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Excerpt from a speech of Vijaya Gajananda Vaidya, Chairman, VOITH, Kathmandu, Nepal
I think this was delivered during a commencement exercise at Central Luzon State University
source: http://telegraphnepal.com

Let us have proactive thinking to promote excellence, competence and good leadership. Instill self-confidence in the young people so that they are encouraged to work for the Philippines and not go abroad to toil for others. Let us learn to respect prospective entrepreneurs.

Reward practical, real world job experience more than seniority and bureaucratic work It is my deep conviction that any country that wants to advance, be a top exporter and offer a better life to its citizens needs a highly talented young generation. This is the key to a “Filipino Miracle”.

Many people in the world admire and envy the Philippines for its beautiful nature, well preserved environment, rich natural resources and ability to produce clean energy. The Philippines is also envied for its many intelligent, faithful, trustworthy, dedicated young people and professionals. The CLSU should try hard to preserve and use the natural resources to the advantage of the local people so that they see the need of preserving the natural resources in their pristine form. 1, therefore, request all to help Central Luzon State University to move fast in this strategic direction.

Like any other nation, the Philippines face global competition. For the good of the Philippines, a larger portion of the very best young people must go into engineering. When you study in a technical university like the CLSU to solve complex problems, to apply systems engineering and to think synthetically, it becomes a huge asset for the 88 million Filipinos. Only when the Filipino elite and the establishment help these technicians to create, run and maintain new infrastructure projects and industries, will the Philippines be competitive and find a rewarding place in the court of nations.

To catch up with the developed countries, Filipinos must have the confidence and be encouraged to do the things others do, and do them better. A Filipino sailor sailed solo around the world, establishing a world record.

Filipinos have climbed Mt. Everest, parachuted over the North Pole, and swum the English Channel.

Considering that the Philippines is in the tropics, these are feats that one should be proud of. They should convince Filipinos that they are as capable as anybody else.

Now allow me some time to talk about how I grew up to become an entrepreneur. In my student days, an entrepreneur to me was someone who took risks to set up a business. Because of my humble background, however, I saw myself less likely becoming an entrepreneur. But with the passage of time, I emerged taking not only business risks but also competing and succeeding.

I started my business career with just US$ 700 after having worked for more than a decade — 13.5 years to be precise — for His Majesty’s Government of Nepal and the United States Government. After working two years as a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, His Majesty Government of Nepal. I spent 6.5 years as a Malarialogist at the United States Agency for International Development. I then spent nearly five years as assistant editor-cum-reporter in the economic field at the Asian Research Society in Washington DC.

I began my enterprise on my own, using my own skills, experience, expertise and exposure. Frankly speaking, I am a self-made entrepreneur. I raised my own funds to start my venture. I converted ideas into viable opportunities through:

1. Achievement; 2. Action; 3. Commitment; 4. Energy; 5. Goal selling; 6. Growth orientation; 7. Honesty; 8. Innovation; 9. Of course, intelligence; 10. Leadership; II. Risk tolerance and 12. Self-confidence

Economic development largely depends upon entrepreneurial and industrial development. Entrepreneurs are the prime movers of innovation. And I as an entrepreneur play a significant role in the economic development of my country.

Indeed, an entrepreneur is a person who perceives a business opportunity and converts it into a viable business plan, which culminates in a business venture. I, therefore, have not only launched ventures but also contributed to employment generation, output growth, technological up gradation, improvement in the quality of production, export promotion, import substitution and supply of goods at a reasonable price to the customer. Therefore, entrepreneurship is essential for infusing an entrepreneurial culture in the society.

I as an entrepreneur do try to motivate the youth to change their attitude and go for self-employment, hoping this will lead to the creation of wealth through the creation of more enterprises. This is one of the subjects which is lacking in the Central Luzon State University-CLSU.

I am today “called to service” as a diplomat representing the Philippines and Filipinos in Nepal. I am a person who is not afraid to speak his mind out and have always called a spade a spade. I have always been against conventional thinking, and I import wisdom from those who believe that God will not change one’s fate unless we ourselves make the effort to do so.

I am a diplomat noted as much for my independence as for my integrity. I have always been inspired by the principles of democracy, and hold the political system accountable for making a government that is truly by the people, of the people and for the people.

Our task is not only to guarantee material progress and a better life to our people. We must pass on to our children that unique sense of optimism and that God-given belief in the universal appeal of our ideas that have always marked national character.

My parents taught me to become patriotic and to serve others. I have tried to muster the right combination of the toughness to govern and the compassion to care along with a deep commitment to justice and progressive values. But experience tells me that a diplomat succeeds only to the extent that he is able to communicate his values.

We should acknowledge that the most important responsibility of a diplomat is to develop the relation existing between our two countries, the Philippines and Nepal

Thus, corroborating to strengthen the bond of friendship between the people of the two countries, I want to give them room to grow and inspire them to realize their full potential. This has long been my philosophy at the consulate desk.

I must take care of meeting the challenges of protecting the interests of both the Philippines and Nepal and promoting their values and interests by expanding trade for the economic growth of both the countries. Let us live with the spirit of trust and love.

Finally, allow me to end this speech with a quote from my favorite US president, John F. Kennedy. “With a good conscience, our only sure reward, with history, the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His health but knowing that here on earth God’s work most truly be our own.

Views expressed by the author at the 16th Mid-Year Commencement Exercise of Central Luzon State University, the Phillipines on 24th November, 2006. Text courtesy: The VOITH, Nepal-ed.

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