',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="color: rgb(178, 34, 34);"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><img align="left" alt="" border="3" height="285" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/william.jpg" style="width: 250px; height: 285px;margin:10px;padding:10px;" vspace="2" width="250" /><br />
	William Westgate is the Director of Studies at London College of Management and Leadership. After completing his degree at University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, he moved to London and started on the Midland Bank graduate training programme in 1984. Over the next 20 years, he rose to become Senior Vice President at HSBC Securities and Vice President and Director at Toronto Dominion Bank. He retired from investment banking in 2004 to take up a post lecturing in Business and Economics at Woodhouse College, one of the UK's top performing state colleges. Westgate is a founding partner in the London College of Management and Leadership and brings his knowledge of industry, enthusiasm for teaching and vast resources to the training sessions he delivers. He visited Kathmandu recently for the preliminary preparation of Finance &amp; Management Training scheduled for August this year&nbsp; targeted towards senior and middle level bank employees in Nepal. During his visit, he met the CEOs from major banks and financial institutions as part of his preparation. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, Westgate shared his views on the overall banking industry in the country and the upcoming training programme. Excerpts:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
	</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">How do you assess the banking industry in Nepal during this short visit of yours?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	It's ahead of the curve and banking has to be so. People do say that there are too many banks given the current economic level. When you are talking about a new Nepal, you have to develop the infrastructure, resources, processes, technologies and training people to a level where the economy is going to be. If you don't have the vision, you are left in the dust. Some of the bankers I have met recently do have a vision.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Finance and banking is not just another industry. It's integral to economic development, right from micro lending to massive project financing, ATMs, consumer products you name it. You cannot make economic progress without a functioning banking system. The banking system in Nepal has a lot of ground to cover though. There are billions of rupees that need to be brought into the formal banking system. You must also get rid of a practice like hundi because that's not good for the economy. We need transparency as these are big social issues.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">What is this Finance &amp; Management Training all about?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Well, I don't pretend that I am going to solve all the issues. Banking is a complex industry. In my experiences as a banker, there are a lot of things to know. But there are certain things that you have to know. So, it's a situation of nice-to-know vis-Ã&nbsp;-vis need-to-know We have designed this course based on what the bankers here really need-to-know. Cost of capital, time value of money, sales and distribution of financial products etc are essential for the people in the banking corporations, irrespective of their positions, to know. So, those are the aspects we hope to bring to our training.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">How did your preparation go towards the training programme?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Prior to coming here, I did a lot of research. But nothing matches meeting face-to-face the people who matter. I would say that it has given me invaluable education and encouragement. The conversations I have had here have given me a lot of good practice as well as ideas. I have met some of the most capable people running the banking industry here, however, they are restrained by current conditions. What we hope to do is bring fresh air new western thinking. But we have to tweak it to suit the Nepali market. Because what works for selling bonds in Wall Street is not going to work for selling a loan in Kathmandu. But the principles always stay the same; there are certain things that never change. We are hoping to adjust and adapt tactics as per local requirements.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">You had a lucrative investment banking career going well for you. What is it that stimulated your transition to lecturing and training?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Yes, I had a fantastic career as a banker. But for me, banking is more than just the money. I reached an age of my life where I didn't wish to remain a banker anymore. I love to explain things to people and making presentations using technology. I am an enthusiastic person and like to engage other people. It was more about aspiration and I wanted to move on to what I really enjoy doing.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What was the idea behind founding the London College of Management and Leadership? How do you think you have made a difference?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We set ourselves apart because we bring a combination of real practical experiences with academic rigour. All my life, I have collected notes mentally and physically wondering I wish I knew that and why didn't someone tell me that earlier. In our teaching, we focus on what the students need-to-know For example, while doing an MBA, the students don't need to know half the MBA because they will never use it. We make sure that the students pay real attention to what they would be practicing in the course of their work careers. Doing so helps us earn a lot of trust from the students. I admire good training and I hate bad training. Inspirational training is something I have always loved and therefore, bring it into practice.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">How exactly will the training programme benefit Nepal's banking professionals?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">As I have already said, the training will bring in fresh air, thinking and new ideas. People starting their careers in banking now are a lot more fortunate compared to 20 years ago. Today, there is technology available to make training sessions very engaging process. They say that you train animals but you educate people. The programme will follow a holistic approach. Banking has many components and when we put them all together; the participants will better understand their roles, departments, banks, the industry and the economy. It will allow them to have a creative and original thought about banking. It will also help them think out of their respective work briefs and cubicles and expand their horizons. </span></div>',
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			'description' => 'William Westgate is the Director of Studies at London College of Management and Leadership. After completing his degree at University of British Columbia in....',
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			'id' => '356',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => 'Communicate The Customer’s Way',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="color: rgb(178, 34, 34);"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><img align="left" alt="" border="3" height="312" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/stephen.jpg" style="width: 255px; height: 312px;margin:10px;padding:10px;" vspace="2" width="255" /><br />
	Stephen Reynolds is the Founder and CEO of Stephen Reynolds Seminars (SRS) International, a leading provider of corporate training in Thailand and Asia. His website describes him as an Expert in Psychology of Sales and Marketing as well as creator and trainer on THE ONE Advanced Sales System and Magic WORDS Communication Systems. A well-known speaker on Leadership, Communication and Sales, Reynolds has trained leaders from over 60 companies in Thailand, Philippines and Malaysia in the past three years. He has over 27 years of experience, which he leverages to make his seminars, training and public speaking engagements bursting with information, guidance and direction that is both practical and relevant. He was in Kathmandu recently, on the invitation of National Banking Training Institute (NBTI), to impart two-day training to Nepali professionals. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, Reynolds shares the tools and techniques that he teaches to make positive changes. Excerpts:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
	<br />
	</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">How do you assess the participants of this programme?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">The commonality among the trainees of this programme is that most of them had no sales background at all. Except for one participant, this was their first sales seminar. I tell people that what I am teaching is the most powerful sales technique in the world. It's usually helpful for them to go through other sales trainings as well so that they can contrast different trainings. Then they know what I am saying is true. But if they have never been to any other sales training, how can they compare. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Having said that, I think the training was incredibly fruitful. The participants were smart, involved and committed. They were hungry for the knowledge. It happens often in corporate training that the participants sent by their bosses are apathetic towards training as they don't want to be there. But it was an exception here in Nepal. The people were charming and needless to say, I was very happy. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">What's The One psychology of Sales and Marketing all about?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">The One I believe, is the most powerful and effective sales technique in the world. Sales is very complicated. There are many sales systems that are based on as many as 500 techniques but this is the only sales system in the world based on one technique. We are trying to take something very complicated and make it much simpler and easier to apply. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">We start with the relatively new psychology of Neuro-linguistic programming. It is an approach to psychotherapy and organisational change based on a model of interpersonal communication chiefly concerned with the relationship between successful patterns of behaviour and the subjective experiences underlying them and a system of alternative therapy based on this which seeks to educate people in self-awareness and effective communication, and to change their patterns of mental and emotional behaviour </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">How can communication techniques be made more effective for sales?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">There is no point in my inundating trainees with too much information that they can neither remember nor use. It's important to focus on a particular aspect which will make a difference. That is the challenge with sales. I go with the most powerful psychology and go right to the heart-of-the-matter how to sell face-to-face. ˜The One technique helps immensely as it is applicable for leadership, communication, negotiation etc. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">How do you define advanced psychological linking?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">It is when you take your products and link them together with the values of the person you are talking to. Basically, we are communicating the customer's way according to their values and vocabulary. The One focuses the entire sales process on the highest values of the person you are dealing with. It is a completely customised process. Sales is not just talking, you have to start seeing the psychology behind the word. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">Are you confident the trainees will be able to effectively apply the technique taught by you?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Well, I hope so. Or else, my effort will amount to nothing. In two days, I have given them a real foundation. They should be able to walk out and start to communicate better and instantly be able to see an increase in their sales.What they have learnt during the course of the training should also help them improve their communication at their workplaces. They should now be able to communicate better with their bosses,&nbsp; subordinates and customers. Sales is communication and vice versa. </span></div>',
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			'description' => 'Stephen Reynolds is the Founder and CEO of Stephen Reynolds Seminars (SRS) International, a leading provider of corporate training in Thailand and Asia. His....',
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		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '355',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => 'â€˜Customer Satisfaction Only Exists Where There Is Oversupplyâ€™',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><img align="left" alt="" border="3" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/kevin.jpg" style="width: 223px; height: 231px;" vspace="2" />Dr Kevin McCrohan is a Professor of Marketing â€“ School of Management at George Mason University in Virginia, United States. A PhD from City University of New York, his research interests include marketing and efficient functioning of profit and non-profit organisations, competitive intelligence, information security, methods of marketing compliance for fiscal and philanthropic organisations and economic measurement to fill gaps in administrative data sets. Dr McCrohan has been a Senior Fulbright Scholar at the School of Management, Kathmandu University, Nepal as well as at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. During his recent visit to Kathmandu, he delivered a talk on â€˜Customer Satisfaction in E-Commerce: Issues and Solutionsâ€™ and its implications for Nepal as the main theme under â€˜SAIM Lecture Seriesâ€™ initiated by South Asian Institute of Management, Lalitpur. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, Dr McCrohan shared his views on the importance of customer satisfaction in e-commerce from Nepalâ€™s perspective. Excerpts:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
	</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">How does customer satisfaction work in an e-commerce scenario?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We have a relationship between the firm and the customer in which they trust each other over the course of a transaction. It is of overriding importance that all the participants that deal with that transaction online can be trusted upon, particularly with personal and financial information.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What was the focus of the talk programme today?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	It was to make people aware of the fact that the firms have the best of intention out in the cyber world, while dealing with customers online. Of course, there are scores of mischievous elements who are trying to steal money. In the bargain, it breaks the trust between the consumer and the firm. As a result, the consumers stop dealing with the firm. &nbsp;I was totally fascinated with the programme today. It was delightful and certainly a privilege to be here.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">It is very hard to monitor customer satisfaction on the web as you donâ€™t physically see the customer. How do you overcome this challenge and ensure they are satisfied?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	You can contact them after the purchase through e-mail and find out if they are satisfied and if the product is working out for them as promised. You could also do surveys with your online customers by asking questions pertaining to their satisfaction level with respect to your firm and its products. I must point out that when people complain, paying attention to those complaints is critical. Marketing is about word-of-mouth. In todayâ€™s age of online blogs, a bad experience is posted and gets conveyed to n-number of people.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	You need to benchmark yourself. In the western world like the European countries and the United States, there are customer satisfaction surveys that pop up online highlighting firms and organisations. The response thus generated can be tracked by the firms. For small firms, the best way is to design a questionnaire and occasionally contact the customers and try to determine how they can better serve them.&nbsp;They can appreciate the consumers for their valued feedback and thank them for helping them in their endeavour for ensuring improved customer service.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">To reduce customer apprehension and assure customers of legitimacy, how important is it to post â€œCustomer Certified Ratingsâ€ on the web site?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	If you can quote an online source, thatâ€™s even better. But if you can quote your own survey, that is still good. You can thank them and apprise them of your growth over a period of time. By doing that, you let the customer know you are monitoring customer satisfaction as it is important to you. You also convey a message that you are paying attention to what the customers tell you.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Online retail sales still make up only a small portion of overall retail sales in the US but satisfied consumers are expanding their purchases online. How do you view this?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Itâ€™s neither good nor bad. In late 1990s and early 2000s, a lot of research projected that the growth rate for e-commerce would reach unprecedented heights and everything will be online. But there was a vital element missing from those surveys. In a country like the United States for example, shopping is recreation. A lot of people are what we can refer to as, full-contact shoppers â€“ they love to shop.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	There is no way that e-commerce is going to replace the actual experience of going to the store with family and friends, feeling the goods and shop in person. Almost everybody compare the shops online but still end up at the store to buy products first-hand. The real challenge for large e-retailers is to somehow convince more people to actually buy online. I have a statistic that tells me 25-30 per cent of amazon.comâ€™s purchases are left in the cart â€“ people go through the process of selecting goods and are ready to buy but eventually end up not buying.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Customer satisfaction is non-existent in any kind of business in the third world countries. Except for the developed countries, do you see any potential whatsoever, for e-commerce in such countries?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">Exactly. One of the points I was trying to make during my presentation was that the concept of customer satisfaction does not exist in a country like Nepal. The market is in the United States and European countries. The beautiful carpets and woodworks that Nepali craftsmen make are phenomenal. The only way to reach the customers all around the world is to tell them about these products. In the US, a friend of mine wanted to buy a khukuri for his son. It took him five months in 1999 to contact the firm here. The only way he knew about khukuri was that I gave him one after one of my visits to Nepal. Now, all that can be done online.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	It is not an issue that customer satisfaction does not exist in Nepal. What matters is that it exists where you have to sell. Customer satisfaction only exists where there is oversupply. The tragedy of the world is that people in a lot of countries have so little to spare but those in the United States, Europe and Japan have a lot of money. Thatâ€™s the kind of consumers you have to reach. If some Nepali product needs to find a presence in the United States, for example, it has to be either word-of-mouth or online. So, a website showcasing local products to a worldwide audience will certainly help.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">People in rich countries are looking to buy something new and different. The products made in Nepal are certainly new, different and beautiful. You need to sell them to the people in these affluent countries. But then, if left unsatisfied, these people will go online and badmouth not just the product but the firm and the country as well. They will also go to the extent of recommending and advising others against dealing with the country they are disappointed with. Thatâ€™s where the customer satisfaction impacts, not in your country but in the market you are catering to.</span></div>',
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			'title' => 'â€˜Dealers Grow Confident With Exposure To New And Innovative Productsâ€™',
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			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12px;"><img align="left" alt="" border="3" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/boby.jpg" style="width: 220px; height: 255px;" vspace="2" /><span style="color: rgb(178, 34, 34);">Boby Johnson is the Senior Customer Marketing Manager (Export) - Asia Pacific, Philips Consumer Lifestyle. He was in Kathmandu recently for the Asia Pacific Regionâ€™s Dealersâ€™ Meet. He also launched Fidelio Docking Speakers for Apple products, 3D Television, LED Televisions, Home Theatre System, Air Fryer, Grooming products, Garment Care and Floor Care products for the Nepali market, during his visit. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, Johnson shared his views on the prospect for Philips products in Nepal. Excerpts:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How will this event help enhance the sales and market expansion of Philips products in Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	To start with, we have received tremendous print and broadcast media coverage for this event, which I think, is fantastic.&nbsp;This should help us get a lot of brand awareness and generate sales.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Are there any special packages for the dealers to facilitate market penetration?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We organise dealersâ€™ meet every year and it energises our dealers. After each conference, the dealers grow confident because they have been exposed to new and innovative products. These meets give them the added belief that they can sell. I am certain that the dealers are very happy with the new introductions that we are going to bring to the market this year. This would rejuvenate them and help them sell even more this year.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>About a month ago, one of your competitors launched similar products. Donâ€™t you think you were a bit late?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	I donâ€™t think so because this is nothing new. Sometimes, we launch earlier and at others, itâ€™s them who are earlier. It depends mainly on when you are ready for sales. I think what is important is how confident you are on your products. We are very confident with what we have.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How do you view the market potential of these products in Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Going by the reaction of the people I have met here, Air Fryer is one product that can register good sales in Nepal. Apart from that, 3D TV should do well. We also have very nice audio products like Fidelio range for Apple products which are very popular in Nepal. We are confident about all the products that we have here including kitchen appliances and beauty care products.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>There are similar products of premium brands in the market. How fierce would be the competition?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	I think the competition is good. Philips has been around for more than 100 years now. To be in existence for such a long period, you must be doing something very good.&nbsp;We are number one in so many categories worldwide, for example, shavers (male grooming), juicers, blenders and garment care. As a company, we are confident about innovation power and what we bring to the market. We do keep an eye on what our competitors do. However, we are also confident about our own innovation and position in the market.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How are these products doing in the Asia Pacific Market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	They are doing pretty well. Air Fryer, which is made in Singapore, is doing extremely well there. In Asia, all our products are doing very well.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What are your plans for the Nepali market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We have a very strong and good distributor in Nepal taking care of all business operations on behalf of Philips. Syakar Company is doing a great job. One of the reasons why we came to Nepal is to show our solidarity to encourage their dealers, distributors and sub distributors. I believe this will really help them grow the business further in Nepal. There are a lot of opportunities for business in this country. We are confident that we can do a good job in Nepal. We hope that besides the business, we establish Philips as a major brand in Nepal and distinguish it from other brands in the market.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What, according to you, are the problems and challenges in this market?</strong></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Wherever there are opportunities, there are challenges.&nbsp;We hope that the stability in the country will be ensured in the future. Besides political challenges which we all know about, I think the main challenge is the prevailing economic situation. The global economy is on the recovery path and we hope that it continues. We must stay positive and grab the opportunities in the market as they come our way.</span><br />
	</span></p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2011-07-20',
			'modified' => '2012-10-31',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Boby Johnson is the Senior Customer Marketing Manager (Export) - Asia Pacific, Philips Consumer Lifestyle. He was in Kathmandu recently for the Asia Pacific....',
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '309',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => '˜We Are Looking Into Nepal's Hydro And Highways"',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><img align="left" alt="" border="2" height="296" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/img6.jpg" style="width: 203px; height: 296px;margin:10px;padding:10px;" vspace="1" width="203" />Atul Punj</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, the Chairman of Punj Llyod Ltd“ a diversified international conglomerate offering EPC services in Energy and Infrastructure “ was in Kathmandu recently on the invitation of Entrepreneurs Organisation. A US$ 2.4 billion turnover company, Punj Llyod Group has built projects across the world and continues to provide integrated design, engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) and project management services for the energy, infrastructure and petrochemical sectors. In an interview with New Business Age, Punj talked about his company's possibilities of working in Nepal. Excerpts:<br />
	<br />
	</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What's the purpose of your visit to Nepal this time?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	This is actually my first visit to Kathmandu. I was invited here by the Entrepreneurs™ Organisation to speak on entrepreneurship. It also gives me an opportunity to explore and get a feel of the city and the country and see what's happening.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Could you please elaborate on Punj Lloyd's business activities?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We cover everything from urban infrastructure to expressways. We operate through our twenty international offices and entities across the Middle East, the Caspian, Asia Pacific, Africa, South Asia, China and Europe. The ideology is that we move into a country and localise operations there as quickly as possible. We make sure that we are seen as a local company rather than a foreign entity that has come in only to explore business opportunities. So, we invest a lot of time and money in training people and imparting specialised skills.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Our Group's three brands - Punj Lloyd and PL Engineering headquartered in India and Sembawang Engineers &amp; Constructors in Singapore, each with their own subsidiaries and joint ventures, converge to offer complementary services, rich experiences and the best practices from across the globe. We offer EPC solutions across a wide spectrum of businesses: pipelines, tanks, terminals, refineries, power plants, airports and rail transit systems among others.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What are the key strengths of your group? What sets you apart from your competitors?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	The key strengths would be our varied experience and rich knowledge of local conditions. Ours is a 23,000 strong skilled multicultural workforce that has the experience of working in different geographies and diverse terrain. We set high standards of health, safety, quality and environment and have received accolades and recognitions from industry bodies and clients.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We have the ability to manage operations in diverse industries and economies, long-term relationships with world-class clients and mobilising financial resources. The huge fleet of equipment Punj Lloyd owns gives the company an edge over its competitors.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Punj Lloyd is said to be committed to the cause of community enrichment. How do you go about achieving that?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	In our pursuit of business, we endeavour to uplift the communities where we operate. Social and environmental concerns are closely interwoven in Punj Lloyd Group's core practices and decision making. From providing education to many underprivileged children through its own school to enriching the lives of thousands of workers at its sites, we are committed to the cause of community enhancement.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>A number of construction and infrastructure related projects in Nepal are being talked about of late. What has kept Punj Lloyd from getting involved so far?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	I think the major reason for this has been the political instability here. Nobody knows which direction the country is heading towards. Hopefully, things will settle down sooner or later. The opportunities are definitely very large particularly in the hydropower area. Highway is another huge opportunity. We will look into it and see how we can take advantage of these.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How do you view the current business environment of Nepal? What areas of feasible business opportunities do you see for your company here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0.1pt;">I think the opportunities for businesses in this country will be largely based on political stability. Of course, there is a lot of investment and capital required to get the economy back to a position of strength. There is immense hydroelectricity potential in Nepal. The opportunity to produce and export power to India and other countries in the region is enormous. So, the relevance of hydropower is quite natural to us. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>It might interest you to know that most projects in Nepal face local opposition.&nbsp;How do you handle such situation in locations that you have been working?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Well, it's no different in India either. Any vibrant democracy which is developing has the same people power issue. Building roads, land acquisition etc are critical issues to deal with. It's important to talk to the local population and make them understand the benefits that the project will bring to them. For instance, you can build schools and primary healthcare centres for them and also offer employment.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	I think communities do understand that projects can make a contribution towards their development. We have learnt this over the years and therefore, we have an excellent track record for successful completion of projects within tight schedules. This lends credibility to the Group and encourages clients to trust it with repeat orders.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Are you looking at possibilities of partnering the Chaudhary Group here? Is there a certain time period you are looking at to commence operations in Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Everything is open right now. We are looking at opportunities depending on how they unfurl. We hope to start sometime within this year depending on how soon we can formalise things.&nbsp; <span style="font-size: 6.5pt; color: rgb(237, 28, 36); letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><br />
