PUNEET KUMAR

?I came here to help in the launching of the first-ever mill to produce rice in Mauritius. I suppose I have succeeded. But this would not been impossible if those I trained were not good and fast learners. I am impressed! I have to go back to India because of family circumstances. But I would love to come back!? With these words, Puneet summarises his first feelings before leaving what he describes as a ?great country?. In his eyes, sadness can be seen.

But on the other hand, with his strong character, he is not scared of future challenges. As far as his strengths are concerned, he has a very positive attitude towards life and, every where he has worked, he has always ?tried to deliver the best?. For him, punctuality plays a key role in success. But, regarding his own personality, he sees himself as a flexible person adapting to circumstances. ?I can be loveable just as I can be strict at times. It just depends on the situation or circumstances.

One of the jobs of a manager is to create a good working environment for his staff. If the staff is not satisfied with its environment, it can cause trouble for your business. You are nothing without your staff.? Puneet was born on 25th September 1965, in Ludhiana, an area found in Punjab. After completing his secondary school education, he went to Punjab Agricultural University for a four-year course and graduated in 1987. He got married in 1994 to Sarita and they have two kids: Pritish and Prachi.

Ever since his first job, Puneet has been involved in rice-milling. Over the years, he has acquired experience and expertise as he has worked at several levels of this industry. In fact, he started his professional career as a process engineer in a factory in Punjab. Six years later, he moved to Delhi where he worked for another company. His real challenge was in 2004 when he landed on Mauritian soil.

?At the beginning it was a bit hard for me to settle down. But, with time, I realized that Mauritius is like a small part of India. There are so many similarities, especially culturally. However, I have to admit that, without Mauritian hospitality and friendliness, it would have been harder for me to settle down. After some time, Mauritius became like home for me.?

Although Puneet is a hard worker, that does not prevent him from having other ways to spend his time. Indeed, cricket and classical music are his passions. Moreover, he likes going on mountains and every thing related to nature. During his time in Mauritius, he got the chance to learn a lot from Mauritian people like being cooperative and helpful. But one thing he admits he never managed to learn was to speak French or Creole. ?I did try to learn French and Creole, but in vain. I managed to learn only a few words but I could never finish my sentences properly. So I will have to stick to the languages I have always known - Hindi, English and Punjabi.