L & T are MVPs

Our site visit today was at Larsen & Toubro Limited. As we were driving to their facility, and got closer to it, I noticed that the road improved. There also were people walking along it that were fairly well dressed - and they all had shoes on. When we pulled into the parking lot there were more cars and motorcycles than I had seen at other facilities. Across the street was the massive Infosys campus, which we will be visiting later during the trip. We were warmly greeted. And the General Manager of the site spent a great deal of time with us. He was also more frank about the problems that India faces and willing to talk about the changes that need to be made. I think that if India has more leaders like him in the leadership pipeline it will continue down this progressive path of global commerce. The tour was especially interesting to me because this facility designs and tests cardiac monitoring devices under their own name, which is equipment that I sold in a past career. In talking with some of the management I found out that they are very familiar with two of the companies for which I used to work.

This company is a fantastic example of how the world has gone flat and exemplifies many of Friedman's flatteners. The company's home page makes this evident:

"Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) is a technology, engineering, construction and manufacturing company. It is one of the largest and most respected companies in India's private sector. Seven decades of a strong, customer-focused approach and the continuous quest for world-class quality have enabled it to attain and sustain leadership in all its major lines of business. L&T has an international presence, with a global spread of offices. A thrust on international business has seen overseas earnings grow significantly. It continues to grow its overseas manufacturing footprint, with facilities in China and the Gulf region. The company's businesses are supported by a wide marketing and distribution network, and have established a reputation for strong customer support."

The company has gone beyond just the technological challenges and opportunities of a global economy, but is also committed to social issues:

"L&T believes that progress must be achieved in harmony with the environment. A commitment to community welfare and environmental protection are an integral part of the corporate vision."

If there are more companies such as Larsen & Toubro participating in the Indian economy, the U.S. had better get busy, because in twenty to forty years India could rule the world economy. And if the U.S. stands still for too long India will also rule the world in terms of global power.