	</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	 </div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2011-05-31',
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			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Atul Punj, the Chairman of Punj Llyod Ltd “a diversified international conglomerate offering EPC services in Energy and Infrastructure“was in Kathmandu recently on the invitation of Entrepreneurs Organization.',
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '308',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => '“We Are Innovators, Not Followers”',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><img align="left" alt="" border="2" height="259" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/img5.jpg" style="width: 259px; height: 259px;margin:10px;padding:10px;" vspace="1" width="259" />Bernard Lee Meng Sum</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> is the Deputy General Manager (International Marketing and Investment) of Demak Motors, a two wheeler manufacturer based in Malaysia. He was in Kathmandu recently to launch two motorcycles models of his company through its dealer Agni Incorporated Pvt Ltd. Demak Motors won the Golden Bull Award 2010 for being one of the 100 outstanding SMEs in Malaysia. The company plans to penetrate&nbsp;the East and South East Asian markets in the foreseeable future. In an interview with New Business Age, Meng Sum shared his ideas on Demak Motors market prospects in Nepal. Excerpts:</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Why is Demak Motors attracted to Nepal ?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We have been keeping track of the market potentials for bikes in Nepal. Quite naturally, we see a very good growth here. We would like to be the number one in the Nepali market as a Malaysian brand. This year, our corporate strategy is to expand in the East Asian market and Nepal. We have tied up with a very good company, Agni Incorporated, to penetrate the potential market here.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>You have launched two models of Demak bikes. Is there any particular reason for choosing these two models over others?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Our market study revealed that dirt bikes and cruisers have large potential in Nepal. As you can currently see, the Nepali market is monopolised by street bikes. We surely are going to introduce more models with time. These will include scooters, electric motorcycles and hybrid scooters which have not been seen in the Nepali market as yet.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Who do you see as major competitors for your bikes here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We don't see anyone as a competitor right now. We are the innovators rather than the followers. We don't consider ourselves as competing against Indian brands. But we will position ourselves as the market leader in the dirt bikes and cruisers segment of the market.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How is Demak doing in the Philippines where it entered recently?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We are doing quite well in Philippines right now. The Philippines market is completely different than Nepal in terms of economy and market environment. We are currently the number five brand in Philippines but we will rise to number four next year.<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What sort of growth do you expect in Nepal business?&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	It looks a fantastic market to us. Nepal is located between China and India who have several automobile giants in their ranks. As a Malaysian brand, we are proud to have entered the Nepali market. It takes an extensive effort for us to be here. We hope it will be a success story in the coming days for the entire East Asian market.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Which segment of the market are you targeting to sell your bikes?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Well, it is a huge market. We are offering products that are different, classic and nostalgic. We are targeting college boys and teenagers in the age range of 20 to 28 years.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What is the sales target you have in mind for the first year in Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	For the first year, we are looking at selling 2,000 units. In the consequent years, we plan to grow at 10 percent on a yearly basis.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Your company won the Golden Bull Award 2010 for being one of the 100 outstanding SMEs. What kind of strategies did the company adopt to find such success within seven years of operation?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We believe in our marketing, our products and the wonderful teamwork that we have in our company. The Chinese philosophy which we practice in Malaysia is: there is no mountain that we cannot conquer as long as we put hard work and dedication to our assignments.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>You are establishing a production plant in Sri Lanka. Can you tell us about it?</strong></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Sri Lanka will be the export hub for us to penetrate the East Asian and South Asian markets.&nbsp;We chose Sri Lanka because this is the shortest distance in terms of distribution of our products to Nepal, Bhutan and our next target market India. We see potential in India for our dirt bikes, specially our scooters and electrical bikes.</span><br />
	</span></p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2011-05-31',
			'modified' => '2012-10-31',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Bernard Lee Meng Sum  is the Deputy General Manager (International Marketing and Investment) of Demak Motors, a two wheeler manufacturer based in Malaysia.',
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '259',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => 'â€˜Fiat Punto And Linea Are Two Great Cars To Start Business With, In Nepalâ€™',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<img align="left" alt="" border="2" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/rajeev.jpg" style="width: 181px; height: 265px;" vspace="2" />Rajeev Kapoor, the President and CEO of Fiat India Automobiles Limited, was in Kathmandu recently for the launch of Linea and Punto cars in Nepal. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, Kapoor talked about Fiatâ€™s market prospects in Nepal.&nbsp;Excerpts:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>You are launching two models of Fiat cars here. What made you choose these two specific models?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	These are excellent models and unique in terms of styling, safety and low pollution. We feel that Punto gives the right size and drivability options to small families. On the other hand, Linea is a sedan that is luxurious and has a huge boot space for carrying a lot of bags. It is a very stable car and practically won every award in India. Therefore, they are two very good vehicles to start business with, in Nepal.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What is your observation of the market here? Is there any target sales of these two models?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	I think we should be able to get around five percent of the market share with these two cars. Then depending on how the models perform here, we can plan an official strategy on introducing other models. We hope that the affordability for buying cars in this country grows. Because it will help us sell more units and give shape to a long-term plan here.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How are Fiatâ€™s passenger cars doing in the Indian market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Fiat is doing very well in India. We sold about 23,000 units last year. The Indian market is growing at around 13 to 14 per cent every year. We also want to grow correspondingly with the Indian market this year. We are already working on a small car to be launched in 2012 end or 2013 beginning. So a lot is happening in India. The market there is becoming very competitive. However, introducing Fiat models in Nepal is a different ballgame altogether because we are not restricted to bring models only from India.&nbsp;Depending on the need, we can introduce models directly from Fiat in Italy as well if the price is right.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How do you view the competition with other brands in the Nepali market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Hyundai is dominantly the market leader in Nepal followed by Toyota and Maruti. There are a host of other brands too. Tata Motors, one of our joint venture partners in India, is also a major player here. The competition is definitely going to be there. And itâ€™s always good to have competition as it makes us agile and focused on keeping the quality and the price parity right.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What are the challenges you foresee for the market here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	The most glaring challenge for us is that we are a late entrant.&nbsp;Others have been selling their cars for many years now and are established players. Therefore, we need to carve a niche here. This is why we have introduced these two cars that are absolutely different in touch, feel, look and safety. We need to immediately move forward. That is why instead of only launching the car, we have first worked on strengthening the after sales aspect of it.&nbsp;We have already set up a spare parts and service centre with all the tools required. It is our effort to make sure that customers get immediate after sales service. Itâ€™s important because for us, the customers come first. So, we are launching the car after setting everything else in place. The customers can buy our cars without worrying too much about after sales service and availability of spare parts.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What is the market response for Fiat cars in the South Asian market compared to American and European markets?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Fiat has many established brands such as Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Maserati and Ferrari. Fiat is very strong in European markets, Brazil and even Turkey. Fiat is now venturing into China and Russia. Indian operation is already running steadily. It is also entering the US market now. A lot is happening in the automotive world. Due to the slowdown in the European, American and Japanese markets, the focus now is on countries like Brazil, Russia, India and China. So, Fiat is also eyeing these â€˜action marketsâ€™.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Do you have any specific plans for the Nepali market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We are reasonably focused on the Nepali market. We will be engaging ourselves in supporting our dealer here, Batas Brothers Motors, in all possible ways. We will make sure that besides the availability of spare parts and after sales service, we will make the latest models available here. We will make sure that when we plan a product, we will accordingly plan a strategy for Nepal too. I see a great future for Fiat in Nepal. This country is going to grow. As the infrastructure grows, there will be a requirement for more cars. And we want to be here and be a part of it. I can assure you that Nepal will always get the top line products here. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>',
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			'description' => 'Rajeev Kapoor, the President and CEO of Fiat India Automobiles Limited, was in Kathmandu recently for the launch of Linea and Punto cars in Nepal. In an interview......',
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			'id' => '258',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => 'â€˜We Can Significantly Increase The Sales Of Panasonic Products In Nepalâ€™',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<img align="left" alt="" border="2" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/Hidenori.jpg" style="width: 199px; height: 271px;" vspace="2" />Hidenori Aso, the Managing Director of Panasonic India Pvt Ltd was in Kathmandu recently for Panasonic Small Appliances Dealersâ€™ Meet. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, Aso shared ideas about different home appliances from Panasonic and his plans for popularising the brand in the Nepali market. Excerpts:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What brings you to Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We are launching a range of new products that include Micro Wave Oven, Hair Dryer and Straightner, Menâ€™s Shaver, Travel Shavers and Trimmers, Vacuum Cleaners, Blenders/Juicers and Food Processors. We also have a new rice cooker which we have customised as per the Nepali consumersâ€™ requirement. Ours is not just a rice cooker, it can also make various other dishes. Here in Nepal, Momo is very popular. So, we have modified the product and added a Momo-maker to it. We are confident about the quality of our product. And we are providing five years warranty to the heater of the cooker. Our local business partner here, Triveni Byapar Company Pvt Ltd, is aggressive about increasing the business here. We especially want to increase our small appliances business here.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How is your small appliances business doing in the Indian as well as other markets?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Our business is doing quite well in India. In terms of growth, the market is almost doubling every year which is very encouraging. Next financial year onwards, our cooker factory will start producing one million cookers on an annual basis. Besides India, we are also trying to penetrate into other neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka and of course, here in Nepal.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>You have high end products like HD TVs as well. What is the market response for such products?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We have already launched the 3D Viera in India as well as here in Nepal. The response is quite good. The market for air conditioners is also expanding in India.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What is your expectation from the dealers meet that you have organised?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	At the dealers meet, we want to showcase our new products such as the Momo-maker. We want to emphasise on the point that Panasonicâ€™s quality is the best. Therefore, we are giving five years warranty for the heater, the main component of the cooker. We also want to increase our network. This is why we have invited 150 dealers from all over Nepal for the meet.<br />
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What is the market share of Panasonic products in Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We are currently at par with our competitors here when it comes to the market share. But we are going very aggressively about our business. I am confident that we can significantly increase the sales of Panasonic products in Nepal with our business partner.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How do you distinguish yourself from the competition in the market as there are numerous brands selling similar products?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Our advantage is that we have a wide range of products with us. We have some products that our competitors do not have. For example, small appliances, kitchen appliances, beauty and health care products etc. We also have TV and Air Conditioners. When it comes to having a wide variety of products, Panasonic is definitely the market leader.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What are the challenges you face in the local market here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Talking about the challenges, we donâ€™t have good human resource here. We are trying to build a competent work force now. We are trying to make it more professional because Nepal, in general, follows very traditional methods. But since ours is a very professional product category, we need to change things around. We hope that doing so will appreciably boost our sales figures here.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What are you plans for expanding the market here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	At the dealersâ€™ meet, we have the provision of â€˜on-the-spot bookingâ€™.&nbsp;We are giving very good incentives to our dealers which will help them gain momentum in the market. It will ultimately popularise our products and give us a strong foothold in the Nepali market.</div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
	We are trying to introduce a great number of products from many countries. We want people to have the entire range and provide quality service to them. I think that within the next two to three years, we would be in a position to dominate the Nepali market. </p>',
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			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => 'â€˜Simmtronics Has A Huge Market Potential In Nepalâ€™',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
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	<img align="left" alt="" border="2" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/arif.jpg" style="width: 193px; height: 233px;" vspace="2" />Arif Khan, the Director of Simmtronics Semiconductors Ltd FZE was in Kathmandu to attend the official launch of Simmtronics products in Nepal. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, Khan discussed his companyâ€™s prospects in the Nepali market. Excerpts:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Could you tell us what Simmtronics is all about?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	It is a memory manufacturing company that was established in 1992. We have our manufacturing facility based in Singapore and our exports are done out of Singapore. As for Nepal, for logistics purpose, the goods come here via Dubai. We have an impressive range of products and all of them carry three years international warranty. During these 19 years that we have been in operation, we are already established in many countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Iran, Iraq, Russia, India and the entire Middle East.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How and when did you start distributing your products in Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We have been supplying to Nepal for the past one year through Explore Asia, our local distributor here. However, I thought of an official launch this time for a number of reasons. Multinational Companies like HCL, Samsung, HP,Dell etc have been showing an interest in the Nepali market for some time now. It generated curiosity in me so I wanted to find out more. Though the IT companies perceived Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as emerging markets, I discovered that they have reached their saturation point. Comparatively, Nepal is a virgin market and there is plenty of scope here. Therefore, we decided to enter the market now and introduce our brand so that we can capitalise on it in due time.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What kind of prospect does the Nepali market hold for you?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Nepal is a dynamic market, undoubtedly. I have gone through the sales data and figured that this is an upcoming market. If we place our products at the right price, provide good quality and after sales service, there is no reason why we canâ€™t establish Simmtronics as a leading brand here. We will make best efforts from the companyâ€™s side. At the same time, we trust our distributor and the dealers here in Nepal to reciprocate our efforts.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How do you distinguish yourself from the competition?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We are vendors as well as we manufacture our own products. 40 per cent of the components required to make a computer are manufactured at facilities owned by us. But a majority of our competitors donâ€™t have their own manufacturing facility, thatâ€™s where we score over them. Additionally, we have strong partners like Intel, VIA and IBM who have been with us for about 10 years now. The advantage we have as manufacturers are that we can sell products at very competitive prices.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What do you think of your future prospects in Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	I am confident that in about six monthsâ€™ time, we will command 80 per cent of the market share in Nepal. The figures that I have with me tell that the market here sells about 12-15,000 motherboards, close to 12-15,000 memories, around 6-7,000 personal computers and 2000 laptops every month. This suggests that the market potential is huge. To make the most of this situation, I have a plan that I will execute in partnership with my distributor here. I can promise you that Simmtronics is going to be aggressive. We will participate in IT related events and road shows as well as have our advertising system in place. To create a long standing goodwill, I will ensure that quality is maintained for our products in the Nepali market.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Whatâ€™s the kind of investment you are putting in the market here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	At present, we have planned to invest US$ 50,000 as the initial capital for promoting our products here. We have earmarked this amount only for the purpose of Simmtronicsâ€™ advertising and promotions. Apart from that, the investment by way of giving our products to the dealers and getting the money back from the market will be about US$ 1 million, to start with. </div>',
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	(int) 13 => array(
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			'id' => '256',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => 'â€˜The People In Nepal Learn New Technology Very Fastâ€™',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
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	<img align="left" alt="" border="2" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/aashis.jpg" style="width: 196px; height: 284px;" vspace="2" />Ashish Navinchandra Bavishi, the General Manager for International Business of Netcore Solutions Pvt Ltd was in Nepal recently for service expansion in partnership with Digitainment Pvt Ltd. Netcore is an Indian company that provides digital communication solutions for products specialising in email and mobile phones. The biggest names in banking and financial institutions along with various other companies endorse Netcore solutions. Bavishi looks after international business in Africa, South East Asia and South Asia Region. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, he shared ideas about his companyâ€™s potential in the Nepali market. Excerpts:<br />
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Could you tell us in brief about your company?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Netcore was started in 1998 with Linux based email servers. Over time, we started cloud services which hosts anti spam antivirus solutions. We entered into SMS solutions in 2003-04 and later on, we came up with enterprise solution and started different ways of using SMS. Netcore is probably the first Indian company to use SMS as an advertising platform. We helped corporate houses reach their clients through mobile phones because it is more personalised and penetrative than any other medium. Now we have medical services on SMS as well as M-coupons and M-connector which are business intelligence suites. We also provide email and SMS marketing services, voice based services. Around 20 million visitors log on to our web portal www.oneindia.in every month. Currently, we are trying to offer services like email, SMS, infotainment content etc in Nepal through telecom operators. The three different areas where we are working are enterprise solutions, data solutions and digital marketing.<br />
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How well are you doing in India and other countries?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	In India, we are the leaders in Linux based solutions. All our services are doing excellently in India. We are a team of 300 people; half of them are in technology. We are the market leaders in India for email servers, hosting anti spam integrated solution and digital marketing. After the telecom operators, we are the largest SMS sender in India with 10 to 15 million outgoing SMS daily. Netcore has pioneered most of the things that we currently do. We are also expanding our mobility and messaging solutions in other countries. We already have a presence in more than 17 countries. The entire IT fraternity is embracing cloud based solution rather than in-house solution. This is where Netcoreâ€™s expertise along with Linux based solution is so vital. We have a very capable leadership which encourages us to reach new heights. Being a customer oriented company, we believe in providing the best services for our clientele so that helps us maintain our top position.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What brings you to Nepal this time?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We are working in association with Digitainment here in Nepal for enterprise solution and solution for the telecom operators. We understand that the majority of people cannot afford smart phones. However, they are looking for VAS (Value Added Services) and infotainment solutions etc on their mobile phones which are not being catered well. We are trying to reach and cater to the lowest category of the society with our solutions. My brief experience tells me that this is a great market. People have started understanding the power of technology due to the advent and popularity of Internet, mobile phone and television etc. The people here learn to use new technology very fast. Contrary to my earlier belief, Nepal is not a tourist destination only. I find this market very promising as there are a good number of corporate houses here. And we are looking at them as our prospective clientele. We plan to replicate our image as a customer oriented company in Nepal. Hopefully, that will help us become the market leader here.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Tell us about the products and services you plan to establish here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We want to bring all types of solutions: digital marketing, enterprise solution and data products. The primary intention is to engage customers with the brand and cater to the corporate clientele with â€˜no price tag for the solutionâ€™. People are paying a lot of money for legacy solution as they donâ€™t have any alternative. Once they have an alternative which is better than what they are paying for, they would certainly opt for that. We will make efforts to educate the market and introduce all the products that we have in India.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>A large population in Nepal does not have access to Internet. Is that a challenge for you?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	The solutions that we provide are not Internet based only. We will be coming with a bouquet of solutions via telecom operators to reach around 5 million people. We understand that SMS is the best option for penetration as it reaches everyone and it is easier, personal and cheaper. We focus primarily on SMS but at the same time, we also look at email and enterprise solutions.<br />
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How would the customers benefit from your services?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Let me give you an example of email servers here. Linux based operating solution costs one third of the total price of legacy solution so that will create value addition for our customers. They stand to get better quality at a lower price. When we started out in India five years ago, the outgoing SMS charge was around 50 paisa. Today, it has come down to as less as five paisa per SMS. I think that can be replicated here in Nepal in the next two to three years. We will create benefit for our users by reaching more subscribers. We will give them more information for their mobile because mobile is the next big thing. All around the world, everything is making a shift from other technologies to mobile. SMS is the easiest medium for 70 per cent of the mobile subscribers. So, we are targeting mobile users and trying to cater to them. We are trying to cater to the entire market using SMS services as they promise to be the star performers among all value added services. All I can promise you is that this market will certainly get benefits from us. Within a yearâ€™s time, you will see the changes and results coming out.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Technology is changing faster than ever. How challenging is it to operate in such an environment?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We have a sizeable technology team in India which is highly efficient. We share our knowledge on technology with our partners in different countries regularly. We want to extend our services keeping in mind the technology available to us here. We have been tackling with technology since our inception. We lead the market because we have pioneered on all fronts. I think we can cope with the change in technology given our competent team stationed in India. If required, we can always hire more knowledgeable employees to deal with new situations. Netcore is particularly interested in creating infrastructure for effective functioning. It has three data centres, one in India and two in the US which work in tandem with each other.&nbsp;If a particular centre is not working properly, another one takes over automatically. Our main focus being a technology company is to create technology and impart ensuing services to the customers.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What is your plan on working with the local companies in order to get established here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We are very proud that we have tied up with Digitainment as our partner here. It will be responsible for liaison with the local companies. Itâ€™s an established fact that people trust their own people more. I am confident that Digitainment will help Netcore cater to the market here in an efficient manner. Itâ€™s our policy to work with local partners in any country that we start our operations in. We have already talked to many companies so in a way, we have started work here. Itâ€™s only a matter of time before our operations run in a full-fledged manner here.</div>',
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<p class="ANSWER" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="color: rgb(165, 42, 42);"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Takeyushi SATO <i>(left in the pic)</i> and Dattatraya Joshi, Managing Director and Vice President, respectively, of Hitachi Koki India, a subsidiary of Hitachi Koki Japan, were in Nepal to officially launch their products â€“ the Hitachi power equipments through Kathmandu Power Solutions (KPS). Excerpts from a joint interview:&nbsp; </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><br />
	</span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<em><span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">How is Hitachi Koki doing in India? </span></span></em></p>
<p class="ANSWER" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Dattatraya Joshi: It was set up in 1996 and it has its headquarters in Bangalore.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>We are into marketing of power tools in India where we have seven branches. We have an assembly facility in Bangalore. We also import finished products of Hitachi from Japan, Malaysia, China and other places. <br />
	</span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">How do you view the market of electronics in Nepal?</span></em></span></p>
<p class="ANSWER" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Joshi: Before appointing KPS as our distributer, we have had a small survey on the market in Nepal. Since we have studied this market carefully, we have understood the opportunities here. We know the competitors, their strengths, strategies and weaknesses. Certainly, we are very confident about having a reasonable market share in Nepal in the coming months. <span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><br />
