[Originally published on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/office-diaries-reconstruction-iraq-visit-kuwait-dr-a-k-srivastava/
Some 16 years back, I retired after 34 years of service. During my career, after spending about a quarter of professional-life in Research & Development, I opted to be transferred to the Business Development wing. Here, I headed business operations of a division which was a pioneer in development of indigenous know-how and production and marketing of a group of eight speciality-chemicals called catalysts and other chemicals which were widely used in the Industry. I was responsible for developing business in the domestic market and in new geographies, especially the middle-east. I will be describing real-life situations and what lessons future managers may learn. This is the 8th article in the series. See others at:
Not giving up till the last (Nov 18, 2020)
Excess of everything is bad (Nov 24, 2020)
What all is written in the equipment-manuals, take it with a pinch of Salt ! (December 4, 2020)
The Need for Common Sense (Dec 14, 2020)
When an Analogy with Marriage Ceremony Saved the Day ( Dec 27, 2020).
New Year’s Gifts and Huge humiliation (January 15, 2021)
Anti-Dumping Duty on Imported Catalysts (February 16, 2021)
Following the United States led invasion and overthrow of the Saddam Hussain regime, in post-2003 Iraq, an international effort to rebuild the infrastructure of Iraq , along with the economic reforms was envisaged. Most of the work has been funded by the Iraq Relief and Reconstitution Fund, administered by the United Nations and the World Bank, or investments declared in the Madrid Conference on Iraq Reconstruction on 23 October 2003, which was attended by representatives from over 25 nations. A Coalition Provisional Authority had been made responsible to repair and upgrade Iraqi water and sewage treatment plants, electricity production, hospitals, schools, housing, transportation systems and other industrial projects. Between 2003 and 2014, more than US$220 billion was spent on reconstruction efforts, but alas, the international community and the Iraqi people largely view the reconstruction of Iraq in a negative light.
My company wanted to take advantage of the situation and the opportunities thrown open for proposed major project engineering and management consultancy services and supply of catalysts and industrial chemicals in Iraq and neighboring-region. It was deputed to open a pavilion at the prestigious “Exhibition Rebuilt Iraq, 2004” at Kuwait, between 19-23 January 2004. I was deputed to participate and organize the company’s pavilion and was assisted by one of my colleagues, who accompanied me to Kuwait for the purpose. It was supposed to be a big jamboree/ exhibition with estimated participation of more than twenty thousand visitors and 1500 exhibitors from 46 countries around the world.
On 19th January 2004, the exhibition was inaugurated by His Highness H.H. Sheikh Sabeh Al Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Prime minister of Kuwait and H.E. Abdullah Abdurahman Al-Taweel, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Kuwait as chief Guest. The same day, Mr. S. Vinod Kumar, the Commerce attache of Embassy of India in Kuwait visited our pavilion, whereas next day on 20th January, Ambassador of India in Kuwait His Excellency Sri. Swashpawan Singh, along with the Councilor (Commercial) Mr. Sodhi and other senior officials visited our pavilion. It was an unique experience as I got the opportunity to meet and personally interact with about 300-350 senior delegates / visitors from Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain, UAE, Lebanon, Iran and other countries, besides from German, U.K., USA, South Korea, Malaysia etc. I may have exchanged business-cards with 150 of them. Many of these visitors including Dr. S. Pakseeresht, Head of Process Development Department, Research Institute of Petroleum Industry, National Iranian Co., along with his senior engineers, had long discussions with us on their specific requirements. Iranians were more interested in the company ’s help in know-how to design Heavy Water plants, as their atomic energy projects were at an advanced stage.
Our experience and recommendations after putting up the pavilion at the “Rebuilt Iraq“ event was summarized and sent to the top management for final approval and implementation. Many B-2-B meetings with big industries, local contractors, and vendors were held and some MOUs were also signed. On the last day of exhibition, the Indian Commercial Councilor, Mr. Sodhi, hosted a dinner, at his residence, for Indian participants.
One should always be open to new opportunities, challenges and work with positivity, hope and caution. Some of the good contacts in Kuwait were translated into major business projects and personally I was benefited as was offered an opening in the Middle-East after my retirement.