Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Monday, 27 February 2023

In Juxtaposition

 


 

 

Context :

South Korea's Hyundai and Kia cost India billions of dollars in trade deficit, says Piyush Goyal

 

Extract :

Union Commerce and industries minister Piyush Goyal has said that Korean auto majors, like Hyundai and Kia, cost India billions of dollars in trade deficit by misusing the free-trade agreement between the two countries.

  

Speaking at the Asia Economic Dialogue, Goyal said that the free trade agreement allows these companies to import indiscriminately.


"The Korean auto industry, specifically Hyundai and Kia, are clearly two of the laggards. They have enjoyed the benefits of our free-trade agreement with Korea and Japan and continue to import indiscriminately," Goyal said.


He added that the small investment of half a billion or a billion dollars has cost India dearly in terms of billions of dollars of trade deficit they have caused us directly with Korea or other countries.

 

"We've been talking to Korea about opening up their markets for our products, but look at the stark difference, Korea doesn't stop any export of steel from India to Korea, and neither does Japan, but we can't sell a tonne of steel in both these countries because there is a nationalist spirit, which we unfortunately lack," he said.


He added the production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes could only help the manufacturing sector to a small extent as ultimately they needed to be,

Ø   competitive,

Ø  stand on their own legs and

Ø  provide quality products to the consumers’.

ST

 

At a disadvantage. No level playing field with public sector in defence, says L&T 

Extract :


Even though, theoretically, defence production is open to both the public and private sectors, in practical terms, there is no level playing field, as the government loads its own enterprises with orders on nomination basis, leaving very little for the private sector, says Jayant Patil, Member of the Executive Committee of Management, Larsen & Toubro, and Advisor, Defence & Smart Technologies to CEO & MD, Larsen & Toubro. 


In an exclusive interview to businessline, Patil said L&T had invested ₹8,000 crore in seven facilities for defence production years ago; however, the factories’ capacity utilisation is far from full. 

 


MY  TAKE  :

 

Ø  Level Playing Field ?  ………………………………………  11  June  2016

 

Extract :

 

It just does not exist - so forget about it and make the most of what you have !

For Corporate , it is absurd to demand and for a Government , it is futile to attempt to provide a
Level Playing Field


There are no two countries where ALL the resources and the ENTIRE industrial Eco-system , is identical or even closely similar

Inputs for any industry are :


#    MANPOWER


    *  Ave age / Education Level / Skills / Work Ethics / Productivity / Working

        Hours / Holidays /  Salaries

    
#    RAW MATERIALS / COMPONENTS AVAILABILITY

    *  Local vs Imported / Supply Chain / Logistics / Duties & Taxes / Quality



#     FINANCE / BANK INTEREST RATES


     *  Equity / Loans / Interest Rates / Collateral / Duration / Terms 




#    LAND / LOCATION ( of manufacturing unit )


     *  Availability / Prices / Transport / Availability of Skilled Manpower 




#    INDUSTRIAL  POLICY ( Central and State Governments )


     *  Exemptions / Incentives / Restrictions / Inspections / Permissions /

         Compliance


#    MARKET


     *  Domestic / Overseas  

  

#    TECHNOLOGY


     *  IPR / Patents Regime / Copy-Rights / Home-Grown / Licensing / Royalty 



#    TAXATION


     *  High / Low Corporate Income Tax / Capital Gains Tax 



#    INFRASTRUCTURE


     *  Internal ( Road-Rail Network / Air-Sea connectivity ) / Warehouses



#   COMPETITION


     Monopoly / Oligopoly / Cartels / Fierce & Free competition of many



Now , Industrialists / Businessmen , all over the World , will continue to compare

the INDUSTRIAL INPUTS existing in their own country with the following

BENCHMARKS :


#   Most Business Friendly ................................... Ireland


#   Lowest Corporate Tax...................................... Kuwait ( 0 % )


#   Lowest Hourly Wages ( PPP basis ).................... Bangladesh ( $ 0.25/hr )


#   Highest Working Hours.................................... Mexico ( 42.5 / week )


#   Least Govt mandated paid holidays................... USA     ( Nil )


#   Highest Manpower Productivity......................... Switzerland


#   Lowest Bank Interest Rates.............................  Denmark ( 0.05 % )


#   Demographic Advantage of a Young Population....India 


#   Ease of Introducing unpopular reforms..............  China ( Dictatorship )  



There is , quite likely ,
some parameter on which a Country can claim to have distinct advantage over all the other countries


It could have something to do with its Geographical situation / Historical evolution / Political System / Legal Frame-work / Societal Norms etc


It is not possible to replicate advantages of all of these Benchmark Countries , into any one single country


At the same time , it is very important to keep studying these Benchmarks and ask ourselves :


"  How have these countries managed to reach , where they are ?


   What REFORMS can we introduce in our own system to catch-up ?


   Are there any parameters in which we ourselves are a Benchmark to others ?


   What should we do so that we do not slip-up where we are ourselves , some


   kind of a Benchmark , to the rest of the World ? 