	</em></span></span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">What are the features of your products?</span></em></span></p>
<p class="QUESTION" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Takeyushi SATO: Our products are basically power equipments like mechanised drillers, cutters and screw drivers. Joshi will tell more on it. Joshi: Our products have unique features compared to our competitors. In Nepal, we have launched 28 products. Hitachi worldwide has 700 different models. We will introduce more products in Nepali market as per the demand and requirement.<span style="">&nbsp;</span> <br />
	</span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">What prospects do you see for your products in Nepal?</span></em></span></p>
<p class="QUESTION" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">SATO: I see a lot of prospects here. Our products consume less electricity and have long life. They are good in quality. Joshi: Nepal is basically severe power-shortage country. Our low power consuming products will prove quite handy here. We also know that many power projects are in the pipeline. Our products are eco-friendly and are quite useful in construction works. We see a lot of opportunities here. <br />
	</span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">What could be the problems and challenges in Nepal?</span></em></span></p>
<p class="QUESTION" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">SATO: I do not see that much challenge as our main feature will be the after sales service. Chinese or other products may not have that. <br />
	</span></p>
<p class="QUESTION" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Joshi: I do not see a major challenge here. Our power tools are innovative and durable. The power tools market in Nepal is dominated by Chinese products, about which the people have the general perception that they are simply â€˜use and throwâ€™ items. We want to show the users a different path in which they will be entitled to get the qualitative after sales service as well.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>After months or years of use, the end users can go to the service provider, fix the machines and reuse them.<span style="">&nbsp;</span> <br />
	</span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">What could be your market strategy in Nepal?</span></em></span></p>
<p class="ANSWER" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Joshi: We will share our Indian experience and advise our distributer KPS here in creating distribution network, ensuring constant availability of our products and doing some promotional activities.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>We will formulate more marketing strategy depending upon the situation. <br />
	</span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">What about market share?</span></em></span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">SATO: Our first target will be to achieve a two-digit market share. <br />
	</span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Who are your competitors?</span></em></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">SATO: Bosch, a German multinational is the market leader in Nepal in the upper segment, i.e., the branded products. The other major players are Makita (Japan) and Dewald (USA). Including Hitachi now, the competition will be among these four branded companies. We do not have competition with low priced Chinese products, as we are not targeting that particular market segment. Our focus is only on upper segment.</span> </p>',
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			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Albert Tung is&nbsp;the Regional Director for India and SAARC Region of Asus, a Taiwan-based computer manufacturing company. He was in Nepal recently to attend a dealersâ€™ meet of his company. Asus is gaining momentum in computer products and IT sector worldwide and is claimed to be number three for notebooks in consumer segment and number one in motherboards, worldwide. In an interview with New Business Age, Tung talked about the companyâ€™s strengths and strategies for Nepal. Excerpts:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What was the purpose of this dealersâ€™ meet in Kathmandu?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We have come from Taiwan for the Asus dealersâ€™ meet in Kathmandu which has participation from all our major dealers here as well as some from Bangladesh. Through this event, we wanted to appreciate our dealers for their efforts. During the meet, we updated dealers with product knowledge and apprised them of our productsâ€™ performance worldwide. With the conclusion of this meet, we are encouraged to work harder in this market.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<b>What are the potentials of Asus products for the Nepali market?</b></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We see good potential for our growth in the Nepali market. We need to work with our partners more closely to have better business. Asus has always emphasised on superior product and quality design. Though we are fairly new in Nepal, we are working hard to introduce our products among the targeted consumers here. The competition is tough as established rivals like Apple are already ruling the market. I have learnt that itâ€™s a mature market for notebooks. So, even though we are primarily known for motherboards, the challenge is to introduce our notebooks to the end users.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What distinguishes Asus from its competitors?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Asus is basically a motherboard manufacturing company. All computers require CPU and motherboard and worldwide, Asus is number one in motherboard technology. This is where our core competence lies. For example, while purchasing a good notebook, you should not only consider the brand but the technology inside as well which is vital.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How strong is Asusâ€™ international market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Asus leads the market worldwide when it comes to motherboard which is a very important component inside a PC. Encouraged by our top position with motherboard technology, we have also achieved number three position in consumer segment for notebooks worldwide. We want to continue the good work and lead the market for as long as possible.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Do you have any specific strategies in mind to penetrate the Nepali market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">We have been in this industry for 10 years in notebook and 20 years in motherboard technology. For the Nepali market, our strategy is to cooperate with the local partners here and tell them about our superior product quality, service and technology. Besides commercial advertising and branding, we are focused on taking care of our product quality once the consumer starts using it. Our simple strategy is to penetrate the market with honesty. We want the market to know that they should select an Asus product for its quality technology.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Computer technology is changing rapidly. How challenging is it to maintain a competitive edge in the market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Computer technology is changing with new technologies related to CPU, memory and other specifications coming up quite frequently. At Asus, we have the confidence because of our technology and the expertise in designing a motherboard. We know we have an edge in the market because of the support from our proven motherboard technology.</div>',
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			'description' => 'Albert Tung is the Regional Director for India and SAARC Region of Asus, a Taiwan-based computer manufacturing company. He was in Nepal recently to attend a dealersâ€™ meet of his company. Asus is......',
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			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => ''We Want To Be Ready When The Economy Takes Off' (2011)',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Ali Jaleel is Dellâ€™s General Manager for South Asia Developing Markets Group. He heads the Growing Economies business and looks after the markets in 20 countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Brunei, Nepal and Mongolia. He was in Nepal recently to launch Dell Inspiron R series laptops. In an interview with New Business Age, Jaleel shared his views on Dellâ€™s position and prospects in the Nepali market. Excerpts:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">You have just launched your new Inspiron R series laptops in Nepal. How will this launch boost your outreach plan to penetrate Nepalâ€™s consumer computer market?</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">We are very excited to launch this particular product which we also call the queen series. It is unique because you can actually change the lids and use various designs as per your liking. We are hoping that we will see very positive response for this product. The infrastructure is also quite developed with Gen Next (Generation Next Communications) as our partner and reseller here in Nepal. We now have outlets at locations that were not there before.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	Â </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">What made the Gen Next, your partner here,&nbsp;win the award of Dellâ€™s most valuable partner for Nepal?</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">They have been very impressive and done all the right things. They focused not just on sales but also on after sales, on above the line (ATL) activities, growing the market outside Kathmandu etc. Therefore, we feel they have the right ingredients. Along the way, we are going to learn new things from them and I am sure they too are going to learn from Dell. We both feel that it is going to be a long-term relationship. Nepal is a strategic market for us and we want to be ready when the economy takes off.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	Â </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">As for the awards, our partners from South Asia and Korea join us in various locations once a year.&nbsp;It is usually in Malaysia or Singapore because our regional headquarter is in Singapore and factories are in Malaysia. We have started a tradition of selecting partners on the basis of extraordinary performances. This is where Gen Next was selected for their stand out performance and awarded with Dellâ€™s most valuable partner for Nepal.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	Â </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">How is your experience in the Nepali market so far?</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">We have been here for many years actually but mostly in an enterprise-way and not in a direct one. We have started making investments here only about six months ago. Gen Next is relatively new for us here but our business has really taken off in the last year or so. Nepal is a good market for us where our business has been growing steadily. There are a couple of very positive signals â€“ one is that the economy is very resilient and the other is, when exponential growth happens, it is good news for all organisations that have invested.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	Â </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">Who are your major competitors in the local market and where do you stand vis-a-vis the competition?</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">We would consider HP to be our closest competitor.&nbsp;We are competing with Acer and Lenovo in consumer base and IBM in the enterprise base. It is actually good to have competition because it keeps everyone on their toes and focuses on consumersâ€™ interests first.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	Â </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">What gives you the confidence that the New Inspiron R Series will hold its own in the market thatâ€™s already flooded with similar products? How do you plan to position yourself in the market for this particular product and establish brand identity?</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">We are very confident about the product and the quality. The innovation we have put in is something very unique. We are quite confident that it will find its own niche, build a loyal customer base and do us good.&nbsp;When you talk about a product, it is important to have different ranges because people have different requirements. Some may like a 12-inch screen while some other prefer a 15-inch screen. Therefore, we have positioned this particular product by giving options of varied screen sizes.&nbsp;They also have the option of making their notebook look different according to their mood. The reception has been very positive during its launch in some other countries a few weeks prior to that of Nepal. It is now available in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, India and China besides Nepal.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	Â </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">We are already showing our intent to grow here and you must have started seeing it already. This is just the beginning for this particular product. Technology moves very fast so we have to keep focusing on the Dell brand. And under Dell, we have to keep focusing on Inspiron as well as other products.&nbsp;We will continue to appear above the line to establish brand identity.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	Â </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">How do you assess the Nepali market overall? What are your expectations from the market in the foreseeable future?</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">Overall, I was very impressed with the sophistication of some people I spoke to. They are very well informed. In enterprise base, customers from various industries know exactly where they want to be and the technologies they want to embrace. This is very good because it means half the work is done since we donâ€™t have to educate the customers who are already very informed. Similarly, people seem to be quite well informed about technology in consumer base as well. The young generation here is very internet savvy and has all the information. As a matter of fact, they ask questions about technologies which are not yet available in Asia which is really interesting. These technologies are either introduced or are being planned to introduce in countries like the US. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">We do feel that we will continue to have organic growth which is fine with us because we are making the investments now. We are hoping that once the elections happen and a new government comes in, there will be more projects. A good number of projects especially on the government side are something we are eager about. That will definitely help us grow exponentially because right now, our growth is pretty organic.</span></div>',
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			'description' => 'Ali Jaleel is Dellâ€™s General Manager for South Asia Developing Markets Group. He heads the Growing Economies business and looks after the markets in 20 countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka........',
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			'title' => ''We Must Use Land In A Very Discretionary Manner' (july 2011)',
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			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 11pt;">World-renowned architect Hafeez Contractor was in the city to launch his first project in Nepal called Westar Skyliving -- a twin-tower apartment block close to Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza in the heart of the city. Targetted at the high-end clientele, this 14-storey luxury high-rise apartment project on 7.10 ropanis will have 77 percent of the project area reserved for open space and water bodies. Contractor is a member of Bombay Heritage Committee and New Delhi Lutyens Bungalow Zone Review Committee. After completing his graduate diploma in architecture from Academy of Architecture in Mumbai, he finished his graduation and MS in Architecture from Columbia University, New York. Among other projects, Contractor has also designed The Imperial I and II, the tallest buildings in India. His projects are spread across India, South Africa, UAE and the US among other countries. In an interview with Pinaki Roy of <i>New Business Age</i>, Contractor talked about Nepalâ€™s transforming skyline and the housing industry. Excerpts:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What is your assessment of the housing industry in Nepal?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">We are facing shortage of houses in Nepal and India. Not only that, housing shortage will be greater in the days to come with rising population and more people moving into the cities. Therefore, we have to find a way out to deal with the problem of housing shortage. We should discourage the individual housing system in every South Asian country including Nepal.&nbsp; The land is ever decreasing with construction of stand-alone houses and the truth is that we canâ€™t produce additional land.</span> There is an immediate need to redevelop old buildings here. By doing so, taxation levels can be increased and the cities can get rich. The cities can then plough money into&nbsp; infrastructure which is most important.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Tell us in brief about your association with Westar Skyliving. </span>I am interested in Nepal because apartment culture has been developing here of late. The people buying these apartments should be offered hassle-free living conditions and I hope my expertise of over 30 years will help fulfil this objective. This particular project â€˜Westar Skylivingâ€™ was proposed to me by its promoter Golyan Group and it interested me due to its international standards. With my involvement in this project, I want to demonstrate innovative ways of designing and executing an&nbsp; apartment project.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Given the fact that Nepal falls in the Seismic Zone 5, how do you view the increasing construction of high-rises here?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">The fact remains that high-rises are a very important today because we have a restricted amount of land. And, we have to make use of the land in a very discretionary manner. Up till now, we have been wasting land by keeping open spaces where we can do nothing. We need proper, large green spaces and we have to think about our subsoil water which is going down because of the indiscriminate growth of our cities. The water gets washed off and does not percolate down. High-rises are very important indeed and it is equally important for the people involved to build high-rises in the right manner. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Earthquakes are going to come some day or the other so we should be better prepared for that. Design&nbsp;and construction of skyscrapers should be as per the code otherwise we are in big trouble. I feel the government should take a very firm stand against people who are not adhering to this. In the event of an earthquake, buildings may collapse because the builders may not have designed the buildings as per earthquake loads. Suddenly, the media and everyone else will start saying that high-rises are bad.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Will you be involved in more Nepali projects in the foreseeable future such as public structures and slum redevelopment?</span></strong></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
	Yes, definitely. Besides working with the private sector, I will be looking for opportunities to work with the government as well. The government must look at providing sustainable housing options to the citizens of this country. Itâ€™s sad but true that despite having tremendous potential, the apartment business has not registered the desired growth in Nepal. We must look to introduce easy apartment systems that will accommodate large number of people under single roof. I will be working in this direction in Nepal.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Whatâ€™s your recommendation for the Nepali architects? </span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I have come to Kathmandu after 2-3 years and I saw a lot of glass buildings. I would be very happy if a touch of local architecture and materials are given to the buildings being constructed. It happens that while living in one region, we like what is there in the other region. This phase will go away with time and you should let it happen. You should maintain old buildings because heritage is extremely important.</span></p>',
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			'title' => ''Nano Will Make Motoring Affordable In Nepal' (july 2011)',
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			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Johnny Oommen</strong> is the Head of International Business, Passenger Car Unit for Tata Motors Limited. Oommen has a proven track record in bottom-line results, strategic marketing, problem solving and people management. He has also worked for top brands like BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce, General Motors India and even Sony Entertainment Television. Oommen was in Kathmandu last month to launch the much-awaited Nano car in Nepal. In an interview with <i>New Business Age, </i>he shared his views on Nanoâ€™s market prospects and its suitability for the Nepali roads. Excerpts:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Nano is now in Nepal. How do you feel about it?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	It is a momentous occasion for us. When we launched the Nano in India nearly two years ago, we were clear that a product like Nano will find its way to markets that are closer to India. Nepal, as you can see, today is one of the earliest markets outside India that we have decided to hit with Nano. We are very optimistic and confident that Nano will find acceptance across Nepal.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How is the car doing in India?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We have principally launched in India and Nepal is one of the earliest markets outside India. In India, the car has stabilised and is doing quite well. We initially had supply problem then we went into producing as much as the pipeline demand we had. Today, we have really expanded production and distribution capacity and we have 617 dealerships and sales point in India.&nbsp;We are going to introduce 300 exclusive Nano outlets in the coming month. So, the Nano is definitely looking good in terms of results in India.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>In Nepal, Nano is going to cost much higher than in India because of high tax rates. How do you see that?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Well, even in India, the pricing has moved up because of increase in import cost, material cost and distribution cost. So, today Nano is more expensive than it was two years ago. In Nepal, the duty and tax structure is such that there is 240 per cent increase over the price that we have in India. Despite that we are able to bring the Nano into Nepal in extremely attractive price. We believe that despite all that multiplier, we are offering a product that will make motoring affordable to a lot of Nepali population. Just to give you an example, starting price of the Nano Standard is Rs 798,000. Thanks to the tie-ups, we have got into with as many as 10 banks, we will be able to, for instance on the Standard, take a down payment of Rs 10,000 and work out a monthly instalment of Rs 11,111. So, that is a very attractive proposition. I think we are only adding to the expectation around Nano being a very affordable, acceptable motor.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Do you have any volume-wise target sales for Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Sky is the limit. We are looking at various segments. We believe as a car, it has potential for people who are currently without a car.&nbsp;Letâ€™s say they are using two-wheelers. We are looking at the people who have just started working, first-time job holders, young couples, small families, and of course people who already have one or two cars and are looking at additional small vehicle in the family. We believe, if we look at each of these segments, there is a lot of potential and we have increased production capacity in India so we are in a position to fulfil the demand in the Nepali market.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How do you see the Nepali market demand for cars,&nbsp;especially for Nano?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Even though the industry for a couple of years may not have grown as per the expectations of most of the automobile manufacturers and even the Nepali economy, we believe that the Nano is a product so attractive, packed with features like space, compactness, safety, manoeuvrability and fuel efficiency, all these are extremely attractive points. We believe with all these, it should be able to attract far more people in Nepal. We believe in creating a new segment. While people may be considering other cars, it will draw new people into the world of motoring. In that sense, it is really a limitless kind of thing. It is difficult to predict but our expectations are high.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How did you find the reaction of people here after the soft launching and beginning of Nano Yatra?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	So far, it has been overwhelming. We have received more than 5,000 enquiries, which is not a small number. It is very encouraging. We are only looking forward to actually start delivery. We will be announcing booking today and hopefully within a monthâ€™s time we should be able to start delivering.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Nano is the cheapest car in the world. How was it possible to make a beautiful car in such low price?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	The perception of cheapest car might have a lot of people believing that we must have cut corners or compromised. The truth is that Nano is the result of intelligent innovation. We have designed the car in a completely new way so that we were able to rethink how to manage cost and a lot has been done without making compromises. In terms of compactness, it is eight per cent more compact than the closest competitor. In terms of space inside, it is 21 per cent more spacious than closest competitor. In terms of gradability, it is as good as any other competitor. In terms of ground clearance, it is as good as or better than cars in one or two segments above the Nano. In terms of fuel-efficiency, the Automotive Research Association of India has certified fuel-efficiency of 23.6 kilometres per litre. Even in city driving that becomes around 20 kilometres per litre. It is still by far the best among others in Nepal. So, all of this is what we call innovative. These are all important to the customers and in fact they are better than what competitors offer. We have been able to do this in lower costs and that is what we would like to gift Nepal today.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Sometime back, there were questions raised on the safety of Nano because there was abrupt fire on board. How has the company addressed the safety issue?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">On the couple of incidents that happened, I must inform you that essentially they were to do with placement of some foreign object in the car. We can only certify that the Nano is an extremely safe product. It has been built with the highest standards of quality and after these couple of incidents; we actually improved whatever we needed to ensure that any such acts of unauthorised placing do not happen. It is difficult to expect any such incidents in the future. After those incidents happened, notwithstanding the fact that we knew Nano is a safe product, we submitted the car to a fresh investigation of design and everything in entirety. That investigation team included experts from outside Tata Motors so that it is a completely new investigation. You can often be blind to certain things because you believed the product for six to seven years is absolutely a safe product with the robust design and state of the art innovation. Despite our researches and belief, later we decided to make the robust car even more robust. We made enhancements to make it even more robust.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	As a testimony of our confidence in the product, we are offering for the first time in the Nepali market, a four-year or 90 thousand kilometre warranty. Nobody else does that. We are extremely confident about the product and I think this warranty provision itself certifies the fact that we believe in safe, sturdy and robust car.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Given the hilly terrain and not so perfect roads even in cities, is Nano the right car for Nepal?</strong></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Nano Yatra has been going on for a month now. It has covered around six thousand kilometres. That is not very long distance but we are glad to report you that it has performed extremely well. It is very robust and sturdy. It has gone across Nepal and we still have a lot of territory to cover. We will be doing 40 thousand kilometres. We are very confident that it will prove itself because we have extensively tested the car in India. The car has been driven on the highest motorable road in the world, Khardungla. We have gone across terrains and we are confident that the same performance that Nano has shown elsewhere will be shown in Nepal. Given the hilly terrain and narrow road, there could be nothing perfect than Nano. Its small size and its gradability makes it really perfect vehicle for Nepal.</span></p>',
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			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="color: rgb(178, 34, 34);"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><img align="left" alt="" border="3" height="285" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/william.jpg" style="width: 250px; height: 285px;margin:10px;padding:10px;" vspace="2" width="250" /><br />
	William Westgate is the Director of Studies at London College of Management and Leadership. After completing his degree at University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, he moved to London and started on the Midland Bank graduate training programme in 1984. Over the next 20 years, he rose to become Senior Vice President at HSBC Securities and Vice President and Director at Toronto Dominion Bank. He retired from investment banking in 2004 to take up a post lecturing in Business and Economics at Woodhouse College, one of the UK's top performing state colleges. Westgate is a founding partner in the London College of Management and Leadership and brings his knowledge of industry, enthusiasm for teaching and vast resources to the training sessions he delivers. He visited Kathmandu recently for the preliminary preparation of Finance &amp; Management Training scheduled for August this year&nbsp; targeted towards senior and middle level bank employees in Nepal. During his visit, he met the CEOs from major banks and financial institutions as part of his preparation. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, Westgate shared his views on the overall banking industry in the country and the upcoming training programme. Excerpts:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
