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28 October 2008:
Together with our office in India the Rotterdam-based office of Expertise in Labour Mobility hosted the India event:
INDIA VISITING ROTTERDAM (download full event report here: IMG event report India.pdf)
Representatives from the corporate sector, municipalities and academia spoke with experts from India regarding the Indian diversity and the options this country offers to foreign companies. "Don't forget the Netherlands is among the largest foreign investors in India", mentioned Eric Niehe, former ambassador of the Netherlands to India. "However, in the 25 years in between my 2 postings I've seen great changes in Indian society. During my recent posting there was a strong self confidence coupled to an overly present energy: India is aware it is en route to become a global power."
The presentation of Melanie Martinelli and Guillaume Gevrey, 2 trainers from the Indian office of Rotterdam-based Expertise in Labour Mobility, made through Bollywood movies apparent how Indian society is changing and how strong this new national awareness is clearly influencing the Indian marketplace.

India is a potential market for foreign companies because:
The country with its annual growth of 8% since 1991, is among the fastest growing economies of the world
The Indian government strongly supports a policy which strives for further Indian integration into the world economy
40% of Fortune 500 companies have outsourced their R&D facilities to India
The growing middle class is becoming an important market
The GDP is currently $1.110 billion with an export rate of 16%.

During her introduction Nannette Ripmeester, founder of Expertise in Labour Mobility, underlined the importance of cultural awareness during successful business negotiations: "If you want to be successful on a foreign market it is essential to understand their view on the world. This applies to all foreign markets, but for India it means the difference between success and failure. Forget about your linear Western way of thinking and be aware your Indian counterpart may be quick to take offence if you do not treat him with proper esteem." Diplomat Eric Niehe puts it as follows: "To be successful on the Indian market you need to respect your counterpart."

Text photo: participants have a look at the Hybrid TukTuk of Rotterdam-based organisation Enviu.

Food for thought: International Mobility Group Meetings
In today’s highly competitive business world we are constantly being told that people are our most valuable asset. For those enterprises, engaged in global operations, the contribution & role of the skilled professional expatriate is often critical to business success. The International Mobility Group (IMG) stands for a group of blue chip household name companies engaged in international operations. Amongst these companies there is a vast array of experience and knowledge on the issue of staff expatriation. How do we know if our processes and practices are the most relevant? What is good practice in this field? How do we calibrate it?

All IMG invitation only business meetings have a similar format: expert speakers provide some food for thought, followed by a discussion to exchange ideas and share best practice with other HR managers.

10 March 2009: LABOUR MOBILITY IN EUROPE: Reality or wishful thinking?
The EU today: 27countries, the Lisbon Strategy, the Bologna Declaration, the Maastricht Treaty - Is freedom of labour a fact within Europe or is it a (political) dream? And how does this alleged freedom work in reality?

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Photography: © Eric Sijbrands/Expertise in Labour Mobility.
Reproduction of the texts at www.labourmobility.com is only allowed after written permission, except for commercial purposes, provided the source is acknowledged.