A Different Kind of Southern Hospitality
October 11, 2024I just wrapped up my first trip to India – though I hope not my last.
It’s been a whirlwind trip – nine days of traveling across India, meeting with companies, executives and local officials. Our delegation – myself, Allison Hatfield, Olivia Womack, and Neal Jansen – have been hitting the pavement in India to promote the State of Arkansas as a place for companies to do business, to locate new facilities, and to expand.
It’s always exciting to do international trips. Just this year, we have traveled to London to participate in the Farnborough International Airshow and to Germany, Japan and Korea for business recruitment meetings. I have been to Europe and many parts of Asia in the past, so I knew the “ropes” of travelling there, but India was going to be a new experience.
Frankly, I was a little concerned after hearing stories of others falling ill while visiting and hearing a friend describe India as “an attack on the senses”. He wasn’t wrong – it was a shock to at least three (sight, sounds and taste).
What surprised me the most was the hospitable nature of our hosts and abundant business development opportunities in India.
On multiple occasions, our delegation was warmly greeted with flowers. On every occasion, we were offered tea and coffee, and on one occasion, we rode on a camel out to a red-carpet walkway where we planted a mango tree to commemorate our visit.
The Indian hospitality was a great comfort so far from home, and it reminded me of something: the famed Southern hospitality. At the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, we always strive to make companies and executives feel as welcomed as possible, thinking ahead to anticipate what they could need or want to enjoy their time in Arkansas. This was exactly what happened for us in India.
Speaking of hospitality, it should be mentioned that the food was fantastic! I traded in my daily ration of oatmeal for idly and coconut chutney for breakfast – a welcomed change (although it was much spicier in Chennai!). For lunch and dinner, we had an array of excellent Indian dishes. Even with dietary restrictions, eating in India has been a flavorful experience!
Of course, the main reason that our team travelled to India was to meet with company executives to foster new relationships or strengthen existing ones. After all our travels, I would say that we have done exactly that.
We had the opportunity to meet with several companies who have already invested in Arkansas: Welspun, Sequretek, Tata Consultancy Services and Wipro. These companies have found success in Arkansas, and we are proud of the work that they do in the Natural State and the jobs that they create for Arkansans. We look forward to many more years of success with these companies.
In addition to companies with existing operations in Arkansas, we visited many others that are considering locating a facility in Arkansas, and we were honored to put the Natural State on the map as a location for consideration.
With these companies, we have more work to do, but we expect to see more Indian investment in Arkansas in the coming months and years. All the Indian companies that we visited and got to know are growing, and we want them to grow in Arkansas.
In 2023, Arkansas exported commodities and goods worth $105,292,796 to India, making the country our state’s 11th largest trade partner. This was a 110.13% increase from the previous year. This shows a trajectory of growth, and we aim to continue this trend.
This trip has resulted in both new and stronger relationships that will benefit both India and Arkansas.
As we made our way around the country, the executives and other people we met did not try to hide the challenges they have in India. They have difficulties, like any other place, but they took pride in how far they have come and what lies ahead of them – just like Arkansas.
Arkansas and India, on the surface, may not have much in common – they are very different culturally and geographically, but they share a great deal of commonalities. Arkansans and Indians share a generous spirit of hospitality and a strong work ethic.
From riding in a rickshaw for the first time to sampling new foods, our trip to India has been an adventure. It has also helped our team establish a stronger foothold in India and positioned us to win more economic development projects in the region. I’m very grateful for the welcoming people that we met, and our team looks forward to many ongoing engagements with Indian companies looking for a home in the United States to do business.
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