We’ve all heard of the Goldman Sachs BRICS report – which looks at the emergence of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa as a counterbalance to America’s economic prowess. In many ways, this report continues to set the agenda when any debates concerning ‘globalisation’ take place in any part of the world. The report has received reams of coverage and has even spurned an industry in books dedicated to the subject.

From my own personal experience, I remember thumbing through the report after we’d started our business to understand this “new” perspective and the advantage that our India experience would provide us in years to come. The analysis presented in this report filled us with confidence and provided greater definition to our business.

My reason for bringing this up, is that at the dinner with the Duke of York (please refer to my previous blog entry), I was fortunate to have met the author of the report – Jim O’Neill. His report can only be described as a seminal moment in our understanding of how the world was changing.

He described the vision of 9/11 on his TV screen as the “eureka” moment that made him question the future of America in setting the agenda in years to come.

Americans are often described as being insular, protectionist, conspiracists etc etc, but my experience at the India Briefing Centre tells a wholly different story. With ever increasing dealflow between America & India, we’re finding an acceptance of all things Indian in the US. In our multicultural training programme, they ask good questions, are curious of the opportunities that India presents to them, and more than anything else, acknowledge, what I believe Jim O’Neill started the ball rolling on, that America & India must work together for the prosperity of their people.

Mr O’Neill – we salute you.

Not wanting to give you the impression that all I do is attend lavish dinners, but the UK’s Ambassador of Trade & Investment – HRH The Duke of York (Prince Andrew) convened a small dinner for 20 in, ironcially, the Chinese Room at Buckingham Palace with key companies to report back on his recent visit to the Motherland. The guest list really did read like the who’s who of business and was therefore privileged to be included.

I thought that HRH played his role as host to a tee. He provoked the group at various points to stimulate discussion to the point at one stage when the new Indian High Commissioner had to step in to bring discussion back on track!

‘Most’ of the British contingent moaned about the usual stuff – liberalisation of the economy, restrictions on our lawyers to practice in India, challenges of bureaucracy etc. I say ‘most’ because out of these companies, Bill Gammell of Cairn Energy, made a fantastic intervention saluting the Indian mindset and enterpreneurial zeal that he had personally witnessed – the basic point he made is that no place in the world is perfect.

Reflecting on the dinner, what sticks out in my mind is the sense that everyone around the table really ‘connected’ with India. I mean, not just the commercial opportunites that arise as a result of her emergence, but ‘connected’ with India and Indian people on a personal level.

I know that everytime I return from India and am waiting for my baggage to catch up with me in Heathrow’s luggage hall, I can’t help but feel that I want to be back in India. Yes, there are challenges. But, the sheer ingenuity of Indian people to overcome these challenges is remarkable and brings a smile to my face everytime I think of India.

On a slightly amusing note, I wonder how the other guests took to instructions on how to greet the Duke of York (“good evening, your royal highness”).