Negotiating with Tata

Professor Wahiduddin Mahmud's report has brought much needed relief to our beleaguered team. However, it has come very late in the day (due to no fault of Professor Mahmud's, I am sure), and while extremely valuable, it is not enough. Indeed, a full and comprehensive assessment of all aspects of the Tata proposal is not something that can be done overnight by one individual, no matter how talented he may be. Such an exercise is a major undertaking in which Professor Mahmud's report could be regarded as the opening salvo, delineating various possible directions that a comprehensive assessment could take. For example, it is important to be able to estimate direct and indirect effects, calculate the economic rates of return, assess the viability of each component, and identify social and environmental costs in addition to economic ones. I guess such an exercise is not cheap. But then, you are talking about a multi-billion dollar deal wouldn't you say that the money would be well spent?

Our history of negotiations with foreign investors has been less than glorious. Please show us that we can do things better even if it means some additional delay. It is really important that we get it right this time, Mr. Rahman.