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


with regards,

Hemen Parekh

www.hemenparekh.ai  /  28  Feb  2023

 

 

Related  Readings :

 

Ø  Costing Plays a Key Role  ………………………………………………..[ 18  Oct  2018 ]

 

Ø  How to break the vicious circle ?   ......................................[  03 July 2016  ]

 

Ø  Teach them to fish   ……………………………………………………………………[ 05 Nov 2016  ]

 

Ø  Automation is Inescapable   …………………………………………………………[ 30 Nov 2016 ]

 How much capital needed to create ONE job ?   ………………………[ 22 June 2017  ]

 

Solar Power at Re 1 / kwh ?   ……………………………………………………  [ 29 Jan 2017   ]

 

Unlimited Power and around the clock   …………………………………    [ 29 July 2016  ]

 

Universal  Basic  Income   ……………………………………………………………[ 20 Jan 2017  ]

 

Can Indian IT re-invent itself  ?   …………………………………………………[ 03 Feb 2017  ]

 

HOW CHINA MAKES CHEAP ?   …………………………………………………….[ 08 Nov 2014  ]

 

" BACK FACTORY " OF THE WORLD ?   ………………………………………..[ 09 Sept 2015 ]

 

 

How to Boost Economy    ……………………………………………………………[ 20  Sept  2017 ]

 

In a State of Denial ?   …………………………………………………………………[ 22  Sept  2017 ]

 

What would happen ?   ……………………………………………………………….[ 29  Sept  2017 ]

 

Discovering the Obvious ?    ………………………………………………………..[ 30 Nov 2017  ]

 

Not Good Enough !   …………………………………………………………………….[ 02 Dec 2017  ]

 

Saving Jobs : Creating Jobs   ……………………………………………………… [ 19 Dec 2017  ]

 

Free Electricity ? Possible   ……………………………………………………………[ 28  Dec  2017  ]

 

Of Interns and Apprentices   …………………………………………………………[ 07 Jan 2018  ]

 

Whose Interest ?    ………………………………………………………………………..[ 26  Jan  2018  ]

 

Car Grave-Yard of World ?    ………………………………………………………… [ 14  Feb  2018  ]

 

Modiji’s ( incomplete ) Message !   ………………………………………………  [ 13 Mar 2018  ]

 

A  TradeWar  Epidemic  ?    …………………………………………………………… [ 22 Mar 2018 ]

 

Thanks  for  Speaking  Up  !   …………………………………………………………[ 27 Mar 2016 ]

 

A  Robotic  Invasion  ?     …………………………………………………………… . [ 19  Apr 2018  ]

 

An Important Challenge ?    ………………………………………………………….[ 01 July 2018  ]

 

The E Commerce Elephant    …………………………………………………………[ 02 Aug 2018 ]

 

 

Chatbot Regulation Seems Inevitable

 

If you wondered why I proposed :

 

Parekh’s Law of Chatbots

 

https://lnkd.in/dG7r9kQt

 

- here is the reason :

 

Snapchat launches an AI chatbot powered by OpenAI’s GPT technology

 

https://lnkd.in/d-uYBHv8

 

Extract :

 

Snapchat notes that “as with all AI-powered chatbots,” My AI can be tricked into saying just about anything.

 

The company seems to be alluding to the mess created by Microsoft’s Bing, which was recently updated with OpenAI’s GPT-4 model.

 

A week into the launch, people started posting strange and unnerving responses that they received from the search engine, after which Microsoft admitted that Bing can be provoked to respond outside of its designed tone.

 

” Snapchat appears to be getting ahead of dealing with a similar situation with its own chatbot, noting that My AI has “many deficiencies.

 

” Snapchat even went so far as saying “sorry in advance” to users of the new chatbot.

 

The company says that although My AI is designed to avoid biased, incorrect, harmful or misleading information, mistakes may occur.

 

 

The social network invites users to submit feedback by pressing and holding on any message from My AI.

 ========================================

with regards,

hemen parekh

www.hemenparekh.ai  /  28  Feb  2023

Sunday, 26 February 2023

Congratulations, Maharashtra Urban Development Department

 


 

Context :

Place builders' project details on civic website, directs Maharashtra Government………………. ..TNN  / 26 Feb 2023

Extract :

The state urban development department has directed local bodies such as municipal corporations, councils, nagar panchayats and the local planning authorities to upload details of the commencement certificates and occupation certificates issued for construction projects under their jurisdiction on their websites to prevent citizens from being cheated by builders and developers.


