My first impression of the world’s largest democracy is that it is indeed a country of contrasts. With 1.1 billion people, 750 million Indians live on $2/day or less (350 million of this group on less than $1 dollar/day) and there is a huge growing middle class population of 350 million -- more than the entire population of the United States.
This is evident on the streets of New Delhi where you see the vibrant activity of congested streets and people packed on sidewalks, while at the same time there are children begging for money. In many ways it’s a sensory overload.
Major roadways are crammed with cars, autorickshaws and bicycles, and then a cow will come and walk across the road and completely block traffic.
While at a meeting with the Indian Foreign Minister today, I noticed monkeys climbing all over the Defense building.
Yet, India is on the move with 9 to 10 percent economic growth rates fueled by a strong financial banking system, healthy IT and service sector and a confident entrepreneurial class.
In 1996, India had just 300,000 mobile phones nationwide, but by 2007 there were 150 million and now there are 6 to 7 million being added each month!
The people are extremely friendly and it was mentioned several times that they share the same values as our American democracy. The top news story on the BBC here was about the tragic bridge collapse in Minneapolis and whenever someone learned I was from Minnesota they expressed great sympathy for the situation in my state.
My favorite food is the tandoori chicken and lamb which is flavorful and cooked in a hot tandoori oven. And, it’s still monsoon season here, so we’ve had some rain and the humidity is extremely high. On the day I arrived our bus drove through 1 to 2 feet deep water during a major rainstorm.
From the proliferation of the internet to strong new job creation it is clear that India will take an important place not only in the global economy but hopefully Minnesota’s future.
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