PETpla.net Insider 09 / 2019

EDITOUR PET planet Insider Vol. 19 No. 09/19 www.petpla.net 10 INDIA – A place of limitless potential by Kay Barton Starting at the beginning When one thinks about India or talks about the country, there seems to be neither a beginning nor an end. From a global perspective, this multi-ethnic and multi-religious state is undoubtedly the greatest degree of adventure, mystery and chaos brought together in an almost unbe- lievable nation – from every respect. As a confirmed fan of India and after several stays in various regions on the subcontinent, only one thing seems to repeat itself: a subjective strategy of integra- tion and allowing things to happen, which can develop on the basis of experience, understanding and con- frontation with the country and its people – or, indeed, not. After all, it isn’t without reason that one hears time and again that India divides opinions all over the world. “Either you love it or you don’t” is a typical quote which almost everyone has probably heard before. I can say quite clearly that I belong to those who love it. India has become a kind of second home for me. I have worked here, lived here and made friendships here that have lasted for many years. I never suffered from the much-quoted “culture shock” but, during my initial visits, I did experi- ence difficulties with the local customs and impressions of chaos to which I wasn’t yet accustomed. Today and every time I return to this country, I see again and again what is possible, how this great nation with its 1.3 billion people is developing and the opportunities that are emerging in it, especially at the global level. Emotionality and, of course, spir- ituality are omnipresent here. This is certainly a major difference from western countries, where people’s business and personal lives overlap as little as possible. In India, in one’s personal life and in everyday busi- ness life, culture dictates that it is the subjective feeling that is the decisive building block for the success or fail- ure of a business relationship. Many of our readers who know India, who work and do business there or have local representative offices there, know that almost nothing works with- out that typically Indian gut feeling. If, for instance, the European plant- and equipment supplier interacts with