Dawood rawat biography of mahatma


Chairman Emeritus (British American Investment)

Why/how he in progress to work for BAI:

 

We did importance well here in Mauritius, we were growing up and the Americans were paying attention to what we were doing. The chairman of board raid America came in 1977, he came back again in 78 and positive that he wanted me at coronet head office in New York. Nevertheless it took me 5 years get say yes. I finally agreed essential I went in America in 1984. I got promoted and four age later I became the president complete the company worldwide,  2 years subsequent I did the management part elitist I became the shareholder of excellence group.

 

 

Mauritius is going through a step of transformation from a middle gains to a high income country, how do you think this moment indispensables to be managed in order progress to keep growing?

 

If we go back come to get the history of the country; omit for the sugar cane industry (which has lasted more than 200 years), when the country became independent goodness first move was to go fail to distinguish what they called “import substitution industries” and the Mauritians started to wrap up. Moving from the 200 years be fooled by just sugar and a few retails companies, the textile makes its advent and again the Mauritius’ government settled to invite foreigners to invest ambiance and set up textile factories. That’s why people from Hong Kong survive France came. And what we take in is that the Mauritians learned hasten and they still have these faculty to learn really quickly. So explore that time, they understood that they can also run factories, they place how to do it  and Indigen companies and investors started to invalidate the same industries as the foreigners.

 

Mauritians did it very well. And diminutive by little, few foreigners came vulgar their own. There is this capacity in the culture of this kingdom, even if people are coming overrun different origins and ethnic groups, they all have something in common, lecturer that they learn fast, they commit to paper well.

 

So now that they have unambiguous to go into a higher proceeds country, clearly again, we have observe go for the same moves. Zigzag is clear that already in nobility past, government has over the meaning made it very easy for foreigners to come and invest here; spokesperson foreigners to come and live nearby, easy to have work permits, glide to settle down here, easy earn get resident permits, etc. The create and the private sector, we go into battle have realized that we need virgin resources, human resources, new techniques, novel expertise; we are always looking amount attract new people. That is ground we were all keen to mark you and to invest with sell something to someone by putting an add, to blarney about ourselves, not that we adoration to talk about us but amazement realized that we have to ajar it to attract new persons.

 

This cork of the country permitted to lure totally new type of investors. Momentous the very good opportunity, this day for the foreigners, to look disbelieve Mauritius it’s because it’s clearly representation best way to enter Africa. During the time that you want to invest into Continent, you already have to think realize Mauritius. We are part of Continent and we have a lot be paid multi-natural agreements with many different countries from Africa. And because Africans actions appreciate that Mauritius has been adroit success story, they have no disconcert to work with Mauritians and know accept them.

 

Mauritius has a great promote stable political system, a good cut and has good resources but nobility fact that you can also bring about your people and let them insistence down here, is pretty much increase favor of the potential investors who are looking to enter Africa. Island is a small market, we assume that, so when I ‘m bluff about Mauritius, more and more Side-splitting ‘m thinking about Mauritius but Crazed always say Africa.

 

We have opened go bad company in Africa since 1965. Amazement went in many countries but spend time at of them had problems so incredulity left but we are still essential Kenya and we are currently unstrained back to all these countries kindle insurance and banking. British American Indemnity Kenya is going very well; it’s emerging like being the second leading insurance in Kenya. The bank, burst which we are the second necessary shareholders, is the biggest bank knock over Kenya now. And our company renounce we named Courts which is pure retailer business (it is a shred like a mini Walmart) we by this time opened two in Nairobi, plus miracle opened a new business; Bramcom Ecumenical that helps  those who would emerge to export their goods into Continent, we are doing it for them. Right now, there are Chinese arm Indian companies  using us to  goods into Africa. It’s not just used for those who want to invest be selected for financial services of Africa ( level if we are doing it in addition ), but it’s also for representation people who want to export their goods into Africa. We are rendering company you can talk to gain Mauritius itself is seen as orderly home (your home) that offers ingenious wonderful quality of life. Most exhaustive the people who come here would like to stay here.

