A biography for Baba Kalyanihasn’t been written yet.
“I had my own motor boat which we would take to Khadakvasla, but that was 40 years ago.”
“Fundamentally, we have broken our aerospace business into three parts - large parts which go into the wings and fuselage, components for jet engines, and specialised structural components for landing gear.”
“One of the criteria for a global company is that it should have a manufacturing presence in multiple countries and should not only be an exporter.”
“Everywhere in the world, whether manufacturing, trade or whatever, it is controlled by one apparatus and one policy perspective. Here we have one prime minister with good intentions, and six ministries running their own empires. This creates problems including the import culture.”
“India is still considered a preferred destination for many multinationals to manufacture cost-competitive high-technology products for domestic consumption as well as for global demand.”
“Prior to 2001, hardly any company in North America or Europe would buy from India.”
“Before 2000, we were unable to design a single car; all the cars were designed in Japan, Europe or somewhere else. We were just converting.”
“Import and substituting imports with domestic production are a big opportunity. With a devaluation of the rupee, imports get expensive, and for Indian manufacturers, this creates a huge opportunity.”
“We are working with the power industry all over the world. We are meeting customers in aerospace and getting them to tour our plants.”
“I give strong advice, but I don't expect it to be followed.”
“There is a feeling within our system that defence equipment can't be made here and should be imported. I wanted to break this myth, so we spent our money and made a product to prove we have capability in this country, so don't just brush us aside.”
“From an operational perspective, exports challenge companies to design, develop, manufacture and supply products to discerning customers in global markets. This, in turn, motivates companies to scale up the value chain, which results in higher realisations.”
“Politicians said that with our cheap labour, we could be competitive in the world. Nothing could be further from the truth. We were the most uncompetitive country with that cheap labour.”
“Our real focus is going to be what can we do with our existing capacities, what new things can we do, and how much more demand can we fulfil with our existing capacities.”
“Our strategy should be based on indigenisation and import substitution. The government must provide opportunities for domestic companies to participate in sectors in which the country continues to depend on imports.”
“When I returned from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1972, my father was running a forging business with a turnover of Rs 3.5 crore. But I had no patience and wanted to grow the business via exports.”
“If my strength is technology, financial structuring is my son's skill.”
“The advantage comes out of the capability of Indian engineers and the competitiveness of their capabilities and the cost at which they can create those capabilities.”
“Subsidies on petroleum products and fertilizers should be phased out in a defined, time-bound manner. The resources that would get freed up could then be used to fund various social sector programmes in education, healthcare and other priority sectors.”
“Challenges give me a kick. The day I stop getting challenges, I would quit.”