Sri Lanka has many positives and assets, along with the passion to take the country to the next level, said Dr. Ram Charan, addressing the media during a whirlwind 24 hour visit to the island on an invitation from Brandix Lanka on Monday.
Dr. Charan - who is a highly-sought after business advisor and speaker famous for his uncanny ability to solve the toughest business problems - asserted that "the key thing everybody has to know in this world is that the speed and volatility of external change is very high. No one individual can master this change."
"There is passion here to take this country to the next level, particularly in relation to the economy and education and positioning Sri Lanka in the changing world," he noted.
Responding to a question on his first impressions of Sri Lanka, he said: "This is my first visit here to Sri Lanka. As you know, Sri Lanka has more in common with the Indian culture than some of the other countries. I am glad to see that you are on the growth path and transforming your economy."
For over 35 years, this business 'guru' has worked behind the scenes with top executives at some of the world's most successful companies and has also shared his insights through teaching and writing.
According to Dr. Charan, he visited Sri Lanka for two purposes: "Firstly, I love learning. The second is focused on how I can help Brandix in new ways with new ideas."
"The management of Brandix has a very forward looking, visionary and bold management and ownership to take this company forward towards number one in the world. And these are not light words from me because I am able to examine many companies in the world," added Charon, who consults for the largest and most powerful companies and is among the most sought-after CEO advisors in the world.
Touching on whether it would be wise for Sri Lanka to come out with its own brand, given its expertise in the apparel industry, Dr. Charan said: "See the market, see the change in the market, which gives you the understanding to create new things. Why not?"
However, CEO of Brandix Lanka Ashroff Omar was quick to point out that while branding was one matter, execution was another altogether.
Pointing out that there were other aspects that came before branding, he said: "For example, Apple Computers are built by a huge Taiwanese company which is almost as big as Apple. Providing the total solutions your customer needs is a different discipline. Brandix is not looking at its own brand immediately; we have to first master what we are doing."
Touching on some figures, Omar revealed that total apparel imports into the US stood at US$ 65 billion, of which Sri Lanka exports 1.75 billion and China about US$ 30 billion.
"In China there are apparel companies which are about a billion dollars today, which is not big. There are shoe companies which are close to four to five billion dollars. They don't have their own brand, but 35% of the world's shoes are made by one Taiwanese company. Our whole focus and plan is to be a mega supplier of apparel. As we go along, we will build our own brand if necessary - but we have to first be masters at what we do," he added.
"The market is so big. There is an over 100 billion dollar market in apparel. If you take the six or seven categories which the country is good at, that will account for more than 40 or 45 percent of the total buying."
By Marianne David
By courtesy of: www.dailymirror.lk
Published 2nd June, 2010.
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