	</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">How do you assess the banking industry in Nepal during this short visit of yours?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	It's ahead of the curve and banking has to be so. People do say that there are too many banks given the current economic level. When you are talking about a new Nepal, you have to develop the infrastructure, resources, processes, technologies and training people to a level where the economy is going to be. If you don't have the vision, you are left in the dust. Some of the bankers I have met recently do have a vision.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Finance and banking is not just another industry. It's integral to economic development, right from micro lending to massive project financing, ATMs, consumer products you name it. You cannot make economic progress without a functioning banking system. The banking system in Nepal has a lot of ground to cover though. There are billions of rupees that need to be brought into the formal banking system. You must also get rid of a practice like hundi because that's not good for the economy. We need transparency as these are big social issues.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">What is this Finance &amp; Management Training all about?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Well, I don't pretend that I am going to solve all the issues. Banking is a complex industry. In my experiences as a banker, there are a lot of things to know. But there are certain things that you have to know. So, it's a situation of nice-to-know vis-Ã&nbsp;-vis need-to-know We have designed this course based on what the bankers here really need-to-know. Cost of capital, time value of money, sales and distribution of financial products etc are essential for the people in the banking corporations, irrespective of their positions, to know. So, those are the aspects we hope to bring to our training.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">How did your preparation go towards the training programme?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Prior to coming here, I did a lot of research. But nothing matches meeting face-to-face the people who matter. I would say that it has given me invaluable education and encouragement. The conversations I have had here have given me a lot of good practice as well as ideas. I have met some of the most capable people running the banking industry here, however, they are restrained by current conditions. What we hope to do is bring fresh air new western thinking. But we have to tweak it to suit the Nepali market. Because what works for selling bonds in Wall Street is not going to work for selling a loan in Kathmandu. But the principles always stay the same; there are certain things that never change. We are hoping to adjust and adapt tactics as per local requirements.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">You had a lucrative investment banking career going well for you. What is it that stimulated your transition to lecturing and training?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Yes, I had a fantastic career as a banker. But for me, banking is more than just the money. I reached an age of my life where I didn't wish to remain a banker anymore. I love to explain things to people and making presentations using technology. I am an enthusiastic person and like to engage other people. It was more about aspiration and I wanted to move on to what I really enjoy doing.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What was the idea behind founding the London College of Management and Leadership? How do you think you have made a difference?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We set ourselves apart because we bring a combination of real practical experiences with academic rigour. All my life, I have collected notes mentally and physically wondering I wish I knew that and why didn't someone tell me that earlier. In our teaching, we focus on what the students need-to-know For example, while doing an MBA, the students don't need to know half the MBA because they will never use it. We make sure that the students pay real attention to what they would be practicing in the course of their work careers. Doing so helps us earn a lot of trust from the students. I admire good training and I hate bad training. Inspirational training is something I have always loved and therefore, bring it into practice.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">How exactly will the training programme benefit Nepal's banking professionals?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">As I have already said, the training will bring in fresh air, thinking and new ideas. People starting their careers in banking now are a lot more fortunate compared to 20 years ago. Today, there is technology available to make training sessions very engaging process. They say that you train animals but you educate people. The programme will follow a holistic approach. Banking has many components and when we put them all together; the participants will better understand their roles, departments, banks, the industry and the economy. It will allow them to have a creative and original thought about banking. It will also help them think out of their respective work briefs and cubicles and expand their horizons. </span></div>',
			'published' => true,
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			'description' => 'William Westgate is the Director of Studies at London College of Management and Leadership. After completing his degree at University of British Columbia in....',
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			'id' => '356',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => 'Communicate The Customer’s Way',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="color: rgb(178, 34, 34);"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><img align="left" alt="" border="3" height="312" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/stephen.jpg" style="width: 255px; height: 312px;margin:10px;padding:10px;" vspace="2" width="255" /><br />
	Stephen Reynolds is the Founder and CEO of Stephen Reynolds Seminars (SRS) International, a leading provider of corporate training in Thailand and Asia. His website describes him as an Expert in Psychology of Sales and Marketing as well as creator and trainer on THE ONE Advanced Sales System and Magic WORDS Communication Systems. A well-known speaker on Leadership, Communication and Sales, Reynolds has trained leaders from over 60 companies in Thailand, Philippines and Malaysia in the past three years. He has over 27 years of experience, which he leverages to make his seminars, training and public speaking engagements bursting with information, guidance and direction that is both practical and relevant. He was in Kathmandu recently, on the invitation of National Banking Training Institute (NBTI), to impart two-day training to Nepali professionals. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, Reynolds shares the tools and techniques that he teaches to make positive changes. Excerpts:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
	<br />
	</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">How do you assess the participants of this programme?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">The commonality among the trainees of this programme is that most of them had no sales background at all. Except for one participant, this was their first sales seminar. I tell people that what I am teaching is the most powerful sales technique in the world. It's usually helpful for them to go through other sales trainings as well so that they can contrast different trainings. Then they know what I am saying is true. But if they have never been to any other sales training, how can they compare. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Having said that, I think the training was incredibly fruitful. The participants were smart, involved and committed. They were hungry for the knowledge. It happens often in corporate training that the participants sent by their bosses are apathetic towards training as they don't want to be there. But it was an exception here in Nepal. The people were charming and needless to say, I was very happy. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">What's The One psychology of Sales and Marketing all about?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">The One I believe, is the most powerful and effective sales technique in the world. Sales is very complicated. There are many sales systems that are based on as many as 500 techniques but this is the only sales system in the world based on one technique. We are trying to take something very complicated and make it much simpler and easier to apply. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">We start with the relatively new psychology of Neuro-linguistic programming. It is an approach to psychotherapy and organisational change based on a model of interpersonal communication chiefly concerned with the relationship between successful patterns of behaviour and the subjective experiences underlying them and a system of alternative therapy based on this which seeks to educate people in self-awareness and effective communication, and to change their patterns of mental and emotional behaviour </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">How can communication techniques be made more effective for sales?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">There is no point in my inundating trainees with too much information that they can neither remember nor use. It's important to focus on a particular aspect which will make a difference. That is the challenge with sales. I go with the most powerful psychology and go right to the heart-of-the-matter how to sell face-to-face. ˜The One technique helps immensely as it is applicable for leadership, communication, negotiation etc. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">How do you define advanced psychological linking?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">It is when you take your products and link them together with the values of the person you are talking to. Basically, we are communicating the customer's way according to their values and vocabulary. The One focuses the entire sales process on the highest values of the person you are dealing with. It is a completely customised process. Sales is not just talking, you have to start seeing the psychology behind the word. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">Are you confident the trainees will be able to effectively apply the technique taught by you?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Well, I hope so. Or else, my effort will amount to nothing. In two days, I have given them a real foundation. They should be able to walk out and start to communicate better and instantly be able to see an increase in their sales.What they have learnt during the course of the training should also help them improve their communication at their workplaces. They should now be able to communicate better with their bosses,&nbsp; subordinates and customers. Sales is communication and vice versa. </span></div>',
			'published' => true,
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			'description' => 'Stephen Reynolds is the Founder and CEO of Stephen Reynolds Seminars (SRS) International, a leading provider of corporate training in Thailand and Asia. His....',
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '355',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => 'â€˜Customer Satisfaction Only Exists Where There Is Oversupplyâ€™',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><img align="left" alt="" border="3" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/kevin.jpg" style="width: 223px; height: 231px;" vspace="2" />Dr Kevin McCrohan is a Professor of Marketing â€“ School of Management at George Mason University in Virginia, United States. A PhD from City University of New York, his research interests include marketing and efficient functioning of profit and non-profit organisations, competitive intelligence, information security, methods of marketing compliance for fiscal and philanthropic organisations and economic measurement to fill gaps in administrative data sets. Dr McCrohan has been a Senior Fulbright Scholar at the School of Management, Kathmandu University, Nepal as well as at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. During his recent visit to Kathmandu, he delivered a talk on â€˜Customer Satisfaction in E-Commerce: Issues and Solutionsâ€™ and its implications for Nepal as the main theme under â€˜SAIM Lecture Seriesâ€™ initiated by South Asian Institute of Management, Lalitpur. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, Dr McCrohan shared his views on the importance of customer satisfaction in e-commerce from Nepalâ€™s perspective. Excerpts:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
	</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">How does customer satisfaction work in an e-commerce scenario?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We have a relationship between the firm and the customer in which they trust each other over the course of a transaction. It is of overriding importance that all the participants that deal with that transaction online can be trusted upon, particularly with personal and financial information.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What was the focus of the talk programme today?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	It was to make people aware of the fact that the firms have the best of intention out in the cyber world, while dealing with customers online. Of course, there are scores of mischievous elements who are trying to steal money. In the bargain, it breaks the trust between the consumer and the firm. As a result, the consumers stop dealing with the firm. &nbsp;I was totally fascinated with the programme today. It was delightful and certainly a privilege to be here.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">It is very hard to monitor customer satisfaction on the web as you donâ€™t physically see the customer. How do you overcome this challenge and ensure they are satisfied?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	You can contact them after the purchase through e-mail and find out if they are satisfied and if the product is working out for them as promised. You could also do surveys with your online customers by asking questions pertaining to their satisfaction level with respect to your firm and its products. I must point out that when people complain, paying attention to those complaints is critical. Marketing is about word-of-mouth. In todayâ€™s age of online blogs, a bad experience is posted and gets conveyed to n-number of people.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	You need to benchmark yourself. In the western world like the European countries and the United States, there are customer satisfaction surveys that pop up online highlighting firms and organisations. The response thus generated can be tracked by the firms. For small firms, the best way is to design a questionnaire and occasionally contact the customers and try to determine how they can better serve them.&nbsp;They can appreciate the consumers for their valued feedback and thank them for helping them in their endeavour for ensuring improved customer service.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">To reduce customer apprehension and assure customers of legitimacy, how important is it to post â€œCustomer Certified Ratingsâ€ on the web site?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	If you can quote an online source, thatâ€™s even better. But if you can quote your own survey, that is still good. You can thank them and apprise them of your growth over a period of time. By doing that, you let the customer know you are monitoring customer satisfaction as it is important to you. You also convey a message that you are paying attention to what the customers tell you.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Online retail sales still make up only a small portion of overall retail sales in the US but satisfied consumers are expanding their purchases online. How do you view this?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Itâ€™s neither good nor bad. In late 1990s and early 2000s, a lot of research projected that the growth rate for e-commerce would reach unprecedented heights and everything will be online. But there was a vital element missing from those surveys. In a country like the United States for example, shopping is recreation. A lot of people are what we can refer to as, full-contact shoppers â€“ they love to shop.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	There is no way that e-commerce is going to replace the actual experience of going to the store with family and friends, feeling the goods and shop in person. Almost everybody compare the shops online but still end up at the store to buy products first-hand. The real challenge for large e-retailers is to somehow convince more people to actually buy online. I have a statistic that tells me 25-30 per cent of amazon.comâ€™s purchases are left in the cart â€“ people go through the process of selecting goods and are ready to buy but eventually end up not buying.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Customer satisfaction is non-existent in any kind of business in the third world countries. Except for the developed countries, do you see any potential whatsoever, for e-commerce in such countries?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">Exactly. One of the points I was trying to make during my presentation was that the concept of customer satisfaction does not exist in a country like Nepal. The market is in the United States and European countries. The beautiful carpets and woodworks that Nepali craftsmen make are phenomenal. The only way to reach the customers all around the world is to tell them about these products. In the US, a friend of mine wanted to buy a khukuri for his son. It took him five months in 1999 to contact the firm here. The only way he knew about khukuri was that I gave him one after one of my visits to Nepal. Now, all that can be done online.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	It is not an issue that customer satisfaction does not exist in Nepal. What matters is that it exists where you have to sell. Customer satisfaction only exists where there is oversupply. The tragedy of the world is that people in a lot of countries have so little to spare but those in the United States, Europe and Japan have a lot of money. Thatâ€™s the kind of consumers you have to reach. If some Nepali product needs to find a presence in the United States, for example, it has to be either word-of-mouth or online. So, a website showcasing local products to a worldwide audience will certainly help.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">People in rich countries are looking to buy something new and different. The products made in Nepal are certainly new, different and beautiful. You need to sell them to the people in these affluent countries. But then, if left unsatisfied, these people will go online and badmouth not just the product but the firm and the country as well. They will also go to the extent of recommending and advising others against dealing with the country they are disappointed with. Thatâ€™s where the customer satisfaction impacts, not in your country but in the market you are catering to.</span></div>',
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			'description' => 'Dr Kevin McCrohan is a Professor of Marketing â€“ School of Management at George Mason University in Virginia, United States. A PhD from City University....',
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '354',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => 'â€˜Dealers Grow Confident With Exposure To New And Innovative Productsâ€™',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12px;"><img align="left" alt="" border="3" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/boby.jpg" style="width: 220px; height: 255px;" vspace="2" /><span style="color: rgb(178, 34, 34);">Boby Johnson is the Senior Customer Marketing Manager (Export) - Asia Pacific, Philips Consumer Lifestyle. He was in Kathmandu recently for the Asia Pacific Regionâ€™s Dealersâ€™ Meet. He also launched Fidelio Docking Speakers for Apple products, 3D Television, LED Televisions, Home Theatre System, Air Fryer, Grooming products, Garment Care and Floor Care products for the Nepali market, during his visit. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, Johnson shared his views on the prospect for Philips products in Nepal. Excerpts:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How will this event help enhance the sales and market expansion of Philips products in Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	To start with, we have received tremendous print and broadcast media coverage for this event, which I think, is fantastic.&nbsp;This should help us get a lot of brand awareness and generate sales.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Are there any special packages for the dealers to facilitate market penetration?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We organise dealersâ€™ meet every year and it energises our dealers. After each conference, the dealers grow confident because they have been exposed to new and innovative products. These meets give them the added belief that they can sell. I am certain that the dealers are very happy with the new introductions that we are going to bring to the market this year. This would rejuvenate them and help them sell even more this year.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>About a month ago, one of your competitors launched similar products. Donâ€™t you think you were a bit late?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	I donâ€™t think so because this is nothing new. Sometimes, we launch earlier and at others, itâ€™s them who are earlier. It depends mainly on when you are ready for sales. I think what is important is how confident you are on your products. We are very confident with what we have.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How do you view the market potential of these products in Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Going by the reaction of the people I have met here, Air Fryer is one product that can register good sales in Nepal. Apart from that, 3D TV should do well. We also have very nice audio products like Fidelio range for Apple products which are very popular in Nepal. We are confident about all the products that we have here including kitchen appliances and beauty care products.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>There are similar products of premium brands in the market. How fierce would be the competition?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	I think the competition is good. Philips has been around for more than 100 years now. To be in existence for such a long period, you must be doing something very good.&nbsp;We are number one in so many categories worldwide, for example, shavers (male grooming), juicers, blenders and garment care. As a company, we are confident about innovation power and what we bring to the market. We do keep an eye on what our competitors do. However, we are also confident about our own innovation and position in the market.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How are these products doing in the Asia Pacific Market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	They are doing pretty well. Air Fryer, which is made in Singapore, is doing extremely well there. In Asia, all our products are doing very well.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What are your plans for the Nepali market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We have a very strong and good distributor in Nepal taking care of all business operations on behalf of Philips. Syakar Company is doing a great job. One of the reasons why we came to Nepal is to show our solidarity to encourage their dealers, distributors and sub distributors. I believe this will really help them grow the business further in Nepal. There are a lot of opportunities for business in this country. We are confident that we can do a good job in Nepal. We hope that besides the business, we establish Philips as a major brand in Nepal and distinguish it from other brands in the market.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What, according to you, are the problems and challenges in this market?</strong></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Wherever there are opportunities, there are challenges.&nbsp;We hope that the stability in the country will be ensured in the future. Besides political challenges which we all know about, I think the main challenge is the prevailing economic situation. The global economy is on the recovery path and we hope that it continues. We must stay positive and grab the opportunities in the market as they come our way.</span><br />
	</span></p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2011-07-20',
			'modified' => '2012-10-31',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Boby Johnson is the Senior Customer Marketing Manager (Export) - Asia Pacific, Philips Consumer Lifestyle. He was in Kathmandu recently for the Asia Pacific....',
			'sortorder' => '272',
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '309',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => '˜We Are Looking Into Nepal's Hydro And Highways"',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><img align="left" alt="" border="2" height="296" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/img6.jpg" style="width: 203px; height: 296px;margin:10px;padding:10px;" vspace="1" width="203" />Atul Punj</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, the Chairman of Punj Llyod Ltd“ a diversified international conglomerate offering EPC services in Energy and Infrastructure “ was in Kathmandu recently on the invitation of Entrepreneurs Organisation. A US$ 2.4 billion turnover company, Punj Llyod Group has built projects across the world and continues to provide integrated design, engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) and project management services for the energy, infrastructure and petrochemical sectors. In an interview with New Business Age, Punj talked about his company's possibilities of working in Nepal. Excerpts:<br />
	<br />
	</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What's the purpose of your visit to Nepal this time?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	This is actually my first visit to Kathmandu. I was invited here by the Entrepreneurs™ Organisation to speak on entrepreneurship. It also gives me an opportunity to explore and get a feel of the city and the country and see what's happening.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Could you please elaborate on Punj Lloyd's business activities?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We cover everything from urban infrastructure to expressways. We operate through our twenty international offices and entities across the Middle East, the Caspian, Asia Pacific, Africa, South Asia, China and Europe. The ideology is that we move into a country and localise operations there as quickly as possible. We make sure that we are seen as a local company rather than a foreign entity that has come in only to explore business opportunities. So, we invest a lot of time and money in training people and imparting specialised skills.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Our Group's three brands - Punj Lloyd and PL Engineering headquartered in India and Sembawang Engineers &amp; Constructors in Singapore, each with their own subsidiaries and joint ventures, converge to offer complementary services, rich experiences and the best practices from across the globe. We offer EPC solutions across a wide spectrum of businesses: pipelines, tanks, terminals, refineries, power plants, airports and rail transit systems among others.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What are the key strengths of your group? What sets you apart from your competitors?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	The key strengths would be our varied experience and rich knowledge of local conditions. Ours is a 23,000 strong skilled multicultural workforce that has the experience of working in different geographies and diverse terrain. We set high standards of health, safety, quality and environment and have received accolades and recognitions from industry bodies and clients.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We have the ability to manage operations in diverse industries and economies, long-term relationships with world-class clients and mobilising financial resources. The huge fleet of equipment Punj Lloyd owns gives the company an edge over its competitors.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Punj Lloyd is said to be committed to the cause of community enrichment. How do you go about achieving that?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	In our pursuit of business, we endeavour to uplift the communities where we operate. Social and environmental concerns are closely interwoven in Punj Lloyd Group's core practices and decision making. From providing education to many underprivileged children through its own school to enriching the lives of thousands of workers at its sites, we are committed to the cause of community enhancement.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>A number of construction and infrastructure related projects in Nepal are being talked about of late. What has kept Punj Lloyd from getting involved so far?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	I think the major reason for this has been the political instability here. Nobody knows which direction the country is heading towards. Hopefully, things will settle down sooner or later. The opportunities are definitely very large particularly in the hydropower area. Highway is another huge opportunity. We will look into it and see how we can take advantage of these.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How do you view the current business environment of Nepal? What areas of feasible business opportunities do you see for your company here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0.1pt;">I think the opportunities for businesses in this country will be largely based on political stability. Of course, there is a lot of investment and capital required to get the economy back to a position of strength. There is immense hydroelectricity potential in Nepal. The opportunity to produce and export power to India and other countries in the region is enormous. So, the relevance of hydropower is quite natural to us. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>It might interest you to know that most projects in Nepal face local opposition.&nbsp;How do you handle such situation in locations that you have been working?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Well, it's no different in India either. Any vibrant democracy which is developing has the same people power issue. Building roads, land acquisition etc are critical issues to deal with. It's important to talk to the local population and make them understand the benefits that the project will bring to them. For instance, you can build schools and primary healthcare centres for them and also offer employment.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	I think communities do understand that projects can make a contribution towards their development. We have learnt this over the years and therefore, we have an excellent track record for successful completion of projects within tight schedules. This lends credibility to the Group and encourages clients to trust it with repeat orders.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Are you looking at possibilities of partnering the Chaudhary Group here? Is there a certain time period you are looking at to commence operations in Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Everything is open right now. We are looking at opportunities depending on how they unfurl. We hope to start sometime within this year depending on how soon we can formalise things.&nbsp; <span style="font-size: 6.5pt; color: rgb(237, 28, 36); letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><br />
	</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	 </div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2011-05-31',
			'modified' => '2012-10-31',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Atul Punj, the Chairman of Punj Llyod Ltd “a diversified international conglomerate offering EPC services in Energy and Infrastructure“was in Kathmandu recently on the invitation of Entrepreneurs Organization.',