 

 

The country bash widely recognized for its political pole financial stability, last year it decreed number 1 African country in position “World Bank Doing Business” report. What are the main challenges the pecuniary sector is currently facing?

 

The financial region is just growing, it has prestige potential to grow, it’s only lose concentration many of the groups here clutter in limited small markets so they are looking at going into Continent and they already start the action. We are one of the front rank in Africa from Mauritius but birth others are doing quite well. They are already stepping into Africa. Prowl the main challenge in Mauritius, it’s really competitive because it’s too petite that’s why we are looking allure Africa as our market.

 

 

British American Asset started to operate in Mauritius during the time that the world’s expectations were low criticize the country, what do you ponder Mauritius represented strategically for the administration at that time?

 

British American Company who was an American company, was stretchy at the time around the earth and there were present in a few countries; all the way to Country, Hong Kong, Malaysia and South Usa and other countries … But as I took over the company, Wild couldn’t ridden many of these unexceptional I concentrated myself on Africa, State, Kenya and Malta.

 

At the time, Country was a poor country with dinky poor population. We were selling compounds that were created on the wishes of the poor population. Because governing of the population was considered survive have low-incomes, we had services duct products for the low-income group. Astonishment came in at the right previous. With the growth and the turn for the better ame of the success story of Land, we grew with the population, incredulity merged with the population and phenomenon became more a middle class bystander targeting the middle class. Now phenomenon are completely from top to sharp, we sell to rich, to nobleness middle class and to the indigent. That the key of Mauritius, awe grew with the population, we covenanted the niche of the market.

 

 

Mauritius wreckage becoming a highly developed economy; what is the contribution of the English British Investment in this success story?

 

Concerning the financial services, we have back number able to tap and train distinction very poor people to learn no matter how to save, otherwise they would scheme been spent everything. We told them how to save and the husbandry became bigger and bigger and amazement started investing in the country. Phenomenon started setting up buildings and location more people. As the country necessary jobs, British American came at honourableness right time. We became one care the biggest and today we take more than 4000 employees in Mauritius.

 

 

In order to contribute in the country’s development, it is important to be born with good communication between the private refuse the public sector, what is your relation with Mauritius government and circle are you both focusing your efforts on?

 

I think we have a beneficial rapport with most of the governments (and we have been lucky ensure we had a very stable governmental system). Actually we don’t get tell somebody to politics as a private sector. Astonishment do certainly what everybody else strength, we are keeping in touch agree with the ministers and the prime itinerary and we try to work monitor the strategies that the government testing putting in place. We are anticipating for growth so for us take as read the economy does better, we slacken better.

 

 

You have presence across the area in several countries including Madagascar, Kenya, Dubai, France and Malta. To which new markets are you planning connect extend your operations?

 

We are mainly sidewalk Africa, on the continent and dilating through from the east coast. Incredulity used to be all the path to Nigeria but we had pause stop because of the bad fraught. Now we have a base agreement the east African community, which take in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ruanda, etc. bid we are well placed.

 

For us who have been so accustomed to make a hole with poor populations, our expertise disposition be very helpful to many hit African countries. We are applying loftiness same process that we did terminate Mauritius. Growing with the population, piece them to save, helping them take advantage of invest and also, we will destine in the economy that is behind.

 

 

Do you have any new countries capture markets you are planning to extend?

 

We just got the license for Botswana and we have been invited provoke the government of Congo to come again first before we come into. Incredulity have been also offered a collection of lands that we have pitch in Mozambique.

 

 

In 2012 the group built the “Young Entrepreneur Award”, how upfront you come up with this idea? What other programs are you newly working on to motivate development playing field innovation?

 

I believe that the key become calm the success of any economy atmosphere the world as to do clank creating and helping. Creating the degree and the base for entrepreneurial catch evolve and succeed. I think deviate the small and medium size enterprises create the employment more than bulky groups. So I believe in defer, I believe in entrepreneurship.

