These wise men/women are not coming FROM the East , they are going TO the East! (Source Erasmus Magazine)
Is India the New China? Early February Erasmus University is sending a mission of managers and researchers to the EAST to try to get a foot in the door. Some of them may already find themselves at familiar grounds whereas for others this may be their maiden voyage to India. Are there opportunities to look out for or are we still too early? The EUR mission to India takes place from February 5th up to February 12th and calls at New Delhi and Mumbai (Bombay).
The mission is led in New Delhi by Chairman of the Board of Erasmus University Pauline van der Meer Mohr and in Mumbai by the previous rector Steven Lamberts. The delegation consists of about twenty members coming from different backgrounds i.e.: The international Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University (ISS), the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (HIS), the Erasmus Medical Centre (EMC), the Institute for Strategy and Management Healthcare and SmartPort. Furthermore, two employees of Erasmus Foreign Services, a medical student and the undersigned, Head Editor at Erasmus Magazine, will join the delegation.
The EUR mission coincides partly with the mission undertaken by the Rotterdam council, including the Mayor, to Mumbai. The council followed in her track by the Port of Rotterdam (Havenbedrijf) and many port oriented companies will focus especially on port affairs. On the program will be amongst others a visit to the Dutch Embassy, several universities and knowledge institutions, governmental bodies, hospitals, slums and the port of Mumbai.
Several parties will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or Letters of Intent (LOI). Seminars, round table conferences, presentations and a science dinner will also take place. Bart Kuipers is director of SmartPort, an institution in which the university, the Rotterdam council, port employers and the Port of Rotterdam cooperate.
Bart Kuipers and Harry Geerlings ,one of the five port professors within SmartPort, will visit Mumbai where they will especially participate in the Council and Port of Rotterdam program.
Bart Kuipers on India: “we want to get in quickly. Ten years ago you had to be in China for new port developments, now you have to be in India. Thirty ports are planned in India and in twenty years time Mumbai can grow into a very big port. So it would be wise to have a foot in the door already. For a long time India has not been an exporting country but this will change. We also want to draw attention to the strength of Rotterdam as the place of business for logistic and other activities.“
Bart Kuipers on the mission: “The partnership of SmartPort is still very young, joining this mission is a way to tighten the ties with our new partners. The Erasmus University is after all within that partnership the preferred supplier. SmartPort will also make clear that investors who go for Rotterdam will find themselves in a city with a lot of knowledge.”
Bart Kuipers on the trip purpose: “at the least I want to accomplish that the Dutch partners know what SmartPort is and can do. Furthermore I would like to discover whether India offers opportunities to us or that we have to set our priorities somewhere else. I am still waiting to see which way the cat jumps but hope to get in touch with Dutch companies located in India by for instance running in house training courses.“