The local bodies will also integrate their websites with the MahaRERA website

 

As a result the state government has directed local civic bodies and planning authorities to upload the Commencement Certificates and Occupancy Certificates issued to Real Estate Projects in their area on their website and make it available for the general public

 

If the website of the local bodies in the State are not updated or not developed, the Directorate of Municipal Administration should coordinate and control the same

 

The said websites should be developed / updated by March 31, 2023

 

As per the government resolution, the websites of the local bodies and the Planning Authorities should be integrated with the website of MahaRERA by 31 March , and a report needs to be submitted to the government

 

“ This will help in transparency and all that the consumers need to do will be to go to MahaRERA website and from there move to the websites of the planning bodies . All details of the project will be made available at the fingertips “ , said Ramesh Prabhu, Chairman of the Maharashtra Societies Welfare Association  (info@mahasewa.org

 

 

 

 

MY  TAKE  :

 

 

Dear Shri Prabhu,

 

While welcoming this REFORM on the part of the Maharashtra Urban Development

Department, I urge you to use your considerable “ Influence “ , to bring in “ Total

Transparency “ in MahaRERA projects by getting Maharashtra Government to

implement my 7 YEAR old emailed suggestion detailed at :

 

 Ø  SELF CERTIFICATION FOR BUILDERS ?  …………………………………… 05 Nov 2015

 

 

Extract :

 

*  All builders / developers must register on Municipal Web sites and obtain

   unique BUILDER REGISTRATION NUMBER

 

*  Builders must fill in online, on web site of concerned Municipality, a form :

 

    BUILDING  PERMIT  APPLICATION

 

*  Building Permit Application Form will have a STANDARD FORMAT , into

    which applicant will need to submit exhaustive details re the project

 

    This will include detailed Floor Plans and Structural Drawings , along with

    names / contact details of Architects / Structural Engineers etc

 

    The FORM will require slab-casting dates for each slab and the final

    completion date when builder will apply for Occupation Certificate

   

*  The Form will have a section called

 

    SELF   CERTIFICATION   /  DECLARATION

 

    Builder would be required to tick YES / NO against each item as shown :

 

    Does your proposed Building / Structure / Project , satisfy the criteria /

    notifications / regulations , issued by the concerned Ministries in respect

    of :

 

    #   Built-up Area........... ( YES ) / ( NO )

 

    #   Height Restriction

 

    #   Fire Fighting

 

    #   Water Harvesting

 

    #   Roof-top Solar Power

 

    #   Effluent Treatment

 

    #   Garbage Disposal

 

    #   Earthquake Resistant Structural Design..............etc

 

 

 

Clicking on each item will reveal the relevant " Notification / Regulation " issued by the concerned Ministry

 

To make the process absolutely fool-proof , the form will insist on an " Electronic Signature " of the applicant

 

 

DECLARATION / UNDERTAKING :

 

 

" I declare that I have read each and every notification / regulation , listed   in respect of items mentioned above

 

I further declare that I explicitly agree to abide by these regulations

 

I am aware that Occupation Certificate will not be granted if my completed project is found to be in violation of any of these notifications / regulations

 

I will not allow any person / entity to occupy any part of this premises , until and unless , Municipality issues to me , the Occupation Certificate

 

If Municipality finds any violations , I agree to rectify the same before applying for a fresh Occupation Certificate

 

If Municipality is not in a position to issue Occupation Certificate due to any

violations which simply cannot be rectified , then I will demolish the said building / project / structure  on my own and before such demolition , refund with interest , payments collected from the buyers

 

The plot of land is free from any encumbrances / litigations

 

I am not in default of any loans taken from any bank / individuals

 

I will not accept any payment in cash , nor make cash payments

 

I absolve the Municipal Corporation of any liability arising out of non completion of my project 

 

I agree that my Building Permit Application and my Registration Application details , be made accessible to public on your web site , along with full details of my past / current projects and full details of my balance sheet / bank borrowings  " 

 

 GRANT OF APPROVALS BY MINISTRIES :

 

 As soon as the builder submits the online BUILDING PERMIT APPLICATION , it automatically and instantly , appears on the web sites of ALL the concerned Ministries

 

The concerned officer of each Ministry , makes APPROVED / REJECTED entries in the application form , from the backend

 

If rejected , he will provide the reasons

 

Ministry officers are required to carry out this entry , within 24 hours

 

As soon as an officer of any Ministry makes entry and SUBMITS , the application forms on web sites of ALL Ministries and web site of the concerned Municipality , get updated simultaneously and instantly , making for MIRROR IMAGES at all times

 

As soon as any entry is made , a copy gets emailed to the applicant builder

 

Any " editing " of the application form by the builder , will start the entire process , all over

 

Applicant builder will be obliged to display the latest emailed form at the site

 

The database so created on web sites of ALL Ministries - and concerned Municipality - will be searchable State-wise / City-wise

 

 CHANGES  IN  RELEVANT  LAWS :

 

To speed up any litigation between the parties concerned ( Builder / Buyers / Central & State Govts / Municipality / Bankers etc ) , existing laws may be changed

 

 

IMPORTANT :

 

Every application must be in the open domain and visible to anyone , online and transparently

 

There should be provision for any visitor of the web site to report any abuse / violation of regulations or any objection to the proposed construction

 

 

ADVANTAGES :

 

If such SELF CERTIFICATION process is implemented , it should be possible for India to beat Singapore , where getting 11 approval takes only 26 days !

 

It would be ZERO days in our case !

 

 

 

With Regards,

 

Hemen Parekh

 

www.hemenparekh.ai  /  27  Feb  2023