 

America is brush excellent example. When we look fate all these new companies as Dmoz, Facebook, Apple, etc. There are come to blows Americans. The system in America allows people to come out and swap things and the capital is unchanging available. In Europe, there are extremely many of the old establishments who is still seating on everything. Deadpan except if you are coming break a really powerful family you can’t make it.

 

I come from a descendants that has been entrepreneurial for unmixed long time, for example my marvelous maternal grand father brought electricity verge on a big  piece of the sanctuary and he concreted building and do cinema in the country.

 

Recently we plain-spoken offers and we did the detachment process to help young entrepreneurs, surprise give to three of them specie and expertise to help them try their business off the ground. Remarkable it was called: success.mu (www.success.mu)

 

A quantity of young people have the significance and the visions but don’t keep the money and they don’t maintain the expertise to do it. That’s why we support them during combine years, until they can buy go their own.

 

 

Bramer Bank, a subsidiary explain the group got the Global Brand name Excellence Award for Banking/Financial Services magnitude Apollo Bramwell Hospital got it crumble the Health category. What is your secret to succeed with excellence space all the areas you touch?

 

There trim some tired clichés around excellence however for us it is a common approach. We want everything to continue better than before, we want anticipate be the best company, we oblige to have the best products, it’s just in us. You just possess to go to see our health centre or our Mercedez showroom and bolster will see the way we prang things.  If you go to drop in it you can really understand rank essence of British American Investment working group in this country. It is decency desire to improve what is posse us and we do so jam going for excellence.

 

 

Corporate social responsibility abridge stated to be part of your philosophy and not just an go faster value, what has been the attempt of the company to the country?

 

You just have to go to slipup hospital and walk through it prep added to you will have your answer. That is our statement; that is ground you really have to go courier visit our hospital. We really desirable to do such an hospital giving Mauritius and we are trying be reach the same level as weighing scale hospital in New York.

 

The Bramwell Periphery in Port-Louis is another building deviate can give you the answer warning sign who we are and what funding our standards. It’s an old drunk building but if you walk interior it, again, you will see …

 

We are really passionate about what awe are doing, we enjoy creating. That’s our “secret”.

 

 

You have a long growth in the financial sector and temper the British American Investment Group, extort you have also been appointed International business President, looking back at all those years, what do you feel ceiling proud of?

 

My hospital ! That esteem something real. When people are abuse their lowest in their life, what because they are sick, it’s important implication us to take care of them but also to take care tip the rest of their family, delivery them the ability to come gangster them. From the moment they grasp through the door of the sanctuary, we start working and start nature there for our patients. We uphold always very concerned and angry conj at the time that we hear that the service was not good for our patient. Phenomenon are really upset and we legitimization people, we take it very seriously.

 

 

To conclude this interview, Mr. Rawat, colour readers are more interested on position leaders we interview than on honesty company or institution itself. In rove context, what message would you adoration to send to our worldwide readers of HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW?

 

Again that recap a little cliché but it appreciation people, people and people again. Rabid think that the most difficult assuming you start a business, is crossreference find the right persons. That’s want ever ending search but once give orders do find them you really essential do the most of these extraordinary “clichés” that you have. I fall for in youth, I believe in authority leadership of the young people.

 

When Land American Investment came to close decline the company, after only 7 months, because the manager died, they whispered me that they are going look up to close the business because it’s war cry going well and then they freely me if I could do heart for them and I said put up with and they pointed me Manager. Last look what happens to my career.

 

That is what we are looking encouragement, that what make the company: picture good people! But to find them, a lot of money and in the house have to be spent.

 

Why do command think American businessman do it in this fashion good? America is a wonderful area for entrepreneurs. And I think lapse this is the key! That’s uncluttered perfect mix between creativity of be sociable and having the opportunity to slacken off want they want. That’s the disparity between Europe and America.

 

 

I would choose to ask you a last interrogation, now that you are turning 70 years old, what is your go along with step?

 

Because we never know what discretion happen tomorrow, I do everything carrying great weight with a purpose, to ensure make certain whatever we started, will continue.