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '308',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => '“We Are Innovators, Not Followers”',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><img align="left" alt="" border="2" height="259" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/img5.jpg" style="width: 259px; height: 259px;margin:10px;padding:10px;" vspace="1" width="259" />Bernard Lee Meng Sum</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> is the Deputy General Manager (International Marketing and Investment) of Demak Motors, a two wheeler manufacturer based in Malaysia. He was in Kathmandu recently to launch two motorcycles models of his company through its dealer Agni Incorporated Pvt Ltd. Demak Motors won the Golden Bull Award 2010 for being one of the 100 outstanding SMEs in Malaysia. The company plans to penetrate&nbsp;the East and South East Asian markets in the foreseeable future. In an interview with New Business Age, Meng Sum shared his ideas on Demak Motors market prospects in Nepal. Excerpts:</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Why is Demak Motors attracted to Nepal ?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We have been keeping track of the market potentials for bikes in Nepal. Quite naturally, we see a very good growth here. We would like to be the number one in the Nepali market as a Malaysian brand. This year, our corporate strategy is to expand in the East Asian market and Nepal. We have tied up with a very good company, Agni Incorporated, to penetrate the potential market here.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>You have launched two models of Demak bikes. Is there any particular reason for choosing these two models over others?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Our market study revealed that dirt bikes and cruisers have large potential in Nepal. As you can currently see, the Nepali market is monopolised by street bikes. We surely are going to introduce more models with time. These will include scooters, electric motorcycles and hybrid scooters which have not been seen in the Nepali market as yet.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Who do you see as major competitors for your bikes here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We don't see anyone as a competitor right now. We are the innovators rather than the followers. We don't consider ourselves as competing against Indian brands. But we will position ourselves as the market leader in the dirt bikes and cruisers segment of the market.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How is Demak doing in the Philippines where it entered recently?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We are doing quite well in Philippines right now. The Philippines market is completely different than Nepal in terms of economy and market environment. We are currently the number five brand in Philippines but we will rise to number four next year.<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What sort of growth do you expect in Nepal business?&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	It looks a fantastic market to us. Nepal is located between China and India who have several automobile giants in their ranks. As a Malaysian brand, we are proud to have entered the Nepali market. It takes an extensive effort for us to be here. We hope it will be a success story in the coming days for the entire East Asian market.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Which segment of the market are you targeting to sell your bikes?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Well, it is a huge market. We are offering products that are different, classic and nostalgic. We are targeting college boys and teenagers in the age range of 20 to 28 years.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What is the sales target you have in mind for the first year in Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	For the first year, we are looking at selling 2,000 units. In the consequent years, we plan to grow at 10 percent on a yearly basis.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Your company won the Golden Bull Award 2010 for being one of the 100 outstanding SMEs. What kind of strategies did the company adopt to find such success within seven years of operation?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We believe in our marketing, our products and the wonderful teamwork that we have in our company. The Chinese philosophy which we practice in Malaysia is: there is no mountain that we cannot conquer as long as we put hard work and dedication to our assignments.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>You are establishing a production plant in Sri Lanka. Can you tell us about it?</strong></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Sri Lanka will be the export hub for us to penetrate the East Asian and South Asian markets.&nbsp;We chose Sri Lanka because this is the shortest distance in terms of distribution of our products to Nepal, Bhutan and our next target market India. We see potential in India for our dirt bikes, specially our scooters and electrical bikes.</span><br />
	</span></p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2011-05-31',
			'modified' => '2012-10-31',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Bernard Lee Meng Sum  is the Deputy General Manager (International Marketing and Investment) of Demak Motors, a two wheeler manufacturer based in Malaysia.',
			'sortorder' => '231',
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '259',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => 'â€˜Fiat Punto And Linea Are Two Great Cars To Start Business With, In Nepalâ€™',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<img align="left" alt="" border="2" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/rajeev.jpg" style="width: 181px; height: 265px;" vspace="2" />Rajeev Kapoor, the President and CEO of Fiat India Automobiles Limited, was in Kathmandu recently for the launch of Linea and Punto cars in Nepal. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, Kapoor talked about Fiatâ€™s market prospects in Nepal.&nbsp;Excerpts:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>You are launching two models of Fiat cars here. What made you choose these two specific models?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	These are excellent models and unique in terms of styling, safety and low pollution. We feel that Punto gives the right size and drivability options to small families. On the other hand, Linea is a sedan that is luxurious and has a huge boot space for carrying a lot of bags. It is a very stable car and practically won every award in India. Therefore, they are two very good vehicles to start business with, in Nepal.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What is your observation of the market here? Is there any target sales of these two models?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	I think we should be able to get around five percent of the market share with these two cars. Then depending on how the models perform here, we can plan an official strategy on introducing other models. We hope that the affordability for buying cars in this country grows. Because it will help us sell more units and give shape to a long-term plan here.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How are Fiatâ€™s passenger cars doing in the Indian market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Fiat is doing very well in India. We sold about 23,000 units last year. The Indian market is growing at around 13 to 14 per cent every year. We also want to grow correspondingly with the Indian market this year. We are already working on a small car to be launched in 2012 end or 2013 beginning. So a lot is happening in India. The market there is becoming very competitive. However, introducing Fiat models in Nepal is a different ballgame altogether because we are not restricted to bring models only from India.&nbsp;Depending on the need, we can introduce models directly from Fiat in Italy as well if the price is right.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How do you view the competition with other brands in the Nepali market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Hyundai is dominantly the market leader in Nepal followed by Toyota and Maruti. There are a host of other brands too. Tata Motors, one of our joint venture partners in India, is also a major player here. The competition is definitely going to be there. And itâ€™s always good to have competition as it makes us agile and focused on keeping the quality and the price parity right.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What are the challenges you foresee for the market here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	The most glaring challenge for us is that we are a late entrant.&nbsp;Others have been selling their cars for many years now and are established players. Therefore, we need to carve a niche here. This is why we have introduced these two cars that are absolutely different in touch, feel, look and safety. We need to immediately move forward. That is why instead of only launching the car, we have first worked on strengthening the after sales aspect of it.&nbsp;We have already set up a spare parts and service centre with all the tools required. It is our effort to make sure that customers get immediate after sales service. Itâ€™s important because for us, the customers come first. So, we are launching the car after setting everything else in place. The customers can buy our cars without worrying too much about after sales service and availability of spare parts.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What is the market response for Fiat cars in the South Asian market compared to American and European markets?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Fiat has many established brands such as Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Maserati and Ferrari. Fiat is very strong in European markets, Brazil and even Turkey. Fiat is now venturing into China and Russia. Indian operation is already running steadily. It is also entering the US market now. A lot is happening in the automotive world. Due to the slowdown in the European, American and Japanese markets, the focus now is on countries like Brazil, Russia, India and China. So, Fiat is also eyeing these â€˜action marketsâ€™.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Do you have any specific plans for the Nepali market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We are reasonably focused on the Nepali market. We will be engaging ourselves in supporting our dealer here, Batas Brothers Motors, in all possible ways. We will make sure that besides the availability of spare parts and after sales service, we will make the latest models available here. We will make sure that when we plan a product, we will accordingly plan a strategy for Nepal too. I see a great future for Fiat in Nepal. This country is going to grow. As the infrastructure grows, there will be a requirement for more cars. And we want to be here and be a part of it. I can assure you that Nepal will always get the top line products here. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2011-04-27',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Rajeev Kapoor, the President and CEO of Fiat India Automobiles Limited, was in Kathmandu recently for the launch of Linea and Punto cars in Nepal. In an interview......',
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '258',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => 'â€˜We Can Significantly Increase The Sales Of Panasonic Products In Nepalâ€™',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<img align="left" alt="" border="2" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/Hidenori.jpg" style="width: 199px; height: 271px;" vspace="2" />Hidenori Aso, the Managing Director of Panasonic India Pvt Ltd was in Kathmandu recently for Panasonic Small Appliances Dealersâ€™ Meet. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, Aso shared ideas about different home appliances from Panasonic and his plans for popularising the brand in the Nepali market. Excerpts:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What brings you to Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We are launching a range of new products that include Micro Wave Oven, Hair Dryer and Straightner, Menâ€™s Shaver, Travel Shavers and Trimmers, Vacuum Cleaners, Blenders/Juicers and Food Processors. We also have a new rice cooker which we have customised as per the Nepali consumersâ€™ requirement. Ours is not just a rice cooker, it can also make various other dishes. Here in Nepal, Momo is very popular. So, we have modified the product and added a Momo-maker to it. We are confident about the quality of our product. And we are providing five years warranty to the heater of the cooker. Our local business partner here, Triveni Byapar Company Pvt Ltd, is aggressive about increasing the business here. We especially want to increase our small appliances business here.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How is your small appliances business doing in the Indian as well as other markets?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Our business is doing quite well in India. In terms of growth, the market is almost doubling every year which is very encouraging. Next financial year onwards, our cooker factory will start producing one million cookers on an annual basis. Besides India, we are also trying to penetrate into other neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka and of course, here in Nepal.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>You have high end products like HD TVs as well. What is the market response for such products?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We have already launched the 3D Viera in India as well as here in Nepal. The response is quite good. The market for air conditioners is also expanding in India.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What is your expectation from the dealers meet that you have organised?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	At the dealers meet, we want to showcase our new products such as the Momo-maker. We want to emphasise on the point that Panasonicâ€™s quality is the best. Therefore, we are giving five years warranty for the heater, the main component of the cooker. We also want to increase our network. This is why we have invited 150 dealers from all over Nepal for the meet.<br />
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What is the market share of Panasonic products in Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We are currently at par with our competitors here when it comes to the market share. But we are going very aggressively about our business. I am confident that we can significantly increase the sales of Panasonic products in Nepal with our business partner.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How do you distinguish yourself from the competition in the market as there are numerous brands selling similar products?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Our advantage is that we have a wide range of products with us. We have some products that our competitors do not have. For example, small appliances, kitchen appliances, beauty and health care products etc. We also have TV and Air Conditioners. When it comes to having a wide variety of products, Panasonic is definitely the market leader.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What are the challenges you face in the local market here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Talking about the challenges, we donâ€™t have good human resource here. We are trying to build a competent work force now. We are trying to make it more professional because Nepal, in general, follows very traditional methods. But since ours is a very professional product category, we need to change things around. We hope that doing so will appreciably boost our sales figures here.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What are you plans for expanding the market here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	At the dealersâ€™ meet, we have the provision of â€˜on-the-spot bookingâ€™.&nbsp;We are giving very good incentives to our dealers which will help them gain momentum in the market. It will ultimately popularise our products and give us a strong foothold in the Nepali market.</div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
	We are trying to introduce a great number of products from many countries. We want people to have the entire range and provide quality service to them. I think that within the next two to three years, we would be in a position to dominate the Nepali market. </p>',
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			'description' => 'Hidenori Aso, the Managing Director of Panasonic India Pvt Ltd was in Kathmandu recently for Panasonic Small Appliances Dealersâ€™ Meet. In an interview with........',
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			'title' => 'â€˜Simmtronics Has A Huge Market Potential In Nepalâ€™',
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	<img align="left" alt="" border="2" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/arif.jpg" style="width: 193px; height: 233px;" vspace="2" />Arif Khan, the Director of Simmtronics Semiconductors Ltd FZE was in Kathmandu to attend the official launch of Simmtronics products in Nepal. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, Khan discussed his companyâ€™s prospects in the Nepali market. Excerpts:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Could you tell us what Simmtronics is all about?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	It is a memory manufacturing company that was established in 1992. We have our manufacturing facility based in Singapore and our exports are done out of Singapore. As for Nepal, for logistics purpose, the goods come here via Dubai. We have an impressive range of products and all of them carry three years international warranty. During these 19 years that we have been in operation, we are already established in many countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Iran, Iraq, Russia, India and the entire Middle East.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How and when did you start distributing your products in Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We have been supplying to Nepal for the past one year through Explore Asia, our local distributor here. However, I thought of an official launch this time for a number of reasons. Multinational Companies like HCL, Samsung, HP,Dell etc have been showing an interest in the Nepali market for some time now. It generated curiosity in me so I wanted to find out more. Though the IT companies perceived Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as emerging markets, I discovered that they have reached their saturation point. Comparatively, Nepal is a virgin market and there is plenty of scope here. Therefore, we decided to enter the market now and introduce our brand so that we can capitalise on it in due time.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What kind of prospect does the Nepali market hold for you?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Nepal is a dynamic market, undoubtedly. I have gone through the sales data and figured that this is an upcoming market. If we place our products at the right price, provide good quality and after sales service, there is no reason why we canâ€™t establish Simmtronics as a leading brand here. We will make best efforts from the companyâ€™s side. At the same time, we trust our distributor and the dealers here in Nepal to reciprocate our efforts.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How do you distinguish yourself from the competition?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We are vendors as well as we manufacture our own products. 40 per cent of the components required to make a computer are manufactured at facilities owned by us. But a majority of our competitors donâ€™t have their own manufacturing facility, thatâ€™s where we score over them. Additionally, we have strong partners like Intel, VIA and IBM who have been with us for about 10 years now. The advantage we have as manufacturers are that we can sell products at very competitive prices.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What do you think of your future prospects in Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	I am confident that in about six monthsâ€™ time, we will command 80 per cent of the market share in Nepal. The figures that I have with me tell that the market here sells about 12-15,000 motherboards, close to 12-15,000 memories, around 6-7,000 personal computers and 2000 laptops every month. This suggests that the market potential is huge. To make the most of this situation, I have a plan that I will execute in partnership with my distributor here. I can promise you that Simmtronics is going to be aggressive. We will participate in IT related events and road shows as well as have our advertising system in place. To create a long standing goodwill, I will ensure that quality is maintained for our products in the Nepali market.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Whatâ€™s the kind of investment you are putting in the market here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	At present, we have planned to invest US$ 50,000 as the initial capital for promoting our products here. We have earmarked this amount only for the purpose of Simmtronicsâ€™ advertising and promotions. Apart from that, the investment by way of giving our products to the dealers and getting the money back from the market will be about US$ 1 million, to start with. </div>',
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			'title' => 'â€˜The People In Nepal Learn New Technology Very Fastâ€™',
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	<img align="left" alt="" border="2" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/aashis.jpg" style="width: 196px; height: 284px;" vspace="2" />Ashish Navinchandra Bavishi, the General Manager for International Business of Netcore Solutions Pvt Ltd was in Nepal recently for service expansion in partnership with Digitainment Pvt Ltd. Netcore is an Indian company that provides digital communication solutions for products specialising in email and mobile phones. The biggest names in banking and financial institutions along with various other companies endorse Netcore solutions. Bavishi looks after international business in Africa, South East Asia and South Asia Region. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, he shared ideas about his companyâ€™s potential in the Nepali market. Excerpts:<br />
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Could you tell us in brief about your company?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Netcore was started in 1998 with Linux based email servers. Over time, we started cloud services which hosts anti spam antivirus solutions. We entered into SMS solutions in 2003-04 and later on, we came up with enterprise solution and started different ways of using SMS. Netcore is probably the first Indian company to use SMS as an advertising platform. We helped corporate houses reach their clients through mobile phones because it is more personalised and penetrative than any other medium. Now we have medical services on SMS as well as M-coupons and M-connector which are business intelligence suites. We also provide email and SMS marketing services, voice based services. Around 20 million visitors log on to our web portal www.oneindia.in every month. Currently, we are trying to offer services like email, SMS, infotainment content etc in Nepal through telecom operators. The three different areas where we are working are enterprise solutions, data solutions and digital marketing.<br />
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How well are you doing in India and other countries?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	In India, we are the leaders in Linux based solutions. All our services are doing excellently in India. We are a team of 300 people; half of them are in technology. We are the market leaders in India for email servers, hosting anti spam integrated solution and digital marketing. After the telecom operators, we are the largest SMS sender in India with 10 to 15 million outgoing SMS daily. Netcore has pioneered most of the things that we currently do. We are also expanding our mobility and messaging solutions in other countries. We already have a presence in more than 17 countries. The entire IT fraternity is embracing cloud based solution rather than in-house solution. This is where Netcoreâ€™s expertise along with Linux based solution is so vital. We have a very capable leadership which encourages us to reach new heights. Being a customer oriented company, we believe in providing the best services for our clientele so that helps us maintain our top position.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What brings you to Nepal this time?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We are working in association with Digitainment here in Nepal for enterprise solution and solution for the telecom operators. We understand that the majority of people cannot afford smart phones. However, they are looking for VAS (Value Added Services) and infotainment solutions etc on their mobile phones which are not being catered well. We are trying to reach and cater to the lowest category of the society with our solutions. My brief experience tells me that this is a great market. People have started understanding the power of technology due to the advent and popularity of Internet, mobile phone and television etc. The people here learn to use new technology very fast. Contrary to my earlier belief, Nepal is not a tourist destination only. I find this market very promising as there are a good number of corporate houses here. And we are looking at them as our prospective clientele. We plan to replicate our image as a customer oriented company in Nepal. Hopefully, that will help us become the market leader here.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Tell us about the products and services you plan to establish here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We want to bring all types of solutions: digital marketing, enterprise solution and data products. The primary intention is to engage customers with the brand and cater to the corporate clientele with â€˜no price tag for the solutionâ€™. People are paying a lot of money for legacy solution as they donâ€™t have any alternative. Once they have an alternative which is better than what they are paying for, they would certainly opt for that. We will make efforts to educate the market and introduce all the products that we have in India.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>A large population in Nepal does not have access to Internet. Is that a challenge for you?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	The solutions that we provide are not Internet based only. We will be coming with a bouquet of solutions via telecom operators to reach around 5 million people. We understand that SMS is the best option for penetration as it reaches everyone and it is easier, personal and cheaper. We focus primarily on SMS but at the same time, we also look at email and enterprise solutions.<br />
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How would the customers benefit from your services?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Let me give you an example of email servers here. Linux based operating solution costs one third of the total price of legacy solution so that will create value addition for our customers. They stand to get better quality at a lower price. When we started out in India five years ago, the outgoing SMS charge was around 50 paisa. Today, it has come down to as less as five paisa per SMS. I think that can be replicated here in Nepal in the next two to three years. We will create benefit for our users by reaching more subscribers. We will give them more information for their mobile because mobile is the next big thing. All around the world, everything is making a shift from other technologies to mobile. SMS is the easiest medium for 70 per cent of the mobile subscribers. So, we are targeting mobile users and trying to cater to them. We are trying to cater to the entire market using SMS services as they promise to be the star performers among all value added services. All I can promise you is that this market will certainly get benefits from us. Within a yearâ€™s time, you will see the changes and results coming out.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Technology is changing faster than ever. How challenging is it to operate in such an environment?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We have a sizeable technology team in India which is highly efficient. We share our knowledge on technology with our partners in different countries regularly. We want to extend our services keeping in mind the technology available to us here. We have been tackling with technology since our inception. We lead the market because we have pioneered on all fronts. I think we can cope with the change in technology given our competent team stationed in India. If required, we can always hire more knowledgeable employees to deal with new situations. Netcore is particularly interested in creating infrastructure for effective functioning. It has three data centres, one in India and two in the US which work in tandem with each other.&nbsp;If a particular centre is not working properly, another one takes over automatically. Our main focus being a technology company is to create technology and impart ensuing services to the customers.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What is your plan on working with the local companies in order to get established here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We are very proud that we have tied up with Digitainment as our partner here. It will be responsible for liaison with the local companies. Itâ€™s an established fact that people trust their own people more. I am confident that Digitainment will help Netcore cater to the market here in an efficient manner. Itâ€™s our policy to work with local partners in any country that we start our operations in. We have already talked to many companies so in a way, we have started work here. Itâ€™s only a matter of time before our operations run in a full-fledged manner here.</div>',
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<p class="ANSWER" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="color: rgb(165, 42, 42);"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Takeyushi SATO <i>(left in the pic)</i> and Dattatraya Joshi, Managing Director and Vice President, respectively, of Hitachi Koki India, a subsidiary of Hitachi Koki Japan, were in Nepal to officially launch their products â€“ the Hitachi power equipments through Kathmandu Power Solutions (KPS). Excerpts from a joint interview:&nbsp; </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><br />
	</span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<em><span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">How is Hitachi Koki doing in India? </span></span></em></p>
<p class="ANSWER" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Dattatraya Joshi: It was set up in 1996 and it has its headquarters in Bangalore.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>We are into marketing of power tools in India where we have seven branches. We have an assembly facility in Bangalore. We also import finished products of Hitachi from Japan, Malaysia, China and other places. <br />
	</span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">How do you view the market of electronics in Nepal?</span></em></span></p>
<p class="ANSWER" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Joshi: Before appointing KPS as our distributer, we have had a small survey on the market in Nepal. Since we have studied this market carefully, we have understood the opportunities here. We know the competitors, their strengths, strategies and weaknesses. Certainly, we are very confident about having a reasonable market share in Nepal in the coming months. <span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><br />
	</em></span></span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">What are the features of your products?</span></em></span></p>
<p class="QUESTION" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Takeyushi SATO: Our products are basically power equipments like mechanised drillers, cutters and screw drivers. Joshi will tell more on it. Joshi: Our products have unique features compared to our competitors. In Nepal, we have launched 28 products. Hitachi worldwide has 700 different models. We will introduce more products in Nepali market as per the demand and requirement.<span style="">&nbsp;</span> <br />
	</span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">What prospects do you see for your products in Nepal?</span></em></span></p>
<p class="QUESTION" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">SATO: I see a lot of prospects here. Our products consume less electricity and have long life. They are good in quality. Joshi: Nepal is basically severe power-shortage country. Our low power consuming products will prove quite handy here. We also know that many power projects are in the pipeline. Our products are eco-friendly and are quite useful in construction works. We see a lot of opportunities here. <br />
	</span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">What could be the problems and challenges in Nepal?</span></em></span></p>
<p class="QUESTION" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">SATO: I do not see that much challenge as our main feature will be the after sales service. Chinese or other products may not have that. <br />
	</span></p>
<p class="QUESTION" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Joshi: I do not see a major challenge here. Our power tools are innovative and durable. The power tools market in Nepal is dominated by Chinese products, about which the people have the general perception that they are simply â€˜use and throwâ€™ items. We want to show the users a different path in which they will be entitled to get the qualitative after sales service as well.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>After months or years of use, the end users can go to the service provider, fix the machines and reuse them.<span style="">&nbsp;</span> <br />
	</span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">What could be your market strategy in Nepal?</span></em></span></p>
<p class="ANSWER" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Joshi: We will share our Indian experience and advise our distributer KPS here in creating distribution network, ensuring constant availability of our products and doing some promotional activities.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>We will formulate more marketing strategy depending upon the situation. <br />
