Africa is not for the weak-hearted: infrastructure issues are there. The middle class is absent in most of the countries. We have to cater to the low end of the market to grow. Sunil Mittal More Quotes by Sunil Mittal More Quotes From Sunil Mittal In my wide travels across the world and my meetings with various heads of states, be that Africa or South Asia, Singapore or in high level meetings in the U.S., U.K. or Japan, one common mention is about Dr. Singh's extraordinary reputation as a Wise Man, an outstanding Economist and a fine Gentleman. Sunil Mittal man gentleman wise world For me, relationship is very important. I can lose money, but I cannot lose a relationship. The test is, at the end of a conversation or a negotiation, both must smile. Sunil Mittal me smile money relationship Technology is something we buy to sell to the customers. Ericsson, Nokia and IBM do technology for a living, so let's give it to them because they know best. It has made the business model of Bharti very, very sustainable. Sunil Mittal best know technology business I was born in 1957 as the second son of the late Sat Paul and Lalita Mittal. My father was a politician and, at one point of time, an MP. A gap of two years separates me from both my elder brother Rakesh and younger sibling Rajan. Sunil Mittal me time father son As a child, I was rather active for my age. Sensing something special about me, my father told me that I had the vision to accomplish great things in life. He always encouraged me to do what I wanted to do - and this has stood me in good stead. Sunil Mittal good me age life Even while in school - initially, Vineberg Allen in Mussourie, and later, a number of schools in Ludhiana - I aspired to achieve great things in life. Admittedly, I wasn't quite sure about what these great things would be. Sunil Mittal great achieve life school My first venture was to trade bicycle parts and hosiery yarn. The initial days proved to be difficult, and I earned very little from my business. But I kept at it. Each day, when I retired for the night, I told myself that money would come in the next day. Sunil Mittal day myself money business I would say history is a clear witness to many of the problems that have erupted when two partners from the same industry or same country have come together. Sunil Mittal problems together country history On the ground, our operations are in India. We believe we are in a country where the growth is still to be captured, so we will remain reasonably focused in this country. Sunil Mittal india growth believe country 1976, I was all of 18, and when I stepped into the world of business, the capital I had in my hand was 20,000 rupees. Sunil Mittal had hand business world I started manufacturing bicycle parts. I come from a city called Ludhiana where almost everybody is self-employed, and either you make bicycle parts or bicycles, or hosiery parts or hosiery goods. Sunil Mittal make city you bicycle All competitors are fierce competitors; Vodafone is the world's second largest company. We fight it each day. Idea Cellular is big and successful, too. Competition is competition; we are used to it. Sunil Mittal fight day competition world All entrepreneurs make decisions. Some will go right, and some will not go that right. Sunil Mittal decisions some will go If telecom are seen as a rightful infrastructure for the growth of many other sectors in the economy and the multiplier force, then I think it doesn't deserve to be taxed so high. Sunil Mittal high think growth deserve I personally believe every country has the same amount of spectrum. It is not that India has less... It needs to be vacated from other places; that is what other countries have also done. Sunil Mittal india done believe country If you can teach a child, then her family and her future is taken care of. Sunil Mittal child you future family You can choose to be very profitable very quickly if you don't want to grow. Sunil Mittal choose grow you want In 1983, the government imposed a ban on the import of gensets. I was out of business overnight. I was in trouble. Sunil Mittal out government business trouble I sensed my chance and embraced the telecom business. I started marketing telephones, answering/fax machines under the brand name Beetel, and the company picked up really fast. Sunil Mittal brand name chance business I wanted to prove that a son of a politician can be a successful businessman. Sunil Mittal prove politician successful son
