BOT - Build, operate and transfer. Can whole countries be (re)built using this system?

Can BOT be used to (re) build nations? 

Sometimes the most simple solutions are the most bizarre. Even impossible. However, a solution is a solution after all and we thought up one here. If nothing else, this makes for a good point to make in the midst of a relevant party conversation where no one really listens to anyone.

BOT: Build- Operate- Transfer

BOT, standing for Build- Operate- Transfer is a system where the owner of an asset (could be a government body, a private entity or otherwise) allows another external entity to build something on the land asset, operate it for a while to recover the building costs plus profits for the investment and execution and then, transfer the entire finished product the way it is, to the original owner.

The Great Indian BOT Model - #1?

If you know your recent history, you will remember your pretty history teacher telling you that the British people lived in India for 200 years. During those two centuries of the British Rule, they essentially build a huge network of infrastructure, real estate and a system that has brought us this far. There are no two ways about that. They established massive business and trade networks in and from India and practically operated the country, reaping mega returns for themselves and their country, England. In 1947, due to various reasons (we are not going into any right, wrong or things in between, this is just a simple look at what happened, so please look at it exactly the same way), the British guys handed us back our country, setting us free!



So what really happened was a sort of BOT. They built India the way that suited them best, and somehow, it continues to suit us to this date in many ways and places. They operated the country and her economy to sustain two centuries of operations and made their profits. After that time period, they transferred the nation back into our hands. We don't think that associating that with the BOT model is way off the mark.

Changing Trends- Hey its not the government anymore

Fifty years ago, could you even dream of paying a private organisation a toll fee for using an expressway or a bridge? "WTF?", your grandpa would have exclaimed. "Those things belong to the country son. Not some business enterprise". Agreed. But what seemed like sacrilege then is happening today. Everywhere you see, from national highways to large bridges, critical road links, transportation system and real estate of all kinds, build- operate and transfer seems to be the preferred mantra. Your grandpa can still sleep well at night, knowing that the ownership of such assets remain with the country and no one is laying a claim on that bit.

Across sectors, BOTs seem to be working wonders. External expertise, consultancy, capabilities, execution power, experience and funds seem to be doing for our nation, what we could never have achieved by ourselves. What also needs to be noted here is that had we been conservative and closed to such global trends, we would slowly be trudging back to the stone age when measured up globally. Yes, there are a gazillion reasons for what makes India work but BOTs are a very significant chunk of those good reasons.

Thus, BOTs are good!

BOT for the country - Let us plug the gaps and progress

If we take our own example, as India we have a lot going in our favour. We have great manpower, good attitude, amazing hospitality, massive global back offices, technology and an almost never ending consumption. What we lack as a country are qualities like good governance, self discipline, internal security, processes, monitoring and evaluation systems to name a few.

Now what if we float a global tender, inviting interested nations to take over us as a country, operate us for a while, revamping our negatives in the process, take back their profits in this agreed time period of operations and then transfer the country back to its people and the great new system that has evolved during the period in which the BOT has been into effect.

If we do not like one particular country, we could also have the "consortium of nations" phrase incorporated into the RFP document. The way things are these days economically, everyone is really running someone else anyway!

We think that this could work. As a nation, we have happily accepted it for roads, infrastructure and all other things that we associated with national public ownership and operation. Stretch yourself a little more dear Indian and this may not seem as crazy as it did a while ago. It would become way easier for you to accept this if you read the newspaper each morning and wondered where we are headed in a decade's time as a nation. Yes? No?

You have thoughts and you would want to share them with the readers here? Use the comments box below. We are all, listening. :)

Cheers!