	</span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">What about market share?</span></em></span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">SATO: Our first target will be to achieve a two-digit market share. <br />
	</span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Who are your competitors?</span></em></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">SATO: Bosch, a German multinational is the market leader in Nepal in the upper segment, i.e., the branded products. The other major players are Makita (Japan) and Dewald (USA). Including Hitachi now, the competition will be among these four branded companies. We do not have competition with low priced Chinese products, as we are not targeting that particular market segment. Our focus is only on upper segment.</span> </p>',
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			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Albert Tung is&nbsp;the Regional Director for India and SAARC Region of Asus, a Taiwan-based computer manufacturing company. He was in Nepal recently to attend a dealersâ€™ meet of his company. Asus is gaining momentum in computer products and IT sector worldwide and is claimed to be number three for notebooks in consumer segment and number one in motherboards, worldwide. In an interview with New Business Age, Tung talked about the companyâ€™s strengths and strategies for Nepal. Excerpts:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What was the purpose of this dealersâ€™ meet in Kathmandu?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We have come from Taiwan for the Asus dealersâ€™ meet in Kathmandu which has participation from all our major dealers here as well as some from Bangladesh. Through this event, we wanted to appreciate our dealers for their efforts. During the meet, we updated dealers with product knowledge and apprised them of our productsâ€™ performance worldwide. With the conclusion of this meet, we are encouraged to work harder in this market.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<b>What are the potentials of Asus products for the Nepali market?</b></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We see good potential for our growth in the Nepali market. We need to work with our partners more closely to have better business. Asus has always emphasised on superior product and quality design. Though we are fairly new in Nepal, we are working hard to introduce our products among the targeted consumers here. The competition is tough as established rivals like Apple are already ruling the market. I have learnt that itâ€™s a mature market for notebooks. So, even though we are primarily known for motherboards, the challenge is to introduce our notebooks to the end users.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What distinguishes Asus from its competitors?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Asus is basically a motherboard manufacturing company. All computers require CPU and motherboard and worldwide, Asus is number one in motherboard technology. This is where our core competence lies. For example, while purchasing a good notebook, you should not only consider the brand but the technology inside as well which is vital.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How strong is Asusâ€™ international market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Asus leads the market worldwide when it comes to motherboard which is a very important component inside a PC. Encouraged by our top position with motherboard technology, we have also achieved number three position in consumer segment for notebooks worldwide. We want to continue the good work and lead the market for as long as possible.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Do you have any specific strategies in mind to penetrate the Nepali market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">We have been in this industry for 10 years in notebook and 20 years in motherboard technology. For the Nepali market, our strategy is to cooperate with the local partners here and tell them about our superior product quality, service and technology. Besides commercial advertising and branding, we are focused on taking care of our product quality once the consumer starts using it. Our simple strategy is to penetrate the market with honesty. We want the market to know that they should select an Asus product for its quality technology.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Computer technology is changing rapidly. How challenging is it to maintain a competitive edge in the market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Computer technology is changing with new technologies related to CPU, memory and other specifications coming up quite frequently. At Asus, we have the confidence because of our technology and the expertise in designing a motherboard. We know we have an edge in the market because of the support from our proven motherboard technology.</div>',
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			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Ali Jaleel is Dellâ€™s General Manager for South Asia Developing Markets Group. He heads the Growing Economies business and looks after the markets in 20 countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Brunei, Nepal and Mongolia. He was in Nepal recently to launch Dell Inspiron R series laptops. In an interview with New Business Age, Jaleel shared his views on Dellâ€™s position and prospects in the Nepali market. Excerpts:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">You have just launched your new Inspiron R series laptops in Nepal. How will this launch boost your outreach plan to penetrate Nepalâ€™s consumer computer market?</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">We are very excited to launch this particular product which we also call the queen series. It is unique because you can actually change the lids and use various designs as per your liking. We are hoping that we will see very positive response for this product. The infrastructure is also quite developed with Gen Next (Generation Next Communications) as our partner and reseller here in Nepal. We now have outlets at locations that were not there before.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	Â </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">What made the Gen Next, your partner here,&nbsp;win the award of Dellâ€™s most valuable partner for Nepal?</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">They have been very impressive and done all the right things. They focused not just on sales but also on after sales, on above the line (ATL) activities, growing the market outside Kathmandu etc. Therefore, we feel they have the right ingredients. Along the way, we are going to learn new things from them and I am sure they too are going to learn from Dell. We both feel that it is going to be a long-term relationship. Nepal is a strategic market for us and we want to be ready when the economy takes off.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">As for the awards, our partners from South Asia and Korea join us in various locations once a year.&nbsp;It is usually in Malaysia or Singapore because our regional headquarter is in Singapore and factories are in Malaysia. We have started a tradition of selecting partners on the basis of extraordinary performances. This is where Gen Next was selected for their stand out performance and awarded with Dellâ€™s most valuable partner for Nepal.</span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">How is your experience in the Nepali market so far?</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">We have been here for many years actually but mostly in an enterprise-way and not in a direct one. We have started making investments here only about six months ago. Gen Next is relatively new for us here but our business has really taken off in the last year or so. Nepal is a good market for us where our business has been growing steadily. There are a couple of very positive signals â€“ one is that the economy is very resilient and the other is, when exponential growth happens, it is good news for all organisations that have invested.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">Who are your major competitors in the local market and where do you stand vis-a-vis the competition?</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">We would consider HP to be our closest competitor.&nbsp;We are competing with Acer and Lenovo in consumer base and IBM in the enterprise base. It is actually good to have competition because it keeps everyone on their toes and focuses on consumersâ€™ interests first.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">What gives you the confidence that the New Inspiron R Series will hold its own in the market thatâ€™s already flooded with similar products? How do you plan to position yourself in the market for this particular product and establish brand identity?</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">We are very confident about the product and the quality. The innovation we have put in is something very unique. We are quite confident that it will find its own niche, build a loyal customer base and do us good.&nbsp;When you talk about a product, it is important to have different ranges because people have different requirements. Some may like a 12-inch screen while some other prefer a 15-inch screen. Therefore, we have positioned this particular product by giving options of varied screen sizes.&nbsp;They also have the option of making their notebook look different according to their mood. The reception has been very positive during its launch in some other countries a few weeks prior to that of Nepal. It is now available in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, India and China besides Nepal.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">We are already showing our intent to grow here and you must have started seeing it already. This is just the beginning for this particular product. Technology moves very fast so we have to keep focusing on the Dell brand. And under Dell, we have to keep focusing on Inspiron as well as other products.&nbsp;We will continue to appear above the line to establish brand identity.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">How do you assess the Nepali market overall? What are your expectations from the market in the foreseeable future?</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;">Overall, I was very impressed with the sophistication of some people I spoke to. They are very well informed. In enterprise base, customers from various industries know exactly where they want to be and the technologies they want to embrace. This is very good because it means half the work is done since we donâ€™t have to educate the customers who are already very informed. Similarly, people seem to be quite well informed about technology in consumer base as well. The young generation here is very internet savvy and has all the information. As a matter of fact, they ask questions about technologies which are not yet available in Asia which is really interesting. These technologies are either introduced or are being planned to introduce in countries like the US. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 11pt; vertical-align: middle;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 8.5pt; line-height: 115%;">We do feel that we will continue to have organic growth which is fine with us because we are making the investments now. We are hoping that once the elections happen and a new government comes in, there will be more projects. A good number of projects especially on the government side are something we are eager about. That will definitely help us grow exponentially because right now, our growth is pretty organic.</span></div>',
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			'description' => 'Ali Jaleel is Dellâ€™s General Manager for South Asia Developing Markets Group. He heads the Growing Economies business and looks after the markets in 20 countries including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka........',
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			'title' => ''We Must Use Land In A Very Discretionary Manner' (july 2011)',
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			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 11pt;">World-renowned architect Hafeez Contractor was in the city to launch his first project in Nepal called Westar Skyliving -- a twin-tower apartment block close to Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza in the heart of the city. Targetted at the high-end clientele, this 14-storey luxury high-rise apartment project on 7.10 ropanis will have 77 percent of the project area reserved for open space and water bodies. Contractor is a member of Bombay Heritage Committee and New Delhi Lutyens Bungalow Zone Review Committee. After completing his graduate diploma in architecture from Academy of Architecture in Mumbai, he finished his graduation and MS in Architecture from Columbia University, New York. Among other projects, Contractor has also designed The Imperial I and II, the tallest buildings in India. His projects are spread across India, South Africa, UAE and the US among other countries. In an interview with Pinaki Roy of <i>New Business Age</i>, Contractor talked about Nepalâ€™s transforming skyline and the housing industry. Excerpts:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What is your assessment of the housing industry in Nepal?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">We are facing shortage of houses in Nepal and India. Not only that, housing shortage will be greater in the days to come with rising population and more people moving into the cities. Therefore, we have to find a way out to deal with the problem of housing shortage. We should discourage the individual housing system in every South Asian country including Nepal.&nbsp; The land is ever decreasing with construction of stand-alone houses and the truth is that we canâ€™t produce additional land.</span> There is an immediate need to redevelop old buildings here. By doing so, taxation levels can be increased and the cities can get rich. The cities can then plough money into&nbsp; infrastructure which is most important.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Tell us in brief about your association with Westar Skyliving. </span>I am interested in Nepal because apartment culture has been developing here of late. The people buying these apartments should be offered hassle-free living conditions and I hope my expertise of over 30 years will help fulfil this objective. This particular project â€˜Westar Skylivingâ€™ was proposed to me by its promoter Golyan Group and it interested me due to its international standards. With my involvement in this project, I want to demonstrate innovative ways of designing and executing an&nbsp; apartment project.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Given the fact that Nepal falls in the Seismic Zone 5, how do you view the increasing construction of high-rises here?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">The fact remains that high-rises are a very important today because we have a restricted amount of land. And, we have to make use of the land in a very discretionary manner. Up till now, we have been wasting land by keeping open spaces where we can do nothing. We need proper, large green spaces and we have to think about our subsoil water which is going down because of the indiscriminate growth of our cities. The water gets washed off and does not percolate down. High-rises are very important indeed and it is equally important for the people involved to build high-rises in the right manner. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Earthquakes are going to come some day or the other so we should be better prepared for that. Design&nbsp;and construction of skyscrapers should be as per the code otherwise we are in big trouble. I feel the government should take a very firm stand against people who are not adhering to this. In the event of an earthquake, buildings may collapse because the builders may not have designed the buildings as per earthquake loads. Suddenly, the media and everyone else will start saying that high-rises are bad.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Will you be involved in more Nepali projects in the foreseeable future such as public structures and slum redevelopment?</span></strong></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
	Yes, definitely. Besides working with the private sector, I will be looking for opportunities to work with the government as well. The government must look at providing sustainable housing options to the citizens of this country. Itâ€™s sad but true that despite having tremendous potential, the apartment business has not registered the desired growth in Nepal. We must look to introduce easy apartment systems that will accommodate large number of people under single roof. I will be working in this direction in Nepal.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Whatâ€™s your recommendation for the Nepali architects? </span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">I have come to Kathmandu after 2-3 years and I saw a lot of glass buildings. I would be very happy if a touch of local architecture and materials are given to the buildings being constructed. It happens that while living in one region, we like what is there in the other region. This phase will go away with time and you should let it happen. You should maintain old buildings because heritage is extremely important.</span></p>',
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			'title' => ''Nano Will Make Motoring Affordable In Nepal' (july 2011)',
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			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Johnny Oommen</strong> is the Head of International Business, Passenger Car Unit for Tata Motors Limited. Oommen has a proven track record in bottom-line results, strategic marketing, problem solving and people management. He has also worked for top brands like BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce, General Motors India and even Sony Entertainment Television. Oommen was in Kathmandu last month to launch the much-awaited Nano car in Nepal. In an interview with <i>New Business Age, </i>he shared his views on Nanoâ€™s market prospects and its suitability for the Nepali roads. Excerpts:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Nano is now in Nepal. How do you feel about it?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	It is a momentous occasion for us. When we launched the Nano in India nearly two years ago, we were clear that a product like Nano will find its way to markets that are closer to India. Nepal, as you can see, today is one of the earliest markets outside India that we have decided to hit with Nano. We are very optimistic and confident that Nano will find acceptance across Nepal.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How is the car doing in India?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We have principally launched in India and Nepal is one of the earliest markets outside India. In India, the car has stabilised and is doing quite well. We initially had supply problem then we went into producing as much as the pipeline demand we had. Today, we have really expanded production and distribution capacity and we have 617 dealerships and sales point in India.&nbsp;We are going to introduce 300 exclusive Nano outlets in the coming month. So, the Nano is definitely looking good in terms of results in India.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>In Nepal, Nano is going to cost much higher than in India because of high tax rates. How do you see that?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Well, even in India, the pricing has moved up because of increase in import cost, material cost and distribution cost. So, today Nano is more expensive than it was two years ago. In Nepal, the duty and tax structure is such that there is 240 per cent increase over the price that we have in India. Despite that we are able to bring the Nano into Nepal in extremely attractive price. We believe that despite all that multiplier, we are offering a product that will make motoring affordable to a lot of Nepali population. Just to give you an example, starting price of the Nano Standard is Rs 798,000. Thanks to the tie-ups, we have got into with as many as 10 banks, we will be able to, for instance on the Standard, take a down payment of Rs 10,000 and work out a monthly instalment of Rs 11,111. So, that is a very attractive proposition. I think we are only adding to the expectation around Nano being a very affordable, acceptable motor.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Do you have any volume-wise target sales for Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Sky is the limit. We are looking at various segments. We believe as a car, it has potential for people who are currently without a car.&nbsp;Letâ€™s say they are using two-wheelers. We are looking at the people who have just started working, first-time job holders, young couples, small families, and of course people who already have one or two cars and are looking at additional small vehicle in the family. We believe, if we look at each of these segments, there is a lot of potential and we have increased production capacity in India so we are in a position to fulfil the demand in the Nepali market.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How do you see the Nepali market demand for cars,&nbsp;especially for Nano?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Even though the industry for a couple of years may not have grown as per the expectations of most of the automobile manufacturers and even the Nepali economy, we believe that the Nano is a product so attractive, packed with features like space, compactness, safety, manoeuvrability and fuel efficiency, all these are extremely attractive points. We believe with all these, it should be able to attract far more people in Nepal. We believe in creating a new segment. While people may be considering other cars, it will draw new people into the world of motoring. In that sense, it is really a limitless kind of thing. It is difficult to predict but our expectations are high.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How did you find the reaction of people here after the soft launching and beginning of Nano Yatra?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	So far, it has been overwhelming. We have received more than 5,000 enquiries, which is not a small number. It is very encouraging. We are only looking forward to actually start delivery. We will be announcing booking today and hopefully within a monthâ€™s time we should be able to start delivering.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Nano is the cheapest car in the world. How was it possible to make a beautiful car in such low price?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	The perception of cheapest car might have a lot of people believing that we must have cut corners or compromised. The truth is that Nano is the result of intelligent innovation. We have designed the car in a completely new way so that we were able to rethink how to manage cost and a lot has been done without making compromises. In terms of compactness, it is eight per cent more compact than the closest competitor. In terms of space inside, it is 21 per cent more spacious than closest competitor. In terms of gradability, it is as good as any other competitor. In terms of ground clearance, it is as good as or better than cars in one or two segments above the Nano. In terms of fuel-efficiency, the Automotive Research Association of India has certified fuel-efficiency of 23.6 kilometres per litre. Even in city driving that becomes around 20 kilometres per litre. It is still by far the best among others in Nepal. So, all of this is what we call innovative. These are all important to the customers and in fact they are better than what competitors offer. We have been able to do this in lower costs and that is what we would like to gift Nepal today.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Sometime back, there were questions raised on the safety of Nano because there was abrupt fire on board. How has the company addressed the safety issue?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">On the couple of incidents that happened, I must inform you that essentially they were to do with placement of some foreign object in the car. We can only certify that the Nano is an extremely safe product. It has been built with the highest standards of quality and after these couple of incidents; we actually improved whatever we needed to ensure that any such acts of unauthorised placing do not happen. It is difficult to expect any such incidents in the future. After those incidents happened, notwithstanding the fact that we knew Nano is a safe product, we submitted the car to a fresh investigation of design and everything in entirety. That investigation team included experts from outside Tata Motors so that it is a completely new investigation. You can often be blind to certain things because you believed the product for six to seven years is absolutely a safe product with the robust design and state of the art innovation. Despite our researches and belief, later we decided to make the robust car even more robust. We made enhancements to make it even more robust.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	As a testimony of our confidence in the product, we are offering for the first time in the Nepali market, a four-year or 90 thousand kilometre warranty. Nobody else does that. We are extremely confident about the product and I think this warranty provision itself certifies the fact that we believe in safe, sturdy and robust car.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Given the hilly terrain and not so perfect roads even in cities, is Nano the right car for Nepal?</strong></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Nano Yatra has been going on for a month now. It has covered around six thousand kilometres. That is not very long distance but we are glad to report you that it has performed extremely well. It is very robust and sturdy. It has gone across Nepal and we still have a lot of territory to cover. We will be doing 40 thousand kilometres. We are very confident that it will prove itself because we have extensively tested the car in India. The car has been driven on the highest motorable road in the world, Khardungla. We have gone across terrains and we are confident that the same performance that Nano has shown elsewhere will be shown in Nepal. Given the hilly terrain and narrow road, there could be nothing perfect than Nano. Its small size and its gradability makes it really perfect vehicle for Nepal.</span></p>',
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			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => 'You Train Animals But You Educate People',
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			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="color: rgb(178, 34, 34);"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><img align="left" alt="" border="3" height="285" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/william.jpg" style="width: 250px; height: 285px;margin:10px;padding:10px;" vspace="2" width="250" /><br />
	William Westgate is the Director of Studies at London College of Management and Leadership. After completing his degree at University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, he moved to London and started on the Midland Bank graduate training programme in 1984. Over the next 20 years, he rose to become Senior Vice President at HSBC Securities and Vice President and Director at Toronto Dominion Bank. He retired from investment banking in 2004 to take up a post lecturing in Business and Economics at Woodhouse College, one of the UK's top performing state colleges. Westgate is a founding partner in the London College of Management and Leadership and brings his knowledge of industry, enthusiasm for teaching and vast resources to the training sessions he delivers. He visited Kathmandu recently for the preliminary preparation of Finance &amp; Management Training scheduled for August this year&nbsp; targeted towards senior and middle level bank employees in Nepal. During his visit, he met the CEOs from major banks and financial institutions as part of his preparation. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, Westgate shared his views on the overall banking industry in the country and the upcoming training programme. Excerpts:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
	</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">How do you assess the banking industry in Nepal during this short visit of yours?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	It's ahead of the curve and banking has to be so. People do say that there are too many banks given the current economic level. When you are talking about a new Nepal, you have to develop the infrastructure, resources, processes, technologies and training people to a level where the economy is going to be. If you don't have the vision, you are left in the dust. Some of the bankers I have met recently do have a vision.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Finance and banking is not just another industry. It's integral to economic development, right from micro lending to massive project financing, ATMs, consumer products you name it. You cannot make economic progress without a functioning banking system. The banking system in Nepal has a lot of ground to cover though. There are billions of rupees that need to be brought into the formal banking system. You must also get rid of a practice like hundi because that's not good for the economy. We need transparency as these are big social issues.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">What is this Finance &amp; Management Training all about?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Well, I don't pretend that I am going to solve all the issues. Banking is a complex industry. In my experiences as a banker, there are a lot of things to know. But there are certain things that you have to know. So, it's a situation of nice-to-know vis-Ã&nbsp;-vis need-to-know We have designed this course based on what the bankers here really need-to-know. Cost of capital, time value of money, sales and distribution of financial products etc are essential for the people in the banking corporations, irrespective of their positions, to know. So, those are the aspects we hope to bring to our training.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">How did your preparation go towards the training programme?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Prior to coming here, I did a lot of research. But nothing matches meeting face-to-face the people who matter. I would say that it has given me invaluable education and encouragement. The conversations I have had here have given me a lot of good practice as well as ideas. I have met some of the most capable people running the banking industry here, however, they are restrained by current conditions. What we hope to do is bring fresh air new western thinking. But we have to tweak it to suit the Nepali market. Because what works for selling bonds in Wall Street is not going to work for selling a loan in Kathmandu. But the principles always stay the same; there are certain things that never change. We are hoping to adjust and adapt tactics as per local requirements.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">You had a lucrative investment banking career going well for you. What is it that stimulated your transition to lecturing and training?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Yes, I had a fantastic career as a banker. But for me, banking is more than just the money. I reached an age of my life where I didn't wish to remain a banker anymore. I love to explain things to people and making presentations using technology. I am an enthusiastic person and like to engage other people. It was more about aspiration and I wanted to move on to what I really enjoy doing.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What was the idea behind founding the London College of Management and Leadership? How do you think you have made a difference?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We set ourselves apart because we bring a combination of real practical experiences with academic rigour. All my life, I have collected notes mentally and physically wondering I wish I knew that and why didn't someone tell me that earlier. In our teaching, we focus on what the students need-to-know For example, while doing an MBA, the students don't need to know half the MBA because they will never use it. We make sure that the students pay real attention to what they would be practicing in the course of their work careers. Doing so helps us earn a lot of trust from the students. I admire good training and I hate bad training. Inspirational training is something I have always loved and therefore, bring it into practice.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">How exactly will the training programme benefit Nepal's banking professionals?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.1pt;">As I have already said, the training will bring in fresh air, thinking and new ideas. People starting their careers in banking now are a lot more fortunate compared to 20 years ago. Today, there is technology available to make training sessions very engaging process. They say that you train animals but you educate people. The programme will follow a holistic approach. Banking has many components and when we put them all together; the participants will better understand their roles, departments, banks, the industry and the economy. It will allow them to have a creative and original thought about banking. It will also help them think out of their respective work briefs and cubicles and expand their horizons. </span></div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2011-07-20',
