Q/ Covid caused a lot of disruptions, followed by geopolitical tensions, rising cost pressures and slowing economies. How have your businesses navigated these challenges?
A/ During the pandemic, we responded quickly. Factories started producing within two or three weeks, largely because workers lived in factories. We vaccinated all our employees, some family members and other associates of the company, and there was a very good response to that. So, during the pandemic, work was not affected much.
The Ukraine-Russia war caused a commodity boom, but that is also over now. The high prices of the commodities affected us when some of them were raw materials. When these were commodities we were producing ourselves, like palm oil, it was actually a benefit. But now that is also over.
The war was bad for Ukraine. But for India, there were opportunities like getting cheap oil and selling refined petroleum products at a big margin. So India has not been very badly affected. It is one of the fastest growing economies. Another economy that we operate in, Indonesia, is also doing well. The developed world and a lot of the developing world are in bad shape. But there are these intermediate economies, which are not so bad. China was badly affected by the pandemic. Now it is slowly recovering, but the Chinese recovery is not really very good, even today. So it is actually a big opportunity for India and Indian businesses.
Q/ What is your assessment of overall economic trends? And what is the growth outlook for Godrej companies?
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
United in the states
Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds
COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
India is not a controlling big brother
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.
Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict
SAHEB LOSES STEAM
Coalition dynamics and poor electoral prospects continue to diminish Ajit Pawar's political stock
