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Extended web version: Mahindra & Mahindra Chairman Anand Mahindra on why he has an optimistic outlook for business in the year ahead.
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Talk about a proxy for world business on on Mahendra is chairman of the Mahendra group.
Under him he's got a 110 different businesses in a hundred different countries so let's ask him and are you optimistic or pessimistic about business -- 2013.
I've been quoted terminal optimist -- and I haven't.
I haven't lived that reputation on -- it so I think I'm still an optimist and more so than I've ever been before in -- At least in the -- over the last two years.
I find my seven a position I'm more optimistic that -- the what do you see out there right now.
You know very simple things have changed and people -- knowledge and this just a short a couple of months ago.
There was no business gathering ready for -- stopping on the table.
Wouldn't be Greece and haven't of these -- and who's next is -- Spain is that it's in the that is doctor number one.
And the second topic that was almost -- doomsday scenario was that the US invading Iran.
Those doctors don't exist on the table and I think -- -- to us those.
To -- -- to acknowledge when things have changed suddenly Europe is not the it's a sick man that is not in the intensive care unit anymore.
And it on isn't it topics is something good must -- happened there.
And when the world situation changes like that you have to get optimistic again.
Although somewhat say Iran -- always threatens to become.
To the forefront of of headlines and we hope that doesn't happen but you know you -- last year you skipped last year you were at Sundance.
For a whole host of reasons but -- support Sundance and and you come back this year what is different about the town of Davos.
The run up to this is -- -- there's been a lot of noise about how.
Double us is actually being renovated it's not these Seymour doubtless that people aren't coming and that it's not the center of attention anymore.
I have to admit to his the last two days that I've been here that doesn't seem to be the case I'm seeing all the usual suspects here in fact more -- them.
Yes maybe there are a couple of parties and on happening this -- that much is being made of that in the media right that's a good thing because Google isn't happening it's party services what happened Google's not happening it's party.
-- -- You know who were having a party or not it's not at the center reminded us -- Sure and I think I'm seeing more -- -- rifts and seeing more optimism by the way in the American -- here.
A lot of a lot of pumped up -- -- sensing people a feeling that that we have back the American sound like this thing we have back.
-- most interesting conversation you've been apart over perhaps the most.
Inspired idea you've heard since you arrived in Davos.
At you know.
That's a tough one not because as of there's too many of them.
But because.
Which one is really really interesting.
I had -- one about with the the mayor of London.
What was an interest -- -- a source forest.
Es he's he's a very interesting man.
And -- -- somehow if you stand close to him I think -- -- as you can get energy and you get optimism.
And he he's always talking about the future and his plan that -- what the plans that you discussed but I find him to be very energizing.
Question you know we're here in the days automotive.
Aerospace agribusiness so what I hear -- talking to abortion music can't talk about what we talked about.
Deals are struck here in Davos are they not mean isn't that the value sometimes at this event.
You know I wouldn't say deems obstructive -- -- you you need your normal contingent of the -- people around you and general signings that happened here sometimes -- -- -- plant seeds -- planted I think sparks ignited.
I have to admit that is still going on so.
Who -- -- of the demise of -- -- this greatly exaggerated.
Interesting because Rick Goings of Tupperware was it was a little strong in his wording he felt that some of the subject matters that are discussed could be more on point did he specifically brought up something.
That actually happened in your country about violence against women and and look.
The Indian bus rate and murder of that young lady was really something that that crystallized and captured the attention of the world.
You know -- you look at that do you think that those are also.
The discussions that we should be having at Davos the big thinking topic.
-- some of -- and I don't think topics about social.
Dysfunction.
Or social dislocation have ever been excluded from dollars.
And yes it is I'm glad you brought that up I have never been angry and my knife then when that incident happened and then the crude -- that was.
Inflicted upon that younger.
When I -- above that I was infant.
And we have been very active in fact that we didn't want to just -- so our IT company in fact came -- with a more by that -- fight back which isn't notes signal.
It's -- to your friends and FaceBook in the way -- -- to the police so that any woman who feels she's in danger just faces a single button to indict people around it.
And you know we're trying to do more things like that but.
There's been a lot of talk that of this used to happen anyway and it's knowledge social media opinion.
Maybe that's no reason not to get angry well.
You -- who you are -- husband to her father to two daughters.
You are feminist in many ways -- my mother was a -- issues.
She is a writer and you wrote a book called the rebellious homemaker -- I was -- wearily in feminist -- if you.
On on Mahendra of the Mahendra group thank you very much for speaking with us you know is is that it's these kinds of conversations that that we feel are very valuable to bring our viewers of global business leaders.
With true ideas behind them back to you in New York.