			'modified' => '2012-10-31',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'William Westgate is the Director of Studies at London College of Management and Leadership. After completing his degree at University of British Columbia in....',
			'sortorder' => '275',
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	(int) 5 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '356',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => 'Communicate The Customer’s Way',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="color: rgb(178, 34, 34);"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><img align="left" alt="" border="3" height="312" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/stephen.jpg" style="width: 255px; height: 312px;margin:10px;padding:10px;" vspace="2" width="255" /><br />
	Stephen Reynolds is the Founder and CEO of Stephen Reynolds Seminars (SRS) International, a leading provider of corporate training in Thailand and Asia. His website describes him as an Expert in Psychology of Sales and Marketing as well as creator and trainer on THE ONE Advanced Sales System and Magic WORDS Communication Systems. A well-known speaker on Leadership, Communication and Sales, Reynolds has trained leaders from over 60 companies in Thailand, Philippines and Malaysia in the past three years. He has over 27 years of experience, which he leverages to make his seminars, training and public speaking engagements bursting with information, guidance and direction that is both practical and relevant. He was in Kathmandu recently, on the invitation of National Banking Training Institute (NBTI), to impart two-day training to Nepali professionals. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, Reynolds shares the tools and techniques that he teaches to make positive changes. Excerpts:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
	<br />
	</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">How do you assess the participants of this programme?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">The commonality among the trainees of this programme is that most of them had no sales background at all. Except for one participant, this was their first sales seminar. I tell people that what I am teaching is the most powerful sales technique in the world. It's usually helpful for them to go through other sales trainings as well so that they can contrast different trainings. Then they know what I am saying is true. But if they have never been to any other sales training, how can they compare. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Having said that, I think the training was incredibly fruitful. The participants were smart, involved and committed. They were hungry for the knowledge. It happens often in corporate training that the participants sent by their bosses are apathetic towards training as they don't want to be there. But it was an exception here in Nepal. The people were charming and needless to say, I was very happy. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">What's The One psychology of Sales and Marketing all about?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">The One I believe, is the most powerful and effective sales technique in the world. Sales is very complicated. There are many sales systems that are based on as many as 500 techniques but this is the only sales system in the world based on one technique. We are trying to take something very complicated and make it much simpler and easier to apply. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">We start with the relatively new psychology of Neuro-linguistic programming. It is an approach to psychotherapy and organisational change based on a model of interpersonal communication chiefly concerned with the relationship between successful patterns of behaviour and the subjective experiences underlying them and a system of alternative therapy based on this which seeks to educate people in self-awareness and effective communication, and to change their patterns of mental and emotional behaviour </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">How can communication techniques be made more effective for sales?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">There is no point in my inundating trainees with too much information that they can neither remember nor use. It's important to focus on a particular aspect which will make a difference. That is the challenge with sales. I go with the most powerful psychology and go right to the heart-of-the-matter how to sell face-to-face. ˜The One technique helps immensely as it is applicable for leadership, communication, negotiation etc. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">How do you define advanced psychological linking?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">It is when you take your products and link them together with the values of the person you are talking to. Basically, we are communicating the customer's way according to their values and vocabulary. The One focuses the entire sales process on the highest values of the person you are dealing with. It is a completely customised process. Sales is not just talking, you have to start seeing the psychology behind the word. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0.2pt;">Are you confident the trainees will be able to effectively apply the technique taught by you?<br />
	<br />
	</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Well, I hope so. Or else, my effort will amount to nothing. In two days, I have given them a real foundation. They should be able to walk out and start to communicate better and instantly be able to see an increase in their sales.What they have learnt during the course of the training should also help them improve their communication at their workplaces. They should now be able to communicate better with their bosses,&nbsp; subordinates and customers. Sales is communication and vice versa. </span></div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2011-07-20',
			'modified' => '2012-10-31',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Stephen Reynolds is the Founder and CEO of Stephen Reynolds Seminars (SRS) International, a leading provider of corporate training in Thailand and Asia. His....',
			'sortorder' => '274',
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	(int) 6 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '355',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => 'â€˜Customer Satisfaction Only Exists Where There Is Oversupplyâ€™',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><img align="left" alt="" border="3" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/kevin.jpg" style="width: 223px; height: 231px;" vspace="2" />Dr Kevin McCrohan is a Professor of Marketing â€“ School of Management at George Mason University in Virginia, United States. A PhD from City University of New York, his research interests include marketing and efficient functioning of profit and non-profit organisations, competitive intelligence, information security, methods of marketing compliance for fiscal and philanthropic organisations and economic measurement to fill gaps in administrative data sets. Dr McCrohan has been a Senior Fulbright Scholar at the School of Management, Kathmandu University, Nepal as well as at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. During his recent visit to Kathmandu, he delivered a talk on â€˜Customer Satisfaction in E-Commerce: Issues and Solutionsâ€™ and its implications for Nepal as the main theme under â€˜SAIM Lecture Seriesâ€™ initiated by South Asian Institute of Management, Lalitpur. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, Dr McCrohan shared his views on the importance of customer satisfaction in e-commerce from Nepalâ€™s perspective. Excerpts:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12px;"><br />
	</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">How does customer satisfaction work in an e-commerce scenario?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We have a relationship between the firm and the customer in which they trust each other over the course of a transaction. It is of overriding importance that all the participants that deal with that transaction online can be trusted upon, particularly with personal and financial information.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">What was the focus of the talk programme today?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	It was to make people aware of the fact that the firms have the best of intention out in the cyber world, while dealing with customers online. Of course, there are scores of mischievous elements who are trying to steal money. In the bargain, it breaks the trust between the consumer and the firm. As a result, the consumers stop dealing with the firm. &nbsp;I was totally fascinated with the programme today. It was delightful and certainly a privilege to be here.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">It is very hard to monitor customer satisfaction on the web as you donâ€™t physically see the customer. How do you overcome this challenge and ensure they are satisfied?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	You can contact them after the purchase through e-mail and find out if they are satisfied and if the product is working out for them as promised. You could also do surveys with your online customers by asking questions pertaining to their satisfaction level with respect to your firm and its products. I must point out that when people complain, paying attention to those complaints is critical. Marketing is about word-of-mouth. In todayâ€™s age of online blogs, a bad experience is posted and gets conveyed to n-number of people.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	You need to benchmark yourself. In the western world like the European countries and the United States, there are customer satisfaction surveys that pop up online highlighting firms and organisations. The response thus generated can be tracked by the firms. For small firms, the best way is to design a questionnaire and occasionally contact the customers and try to determine how they can better serve them.&nbsp;They can appreciate the consumers for their valued feedback and thank them for helping them in their endeavour for ensuring improved customer service.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">To reduce customer apprehension and assure customers of legitimacy, how important is it to post â€œCustomer Certified Ratingsâ€ on the web site?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	If you can quote an online source, thatâ€™s even better. But if you can quote your own survey, that is still good. You can thank them and apprise them of your growth over a period of time. By doing that, you let the customer know you are monitoring customer satisfaction as it is important to you. You also convey a message that you are paying attention to what the customers tell you.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Online retail sales still make up only a small portion of overall retail sales in the US but satisfied consumers are expanding their purchases online. How do you view this?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Itâ€™s neither good nor bad. In late 1990s and early 2000s, a lot of research projected that the growth rate for e-commerce would reach unprecedented heights and everything will be online. But there was a vital element missing from those surveys. In a country like the United States for example, shopping is recreation. A lot of people are what we can refer to as, full-contact shoppers â€“ they love to shop.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	There is no way that e-commerce is going to replace the actual experience of going to the store with family and friends, feeling the goods and shop in person. Almost everybody compare the shops online but still end up at the store to buy products first-hand. The real challenge for large e-retailers is to somehow convince more people to actually buy online. I have a statistic that tells me 25-30 per cent of amazon.comâ€™s purchases are left in the cart â€“ people go through the process of selecting goods and are ready to buy but eventually end up not buying.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong><span style="letter-spacing: 0pt;">Customer satisfaction is non-existent in any kind of business in the third world countries. Except for the developed countries, do you see any potential whatsoever, for e-commerce in such countries?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0.05pt;">Exactly. One of the points I was trying to make during my presentation was that the concept of customer satisfaction does not exist in a country like Nepal. The market is in the United States and European countries. The beautiful carpets and woodworks that Nepali craftsmen make are phenomenal. The only way to reach the customers all around the world is to tell them about these products. In the US, a friend of mine wanted to buy a khukuri for his son. It took him five months in 1999 to contact the firm here. The only way he knew about khukuri was that I gave him one after one of my visits to Nepal. Now, all that can be done online.</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	It is not an issue that customer satisfaction does not exist in Nepal. What matters is that it exists where you have to sell. Customer satisfaction only exists where there is oversupply. The tragedy of the world is that people in a lot of countries have so little to spare but those in the United States, Europe and Japan have a lot of money. Thatâ€™s the kind of consumers you have to reach. If some Nepali product needs to find a presence in the United States, for example, it has to be either word-of-mouth or online. So, a website showcasing local products to a worldwide audience will certainly help.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: -0.15pt;">People in rich countries are looking to buy something new and different. The products made in Nepal are certainly new, different and beautiful. You need to sell them to the people in these affluent countries. But then, if left unsatisfied, these people will go online and badmouth not just the product but the firm and the country as well. They will also go to the extent of recommending and advising others against dealing with the country they are disappointed with. Thatâ€™s where the customer satisfaction impacts, not in your country but in the market you are catering to.</span></div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2011-07-20',
			'modified' => '2012-10-31',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Dr Kevin McCrohan is a Professor of Marketing â€“ School of Management at George Mason University in Virginia, United States. A PhD from City University....',
			'sortorder' => '273',
			'image' => null,
			'article_date' => '0000-00-00 00:00:00',
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	(int) 7 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '354',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => 'â€˜Dealers Grow Confident With Exposure To New And Innovative Productsâ€™',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12px;"><img align="left" alt="" border="3" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/boby.jpg" style="width: 220px; height: 255px;" vspace="2" /><span style="color: rgb(178, 34, 34);">Boby Johnson is the Senior Customer Marketing Manager (Export) - Asia Pacific, Philips Consumer Lifestyle. He was in Kathmandu recently for the Asia Pacific Regionâ€™s Dealersâ€™ Meet. He also launched Fidelio Docking Speakers for Apple products, 3D Television, LED Televisions, Home Theatre System, Air Fryer, Grooming products, Garment Care and Floor Care products for the Nepali market, during his visit. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, Johnson shared his views on the prospect for Philips products in Nepal. Excerpts:</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How will this event help enhance the sales and market expansion of Philips products in Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	To start with, we have received tremendous print and broadcast media coverage for this event, which I think, is fantastic.&nbsp;This should help us get a lot of brand awareness and generate sales.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Are there any special packages for the dealers to facilitate market penetration?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We organise dealersâ€™ meet every year and it energises our dealers. After each conference, the dealers grow confident because they have been exposed to new and innovative products. These meets give them the added belief that they can sell. I am certain that the dealers are very happy with the new introductions that we are going to bring to the market this year. This would rejuvenate them and help them sell even more this year.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>About a month ago, one of your competitors launched similar products. Donâ€™t you think you were a bit late?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	I donâ€™t think so because this is nothing new. Sometimes, we launch earlier and at others, itâ€™s them who are earlier. It depends mainly on when you are ready for sales. I think what is important is how confident you are on your products. We are very confident with what we have.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How do you view the market potential of these products in Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Going by the reaction of the people I have met here, Air Fryer is one product that can register good sales in Nepal. Apart from that, 3D TV should do well. We also have very nice audio products like Fidelio range for Apple products which are very popular in Nepal. We are confident about all the products that we have here including kitchen appliances and beauty care products.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>There are similar products of premium brands in the market. How fierce would be the competition?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	I think the competition is good. Philips has been around for more than 100 years now. To be in existence for such a long period, you must be doing something very good.&nbsp;We are number one in so many categories worldwide, for example, shavers (male grooming), juicers, blenders and garment care. As a company, we are confident about innovation power and what we bring to the market. We do keep an eye on what our competitors do. However, we are also confident about our own innovation and position in the market.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How are these products doing in the Asia Pacific Market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	They are doing pretty well. Air Fryer, which is made in Singapore, is doing extremely well there. In Asia, all our products are doing very well.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What are your plans for the Nepali market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We have a very strong and good distributor in Nepal taking care of all business operations on behalf of Philips. Syakar Company is doing a great job. One of the reasons why we came to Nepal is to show our solidarity to encourage their dealers, distributors and sub distributors. I believe this will really help them grow the business further in Nepal. There are a lot of opportunities for business in this country. We are confident that we can do a good job in Nepal. We hope that besides the business, we establish Philips as a major brand in Nepal and distinguish it from other brands in the market.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What, according to you, are the problems and challenges in this market?</strong></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Wherever there are opportunities, there are challenges.&nbsp;We hope that the stability in the country will be ensured in the future. Besides political challenges which we all know about, I think the main challenge is the prevailing economic situation. The global economy is on the recovery path and we hope that it continues. We must stay positive and grab the opportunities in the market as they come our way.</span><br />
	</span></p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2011-07-20',
			'modified' => '2012-10-31',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Boby Johnson is the Senior Customer Marketing Manager (Export) - Asia Pacific, Philips Consumer Lifestyle. He was in Kathmandu recently for the Asia Pacific....',
			'sortorder' => '272',
			'image' => null,
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	(int) 8 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '309',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => '˜We Are Looking Into Nepal's Hydro And Highways"',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><img align="left" alt="" border="2" height="296" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/img6.jpg" style="width: 203px; height: 296px;margin:10px;padding:10px;" vspace="1" width="203" />Atul Punj</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, the Chairman of Punj Llyod Ltd“ a diversified international conglomerate offering EPC services in Energy and Infrastructure “ was in Kathmandu recently on the invitation of Entrepreneurs Organisation. A US$ 2.4 billion turnover company, Punj Llyod Group has built projects across the world and continues to provide integrated design, engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) and project management services for the energy, infrastructure and petrochemical sectors. In an interview with New Business Age, Punj talked about his company's possibilities of working in Nepal. Excerpts:<br />
	<br />
	</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What's the purpose of your visit to Nepal this time?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	This is actually my first visit to Kathmandu. I was invited here by the Entrepreneurs™ Organisation to speak on entrepreneurship. It also gives me an opportunity to explore and get a feel of the city and the country and see what's happening.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Could you please elaborate on Punj Lloyd's business activities?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We cover everything from urban infrastructure to expressways. We operate through our twenty international offices and entities across the Middle East, the Caspian, Asia Pacific, Africa, South Asia, China and Europe. The ideology is that we move into a country and localise operations there as quickly as possible. We make sure that we are seen as a local company rather than a foreign entity that has come in only to explore business opportunities. So, we invest a lot of time and money in training people and imparting specialised skills.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Our Group's three brands - Punj Lloyd and PL Engineering headquartered in India and Sembawang Engineers &amp; Constructors in Singapore, each with their own subsidiaries and joint ventures, converge to offer complementary services, rich experiences and the best practices from across the globe. We offer EPC solutions across a wide spectrum of businesses: pipelines, tanks, terminals, refineries, power plants, airports and rail transit systems among others.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What are the key strengths of your group? What sets you apart from your competitors?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	The key strengths would be our varied experience and rich knowledge of local conditions. Ours is a 23,000 strong skilled multicultural workforce that has the experience of working in different geographies and diverse terrain. We set high standards of health, safety, quality and environment and have received accolades and recognitions from industry bodies and clients.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We have the ability to manage operations in diverse industries and economies, long-term relationships with world-class clients and mobilising financial resources. The huge fleet of equipment Punj Lloyd owns gives the company an edge over its competitors.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Punj Lloyd is said to be committed to the cause of community enrichment. How do you go about achieving that?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	In our pursuit of business, we endeavour to uplift the communities where we operate. Social and environmental concerns are closely interwoven in Punj Lloyd Group's core practices and decision making. From providing education to many underprivileged children through its own school to enriching the lives of thousands of workers at its sites, we are committed to the cause of community enhancement.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>A number of construction and infrastructure related projects in Nepal are being talked about of late. What has kept Punj Lloyd from getting involved so far?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	I think the major reason for this has been the political instability here. Nobody knows which direction the country is heading towards. Hopefully, things will settle down sooner or later. The opportunities are definitely very large particularly in the hydropower area. Highway is another huge opportunity. We will look into it and see how we can take advantage of these.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How do you view the current business environment of Nepal? What areas of feasible business opportunities do you see for your company here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="letter-spacing: 0.1pt;">I think the opportunities for businesses in this country will be largely based on political stability. Of course, there is a lot of investment and capital required to get the economy back to a position of strength. There is immense hydroelectricity potential in Nepal. The opportunity to produce and export power to India and other countries in the region is enormous. So, the relevance of hydropower is quite natural to us. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>It might interest you to know that most projects in Nepal face local opposition.&nbsp;How do you handle such situation in locations that you have been working?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Well, it's no different in India either. Any vibrant democracy which is developing has the same people power issue. Building roads, land acquisition etc are critical issues to deal with. It's important to talk to the local population and make them understand the benefits that the project will bring to them. For instance, you can build schools and primary healthcare centres for them and also offer employment.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	I think communities do understand that projects can make a contribution towards their development. We have learnt this over the years and therefore, we have an excellent track record for successful completion of projects within tight schedules. This lends credibility to the Group and encourages clients to trust it with repeat orders.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Are you looking at possibilities of partnering the Chaudhary Group here? Is there a certain time period you are looking at to commence operations in Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Everything is open right now. We are looking at opportunities depending on how they unfurl. We hope to start sometime within this year depending on how soon we can formalise things.&nbsp; <span style="font-size: 6.5pt; color: rgb(237, 28, 36); letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><br />
	</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	 </div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2011-05-31',
			'modified' => '2012-10-31',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Atul Punj, the Chairman of Punj Llyod Ltd “a diversified international conglomerate offering EPC services in Energy and Infrastructure“was in Kathmandu recently on the invitation of Entrepreneurs Organization.',
			'sortorder' => '232',
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	(int) 9 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '308',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => '“We Are Innovators, Not Followers”',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><img align="left" alt="" border="2" height="259" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/img5.jpg" style="width: 259px; height: 259px;margin:10px;padding:10px;" vspace="1" width="259" />Bernard Lee Meng Sum</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> is the Deputy General Manager (International Marketing and Investment) of Demak Motors, a two wheeler manufacturer based in Malaysia. He was in Kathmandu recently to launch two motorcycles models of his company through its dealer Agni Incorporated Pvt Ltd. Demak Motors won the Golden Bull Award 2010 for being one of the 100 outstanding SMEs in Malaysia. The company plans to penetrate&nbsp;the East and South East Asian markets in the foreseeable future. In an interview with New Business Age, Meng Sum shared his ideas on Demak Motors market prospects in Nepal. Excerpts:</span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Why is Demak Motors attracted to Nepal ?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We have been keeping track of the market potentials for bikes in Nepal. Quite naturally, we see a very good growth here. We would like to be the number one in the Nepali market as a Malaysian brand. This year, our corporate strategy is to expand in the East Asian market and Nepal. We have tied up with a very good company, Agni Incorporated, to penetrate the potential market here.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>You have launched two models of Demak bikes. Is there any particular reason for choosing these two models over others?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Our market study revealed that dirt bikes and cruisers have large potential in Nepal. As you can currently see, the Nepali market is monopolised by street bikes. We surely are going to introduce more models with time. These will include scooters, electric motorcycles and hybrid scooters which have not been seen in the Nepali market as yet.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Who do you see as major competitors for your bikes here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We don't see anyone as a competitor right now. We are the innovators rather than the followers. We don't consider ourselves as competing against Indian brands. But we will position ourselves as the market leader in the dirt bikes and cruisers segment of the market.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How is Demak doing in the Philippines where it entered recently?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We are doing quite well in Philippines right now. The Philippines market is completely different than Nepal in terms of economy and market environment. We are currently the number five brand in Philippines but we will rise to number four next year.<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What sort of growth do you expect in Nepal business?&nbsp;</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	It looks a fantastic market to us. Nepal is located between China and India who have several automobile giants in their ranks. As a Malaysian brand, we are proud to have entered the Nepali market. It takes an extensive effort for us to be here. We hope it will be a success story in the coming days for the entire East Asian market.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Which segment of the market are you targeting to sell your bikes?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	Well, it is a huge market. We are offering products that are different, classic and nostalgic. We are targeting college boys and teenagers in the age range of 20 to 28 years.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What is the sales target you have in mind for the first year in Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	For the first year, we are looking at selling 2,000 units. In the consequent years, we plan to grow at 10 percent on a yearly basis.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Your company won the Golden Bull Award 2010 for being one of the 100 outstanding SMEs. What kind of strategies did the company adopt to find such success within seven years of operation?</strong></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	We believe in our marketing, our products and the wonderful teamwork that we have in our company. The Chinese philosophy which we practice in Malaysia is: there is no mountain that we cannot conquer as long as we put hard work and dedication to our assignments.</div>
