Trust them and you will get it back, Salem Khaled AlJumaian opened his mind when talking about Indians. "From my childhood days, I am dealing with Indian people here in Kuwait and I never faced any trouble with them," Mr Salem AlJumaian, son of former Minister and well-known Kuwaiti Mr Khaled AlJumaian, said in an exclusive chat with IndiansinKuwait.com
Salem AlJumaian, is the chairman of Salem Khalid Al Jumaian and Partners Group Companies. He is the son of former minister for Social Affairs and Labor and the former member of Kuwait National Assembly. After his studies in the U.S.A, he started his first company in 2004 which was a real step forward in his business ventures. Over these years, Mr. Salem has led the group companies from the front, to accelerate the growth of the business. Currently he own around 20 companies, including United Logistics Company (ULC) and Boubyan Industry for gases where large number of Indians are working under him.
I started dealing with Indians at a very young age. My father opened one of the first Indian Restaurant in Kuwait "Mughal Mahal", which is now the brand name for Indian food in Kuwait, Salem AlJumaian said. He has over 20 companies and all are partnered with Indians. "We all are one family, even my wife and kids have many Indians as their friends," Salem AlJumaian said.
The point my father taught me was to never cheat anyone. If you cheat anyone in your life, a day will come when you also will get cheated by someone else. This is the universal truth I believe. Your work is your family. You are spending almost one-third of your day at your work. So it is very important to choose the right people to work with. This is what I learned from my years of experience in doing business with Indian people.
I entered the business at a very young age when I was just 23 years old and I was scared of giving signed cheques to others. But my Indian partners never cheated me and to this date, I have never had any fight or dispute with my Indian partners. "Give them, what you want from them," This is the mantra. Respect them and they will respect you back. Trust them and they will trust you back..Irrespective of which part of India they are... from Mumbai, Kerala, Hyderabad or Delhi, they all are simple, kind and gentle. This is what life taught me all these years, Salem AlJumaian said.
India and Indians are not new to me. Like many other Kuwaitis in the olden days, my great-grandfathers also used to do trading with India. We Kuwaitis and Indians share a lot of commonness. Culture, Food, and many more, Salem AlJumaian said. I have grown up watching Indian movies and listening to Indian songs. 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham', 'Mohabatein', all were part of our childhood days, he remembered. I grow up listening to "Khabi Khabi mere dil main, khayal athaa hai...", AlJumaian recollects his old memories with India.
Salem AlJumaian has visited the southern Indian state of Kerala three times. "It is more beautiful than I expected," he recollects. "Places with a lot of greenery, rivers, hill stations and nice people... these make great memories," he said. "and it is modern too.. with beautiful houses, towns, airport, roads and infrastructure," AlJumaian recollects the memories about his Kerala trip.
The best part of India I like is the Indian food. No doubt I used to enjoy it from my childhood days as my father is the sponsor for the 'Mughal Mahal' restaurant. But even during my Kerala trip also I enjoyed the authentic Kerala style Fish curry, Tapioca in typical village style... all were beyond our imagination. Even now sometimes I order food from local Kerala restaurants here in Kuwait, AlJumaian said.
In my next trip I wish to visit other parts of India like Mumbai, Northeast India and Taj Mahal etc.., Salem AlJumaian said.
"My big respect to Indians for their simplicity. Whether you are rich or poor, Indians always are down to earth and respect each other," Salem AlJumaian said. "The most beautiful memory I have when I visit India was that I saw a mosque, a church and a temple in the same line in one of the streets there. That is the beauty of India, which I liked," he said.
Today India has changed a lot. Wherever on earth you go, you will find Indians in top positions. The last time I went to London, all the top people I met there are Indians. They work hard and achieve those positions.
Salem AlJumaian's company have around 20 companies under him with almost 1000 plus employees, Proudly he says that almost 90% of his staff are Indians.
He used to join with his colleagues in many of the Indian celebrations in his office. "Onam Sadya" the traditional feast served during the famous Kerala festival "Onam" is one of his favourites.
To all my young friends in Kuwait, I wish they should read the histories between India and Kuwait. If you get a chance to do business with Indian partners, it's a very good choice, Salem AlJumaian said.
He also has a message to all the newcomers from India, come and work for the good companies in Kuwait. Check the company properly and work sincerely for a few years. If you get a chance to do business, enter into it with your Kuwaiti friends, Salem Al Jumaian said.