When some multinationals have experienced labour strife after setting up base in Tamil Nadu, Ford India seems to have a positive viewpoint on employee relations.
“Labour relations in Tamil Nadu have been extraordinarily successful for us,” said Nigel Wark, Marketing Director, Ford India.
He was participating in a panel discussion on ‘Challenges and Opportunities of Doing Business in India' hosted by the Rotary Club of Madras and Chennai Business School.
Terming employee relations a vital component of investment rationale, Mr. Wark said it was remarkable that in 13 years Ford had not lost a single worker to an industrial dispute. “This encourages us to further invest here,” he said. While competitive tax regimes, free flow of supplies, infrastructure and government commitment to investors were all critical to successful operations, the people have been the “real diamond,” he said. “There is this enthusiasm in the youth and the thirst for knowledge,” he said.
The English capability here also stands out, said Mr. Wark, for whom Chennai is “India's best kept secret.”
Mike Nithavrianakis, British Deputy High Commissioner in Southern India, said striking a partnership with a local partner was important for foreign companies looking to tap into the Indian market. British companies interested in the Indian market have been told about the importance of building partnerships and the criticality of knowing the local environment, he said.
Former Central Vigilance Commissioner N. Vittal said there was political consensus in India about providing a level playing field for attracting investment. The healthy competition among States to attract foreign capital provided investors with choices, he said.