<div style="text-indent: 0in; text-align: justify;">
	<br />
	 </div>
<div style="margin-top: 5.65pt; text-align: justify;">
	<strong>You are establishing a production plant in Sri Lanka. Can you tell us about it?</strong></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Sri Lanka will be the export hub for us to penetrate the East Asian and South Asian markets.&nbsp;We chose Sri Lanka because this is the shortest distance in terms of distribution of our products to Nepal, Bhutan and our next target market India. We see potential in India for our dirt bikes, specially our scooters and electrical bikes.</span><br />
	</span></p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2011-05-31',
			'modified' => '2012-10-31',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Bernard Lee Meng Sum  is the Deputy General Manager (International Marketing and Investment) of Demak Motors, a two wheeler manufacturer based in Malaysia.',
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	(int) 10 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '259',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => 'â€˜Fiat Punto And Linea Are Two Great Cars To Start Business With, In Nepalâ€™',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<img align="left" alt="" border="2" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/rajeev.jpg" style="width: 181px; height: 265px;" vspace="2" />Rajeev Kapoor, the President and CEO of Fiat India Automobiles Limited, was in Kathmandu recently for the launch of Linea and Punto cars in Nepal. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, Kapoor talked about Fiatâ€™s market prospects in Nepal.&nbsp;Excerpts:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>You are launching two models of Fiat cars here. What made you choose these two specific models?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	These are excellent models and unique in terms of styling, safety and low pollution. We feel that Punto gives the right size and drivability options to small families. On the other hand, Linea is a sedan that is luxurious and has a huge boot space for carrying a lot of bags. It is a very stable car and practically won every award in India. Therefore, they are two very good vehicles to start business with, in Nepal.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What is your observation of the market here? Is there any target sales of these two models?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	I think we should be able to get around five percent of the market share with these two cars. Then depending on how the models perform here, we can plan an official strategy on introducing other models. We hope that the affordability for buying cars in this country grows. Because it will help us sell more units and give shape to a long-term plan here.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How are Fiatâ€™s passenger cars doing in the Indian market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Fiat is doing very well in India. We sold about 23,000 units last year. The Indian market is growing at around 13 to 14 per cent every year. We also want to grow correspondingly with the Indian market this year. We are already working on a small car to be launched in 2012 end or 2013 beginning. So a lot is happening in India. The market there is becoming very competitive. However, introducing Fiat models in Nepal is a different ballgame altogether because we are not restricted to bring models only from India.&nbsp;Depending on the need, we can introduce models directly from Fiat in Italy as well if the price is right.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How do you view the competition with other brands in the Nepali market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Hyundai is dominantly the market leader in Nepal followed by Toyota and Maruti. There are a host of other brands too. Tata Motors, one of our joint venture partners in India, is also a major player here. The competition is definitely going to be there. And itâ€™s always good to have competition as it makes us agile and focused on keeping the quality and the price parity right.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What are the challenges you foresee for the market here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	The most glaring challenge for us is that we are a late entrant.&nbsp;Others have been selling their cars for many years now and are established players. Therefore, we need to carve a niche here. This is why we have introduced these two cars that are absolutely different in touch, feel, look and safety. We need to immediately move forward. That is why instead of only launching the car, we have first worked on strengthening the after sales aspect of it.&nbsp;We have already set up a spare parts and service centre with all the tools required. It is our effort to make sure that customers get immediate after sales service. Itâ€™s important because for us, the customers come first. So, we are launching the car after setting everything else in place. The customers can buy our cars without worrying too much about after sales service and availability of spare parts.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What is the market response for Fiat cars in the South Asian market compared to American and European markets?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Fiat has many established brands such as Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Maserati and Ferrari. Fiat is very strong in European markets, Brazil and even Turkey. Fiat is now venturing into China and Russia. Indian operation is already running steadily. It is also entering the US market now. A lot is happening in the automotive world. Due to the slowdown in the European, American and Japanese markets, the focus now is on countries like Brazil, Russia, India and China. So, Fiat is also eyeing these â€˜action marketsâ€™.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Do you have any specific plans for the Nepali market?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We are reasonably focused on the Nepali market. We will be engaging ourselves in supporting our dealer here, Batas Brothers Motors, in all possible ways. We will make sure that besides the availability of spare parts and after sales service, we will make the latest models available here. We will make sure that when we plan a product, we will accordingly plan a strategy for Nepal too. I see a great future for Fiat in Nepal. This country is going to grow. As the infrastructure grows, there will be a requirement for more cars. And we want to be here and be a part of it. I can assure you that Nepal will always get the top line products here. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2011-04-27',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Rajeev Kapoor, the President and CEO of Fiat India Automobiles Limited, was in Kathmandu recently for the launch of Linea and Punto cars in Nepal. In an interview......',
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	(int) 11 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '258',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => 'â€˜We Can Significantly Increase The Sales Of Panasonic Products In Nepalâ€™',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<img align="left" alt="" border="2" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/Hidenori.jpg" style="width: 199px; height: 271px;" vspace="2" />Hidenori Aso, the Managing Director of Panasonic India Pvt Ltd was in Kathmandu recently for Panasonic Small Appliances Dealersâ€™ Meet. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, Aso shared ideas about different home appliances from Panasonic and his plans for popularising the brand in the Nepali market. Excerpts:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What brings you to Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We are launching a range of new products that include Micro Wave Oven, Hair Dryer and Straightner, Menâ€™s Shaver, Travel Shavers and Trimmers, Vacuum Cleaners, Blenders/Juicers and Food Processors. We also have a new rice cooker which we have customised as per the Nepali consumersâ€™ requirement. Ours is not just a rice cooker, it can also make various other dishes. Here in Nepal, Momo is very popular. So, we have modified the product and added a Momo-maker to it. We are confident about the quality of our product. And we are providing five years warranty to the heater of the cooker. Our local business partner here, Triveni Byapar Company Pvt Ltd, is aggressive about increasing the business here. We especially want to increase our small appliances business here.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How is your small appliances business doing in the Indian as well as other markets?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Our business is doing quite well in India. In terms of growth, the market is almost doubling every year which is very encouraging. Next financial year onwards, our cooker factory will start producing one million cookers on an annual basis. Besides India, we are also trying to penetrate into other neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka and of course, here in Nepal.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>You have high end products like HD TVs as well. What is the market response for such products?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We have already launched the 3D Viera in India as well as here in Nepal. The response is quite good. The market for air conditioners is also expanding in India.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What is your expectation from the dealers meet that you have organised?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	At the dealers meet, we want to showcase our new products such as the Momo-maker. We want to emphasise on the point that Panasonicâ€™s quality is the best. Therefore, we are giving five years warranty for the heater, the main component of the cooker. We also want to increase our network. This is why we have invited 150 dealers from all over Nepal for the meet.<br />
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What is the market share of Panasonic products in Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We are currently at par with our competitors here when it comes to the market share. But we are going very aggressively about our business. I am confident that we can significantly increase the sales of Panasonic products in Nepal with our business partner.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How do you distinguish yourself from the competition in the market as there are numerous brands selling similar products?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Our advantage is that we have a wide range of products with us. We have some products that our competitors do not have. For example, small appliances, kitchen appliances, beauty and health care products etc. We also have TV and Air Conditioners. When it comes to having a wide variety of products, Panasonic is definitely the market leader.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What are the challenges you face in the local market here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Talking about the challenges, we donâ€™t have good human resource here. We are trying to build a competent work force now. We are trying to make it more professional because Nepal, in general, follows very traditional methods. But since ours is a very professional product category, we need to change things around. We hope that doing so will appreciably boost our sales figures here.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What are you plans for expanding the market here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	At the dealersâ€™ meet, we have the provision of â€˜on-the-spot bookingâ€™.&nbsp;We are giving very good incentives to our dealers which will help them gain momentum in the market. It will ultimately popularise our products and give us a strong foothold in the Nepali market.</div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">
	We are trying to introduce a great number of products from many countries. We want people to have the entire range and provide quality service to them. I think that within the next two to three years, we would be in a position to dominate the Nepali market. </p>',
			'published' => true,
			'created' => '2011-04-27',
			'modified' => '0000-00-00',
			'keywords' => '',
			'description' => 'Hidenori Aso, the Managing Director of Panasonic India Pvt Ltd was in Kathmandu recently for Panasonic Small Appliances Dealersâ€™ Meet. In an interview with........',
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	(int) 12 => array(
		'Article' => array(
			'id' => '257',
			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => 'â€˜Simmtronics Has A Huge Market Potential In Nepalâ€™',
			'sub_title' => '',
			'summary' => null,
			'content' => '<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<img align="left" alt="" border="2" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/arif.jpg" style="width: 193px; height: 233px;" vspace="2" />Arif Khan, the Director of Simmtronics Semiconductors Ltd FZE was in Kathmandu to attend the official launch of Simmtronics products in Nepal. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, Khan discussed his companyâ€™s prospects in the Nepali market. Excerpts:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Could you tell us what Simmtronics is all about?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	It is a memory manufacturing company that was established in 1992. We have our manufacturing facility based in Singapore and our exports are done out of Singapore. As for Nepal, for logistics purpose, the goods come here via Dubai. We have an impressive range of products and all of them carry three years international warranty. During these 19 years that we have been in operation, we are already established in many countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Iran, Iraq, Russia, India and the entire Middle East.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How and when did you start distributing your products in Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We have been supplying to Nepal for the past one year through Explore Asia, our local distributor here. However, I thought of an official launch this time for a number of reasons. Multinational Companies like HCL, Samsung, HP,Dell etc have been showing an interest in the Nepali market for some time now. It generated curiosity in me so I wanted to find out more. Though the IT companies perceived Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as emerging markets, I discovered that they have reached their saturation point. Comparatively, Nepal is a virgin market and there is plenty of scope here. Therefore, we decided to enter the market now and introduce our brand so that we can capitalise on it in due time.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What kind of prospect does the Nepali market hold for you?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Nepal is a dynamic market, undoubtedly. I have gone through the sales data and figured that this is an upcoming market. If we place our products at the right price, provide good quality and after sales service, there is no reason why we canâ€™t establish Simmtronics as a leading brand here. We will make best efforts from the companyâ€™s side. At the same time, we trust our distributor and the dealers here in Nepal to reciprocate our efforts.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How do you distinguish yourself from the competition?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We are vendors as well as we manufacture our own products. 40 per cent of the components required to make a computer are manufactured at facilities owned by us. But a majority of our competitors donâ€™t have their own manufacturing facility, thatâ€™s where we score over them. Additionally, we have strong partners like Intel, VIA and IBM who have been with us for about 10 years now. The advantage we have as manufacturers are that we can sell products at very competitive prices.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What do you think of your future prospects in Nepal?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	I am confident that in about six monthsâ€™ time, we will command 80 per cent of the market share in Nepal. The figures that I have with me tell that the market here sells about 12-15,000 motherboards, close to 12-15,000 memories, around 6-7,000 personal computers and 2000 laptops every month. This suggests that the market potential is huge. To make the most of this situation, I have a plan that I will execute in partnership with my distributor here. I can promise you that Simmtronics is going to be aggressive. We will participate in IT related events and road shows as well as have our advertising system in place. To create a long standing goodwill, I will ensure that quality is maintained for our products in the Nepali market.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Whatâ€™s the kind of investment you are putting in the market here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	At present, we have planned to invest US$ 50,000 as the initial capital for promoting our products here. We have earmarked this amount only for the purpose of Simmtronicsâ€™ advertising and promotions. Apart from that, the investment by way of giving our products to the dealers and getting the money back from the market will be about US$ 1 million, to start with. </div>',
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			'article_category_id' => '31',
			'title' => 'â€˜The People In Nepal Learn New Technology Very Fastâ€™',
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	<img align="left" alt="" border="2" hspace="2" src="http://newbusinessage.com/ckfinder/userfiles/Images/aashis.jpg" style="width: 196px; height: 284px;" vspace="2" />Ashish Navinchandra Bavishi, the General Manager for International Business of Netcore Solutions Pvt Ltd was in Nepal recently for service expansion in partnership with Digitainment Pvt Ltd. Netcore is an Indian company that provides digital communication solutions for products specialising in email and mobile phones. The biggest names in banking and financial institutions along with various other companies endorse Netcore solutions. Bavishi looks after international business in Africa, South East Asia and South Asia Region. In an interview with <i>New Business Age</i>, he shared ideas about his companyâ€™s potential in the Nepali market. Excerpts:<br />
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Could you tell us in brief about your company?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Netcore was started in 1998 with Linux based email servers. Over time, we started cloud services which hosts anti spam antivirus solutions. We entered into SMS solutions in 2003-04 and later on, we came up with enterprise solution and started different ways of using SMS. Netcore is probably the first Indian company to use SMS as an advertising platform. We helped corporate houses reach their clients through mobile phones because it is more personalised and penetrative than any other medium. Now we have medical services on SMS as well as M-coupons and M-connector which are business intelligence suites. We also provide email and SMS marketing services, voice based services. Around 20 million visitors log on to our web portal www.oneindia.in every month. Currently, we are trying to offer services like email, SMS, infotainment content etc in Nepal through telecom operators. The three different areas where we are working are enterprise solutions, data solutions and digital marketing.<br />
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How well are you doing in India and other countries?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	In India, we are the leaders in Linux based solutions. All our services are doing excellently in India. We are a team of 300 people; half of them are in technology. We are the market leaders in India for email servers, hosting anti spam integrated solution and digital marketing. After the telecom operators, we are the largest SMS sender in India with 10 to 15 million outgoing SMS daily. Netcore has pioneered most of the things that we currently do. We are also expanding our mobility and messaging solutions in other countries. We already have a presence in more than 17 countries. The entire IT fraternity is embracing cloud based solution rather than in-house solution. This is where Netcoreâ€™s expertise along with Linux based solution is so vital. We have a very capable leadership which encourages us to reach new heights. Being a customer oriented company, we believe in providing the best services for our clientele so that helps us maintain our top position.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What brings you to Nepal this time?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We are working in association with Digitainment here in Nepal for enterprise solution and solution for the telecom operators. We understand that the majority of people cannot afford smart phones. However, they are looking for VAS (Value Added Services) and infotainment solutions etc on their mobile phones which are not being catered well. We are trying to reach and cater to the lowest category of the society with our solutions. My brief experience tells me that this is a great market. People have started understanding the power of technology due to the advent and popularity of Internet, mobile phone and television etc. The people here learn to use new technology very fast. Contrary to my earlier belief, Nepal is not a tourist destination only. I find this market very promising as there are a good number of corporate houses here. And we are looking at them as our prospective clientele. We plan to replicate our image as a customer oriented company in Nepal. Hopefully, that will help us become the market leader here.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Tell us about the products and services you plan to establish here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We want to bring all types of solutions: digital marketing, enterprise solution and data products. The primary intention is to engage customers with the brand and cater to the corporate clientele with â€˜no price tag for the solutionâ€™. People are paying a lot of money for legacy solution as they donâ€™t have any alternative. Once they have an alternative which is better than what they are paying for, they would certainly opt for that. We will make efforts to educate the market and introduce all the products that we have in India.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>A large population in Nepal does not have access to Internet. Is that a challenge for you?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	The solutions that we provide are not Internet based only. We will be coming with a bouquet of solutions via telecom operators to reach around 5 million people. We understand that SMS is the best option for penetration as it reaches everyone and it is easier, personal and cheaper. We focus primarily on SMS but at the same time, we also look at email and enterprise solutions.<br />
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>How would the customers benefit from your services?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Let me give you an example of email servers here. Linux based operating solution costs one third of the total price of legacy solution so that will create value addition for our customers. They stand to get better quality at a lower price. When we started out in India five years ago, the outgoing SMS charge was around 50 paisa. Today, it has come down to as less as five paisa per SMS. I think that can be replicated here in Nepal in the next two to three years. We will create benefit for our users by reaching more subscribers. We will give them more information for their mobile because mobile is the next big thing. All around the world, everything is making a shift from other technologies to mobile. SMS is the easiest medium for 70 per cent of the mobile subscribers. So, we are targeting mobile users and trying to cater to them. We are trying to cater to the entire market using SMS services as they promise to be the star performers among all value added services. All I can promise you is that this market will certainly get benefits from us. Within a yearâ€™s time, you will see the changes and results coming out.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>Technology is changing faster than ever. How challenging is it to operate in such an environment?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We have a sizeable technology team in India which is highly efficient. We share our knowledge on technology with our partners in different countries regularly. We want to extend our services keeping in mind the technology available to us here. We have been tackling with technology since our inception. We lead the market because we have pioneered on all fronts. I think we can cope with the change in technology given our competent team stationed in India. If required, we can always hire more knowledgeable employees to deal with new situations. Netcore is particularly interested in creating infrastructure for effective functioning. It has three data centres, one in India and two in the US which work in tandem with each other.&nbsp;If a particular centre is not working properly, another one takes over automatically. Our main focus being a technology company is to create technology and impart ensuing services to the customers.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	Â </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	<strong>What is your plan on working with the local companies in order to get established here?</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
	We are very proud that we have tied up with Digitainment as our partner here. It will be responsible for liaison with the local companies. Itâ€™s an established fact that people trust their own people more. I am confident that Digitainment will help Netcore cater to the market here in an efficient manner. Itâ€™s our policy to work with local partners in any country that we start our operations in. We have already talked to many companies so in a way, we have started work here. Itâ€™s only a matter of time before our operations run in a full-fledged manner here.</div>',
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<p class="ANSWER" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span style="color: rgb(165, 42, 42);"><span style="font-size: 11px;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">Takeyushi SATO <i>(left in the pic)</i> and Dattatraya Joshi, Managing Director and Vice President, respectively, of Hitachi Koki India, a subsidiary of Hitachi Koki Japan, were in Nepal to officially launch their products â€“ the Hitachi power equipments through Kathmandu Power Solutions (KPS). Excerpts from a joint interview:&nbsp; </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;"><br />
	</span></span></span></span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<em><span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">How is Hitachi Koki doing in India? </span></span></em></p>
<p class="ANSWER" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Dattatraya Joshi: It was set up in 1996 and it has its headquarters in Bangalore.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>We are into marketing of power tools in India where we have seven branches. We have an assembly facility in Bangalore. We also import finished products of Hitachi from Japan, Malaysia, China and other places. <br />
	</span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">How do you view the market of electronics in Nepal?</span></em></span></p>
<p class="ANSWER" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Joshi: Before appointing KPS as our distributer, we have had a small survey on the market in Nepal. Since we have studied this market carefully, we have understood the opportunities here. We know the competitors, their strengths, strategies and weaknesses. Certainly, we are very confident about having a reasonable market share in Nepal in the coming months. <span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><br />
	</em></span></span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">What are the features of your products?</span></em></span></p>
<p class="QUESTION" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Takeyushi SATO: Our products are basically power equipments like mechanised drillers, cutters and screw drivers. Joshi will tell more on it. Joshi: Our products have unique features compared to our competitors. In Nepal, we have launched 28 products. Hitachi worldwide has 700 different models. We will introduce more products in Nepali market as per the demand and requirement.<span style="">&nbsp;</span> <br />
	</span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">What prospects do you see for your products in Nepal?</span></em></span></p>
<p class="QUESTION" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">SATO: I see a lot of prospects here. Our products consume less electricity and have long life. They are good in quality. Joshi: Nepal is basically severe power-shortage country. Our low power consuming products will prove quite handy here. We also know that many power projects are in the pipeline. Our products are eco-friendly and are quite useful in construction works. We see a lot of opportunities here. <br />
	</span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">What could be the problems and challenges in Nepal?</span></em></span></p>
<p class="QUESTION" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">SATO: I do not see that much challenge as our main feature will be the after sales service. Chinese or other products may not have that. <br />
	</span></p>
<p class="QUESTION" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Joshi: I do not see a major challenge here. Our power tools are innovative and durable. The power tools market in Nepal is dominated by Chinese products, about which the people have the general perception that they are simply â€˜use and throwâ€™ items. We want to show the users a different path in which they will be entitled to get the qualitative after sales service as well.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>After months or years of use, the end users can go to the service provider, fix the machines and reuse them.<span style="">&nbsp;</span> <br />
	</span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">What could be your market strategy in Nepal?</span></em></span></p>
<p class="ANSWER" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Joshi: We will share our Indian experience and advise our distributer KPS here in creating distribution network, ensuring constant availability of our products and doing some promotional activities.<span style="">&nbsp; </span>We will formulate more marketing strategy depending upon the situation. <br />
	</span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">What about market share?</span></em></span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">SATO: Our first target will be to achieve a two-digit market share. <br />
	</span></p>
<p class="QUESTION">
	<span style="color: rgb(255, 140, 0);"><em><span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">Who are your competitors?</span></em></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
	<span lang="EN-GB" style="letter-spacing: 0.15pt;">SATO: Bosch, a German multinational is the market leader in Nepal in the upper segment, i.e., the branded products. The other major players are Makita (Japan) and Dewald (USA). Including Hitachi now, the competition will be among these four branded companies. We do not have competition with low priced Chinese products, as we are not targeting that particular market segment. Our focus is only on upper segment.</span> </p>',
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FOREX

Currency	Unit	Buy	Sell
U.S. Dollar	1	121.23	121.83
European Euro	1	131.65	132.31
UK Pound Sterling	1	142.47	143.18
Swiss Franc	1	124.29	124.90
Australian Dollar	1	71.69	72.05
Canadian Dollar	1	83.90	84.32
Japanese Yen	10	10.94	11.00
Chinese Yuan	1	17.17	17.26
Saudi Arabian Riyal	1	32.27	32.43
UAE Dirham	1	33.01	33.17
Malaysian Ringgit	1	27.36	27.50
South Korean Won	100	9.77	9.82

Update: 2020-03-25 | Source: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)

Bullion

Fine Gold	1 tola	77000.00
Tejabi Gold	1 tola	76700.00
Silver	1 tola	720.00

Update : 2020-03-25

Source: Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association

Petroleum

Petrol	1 Liter	106.00
Diesel	1 Liter	95.00
Kerosene	1 Liter	95.00
LP Gas	1 Cylinder	1375.00