Strengthening global ties: NZ-India IT initiative gains international attention
Since launching the New Zealand Centre for Digital Connections with India, Sunit Prakash and Lalita Kasanji have continued to make a strong impact, both in New Zealand and overseas.
They were recently awarded the Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for their services to the IT industry and the Indian community. Their recognition attracted attention across the Tasman. Australia Today shared the story and linked back to the original interview.
The story also gained attention in India. It was covered by major English-language newspapers, including the Times of India, the New Indian Express, the Economic Times, and the United News of India (UNI).
Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, the business school in India where Sunit completed his Master of Business Administration (MBA), proudly shared the news on its social media channels.
“The alumni themselves are connected on WhatsApp and the news was received by 20,000 members. I only realised it’s reach when I started receiving congratulatory messages from Singapore and the Silicon Valley! While 20K is not a large number in India, the group is an extreme micro market segment – very affluent, comprising High Net-worth Individuals (HNIs) and Ultra HNIs, which, without personal connections – those charged with expanding New Zealand into new markets cannot even dream of penetrating,” said Sunit.
The story was also featured by the Commonwealth Union, which has around 12 million active readers. It was further picked up by national television in India via the government-owned channel Doordarshan (similar to TVNZ), which reaches an estimated 660 million viewers and has over 915,000 subscribers on YouTube.
“When parents in India start sending links of the coverage to their children here in New Zealand – you know you have achieved visibility and notoriety! We are seen to be Indian role models, leaders and success stories overseas, so we must be doing something right!” said Lalita.
Sunit and Lalita share that every individual and member of the Kiwi Ethnic Communities has the potential to be a marketing ambassador for New Zealand. They believe that if government departments worked together and engaged with Ethnic Communities in a joined-up way, it could be a very powerful initiative.
This is an example of how the achievements of Kiwis with ethnic heritage are celebrated not only here, but also in their countries of origin. Their success stories showcase New Zealand’s talent, diversity, and innovation to the world, enhancing our reputation and strengthening our international proposition. It generates positive media coverage and goodwill in key global markets, often organically, without the need for additional spending or effort.
“If you think of the New Zealand Centre for Digital Connections with India as a social enterprise, then the Honours is yet another point of market validation,” said Sunit.
Sunit and Lalita commit to paying back to the community by sharing what they’ve learned by helping forward-thinking organisations grow.
Where it all began
Sunit Prakash and Lalita Kasanji are a couple on a mission: to build connections between New Zealand and India’s IT sectors, to support new migrants and help boost the New Zealand economy.
Sunit is an IT consultant with more than 30 years’ experience in the sector, while Lalita has a background in sociology and played a key role in establishing the Ethnic Affairs Office in the early 1990s. The office had several names before it was established as the Ministry for Ethnic Communities in 2021.
Sunit Prakash and Lalita Kasanji
Frustrated by a lack of support for new immigrants and noticing numerous opportunities to boost connections between the two countries, Sunit and Lalita decided to do something to help. In 2023 they officially launched the New Zealand Centre for Digital Connections with India.
The centre assists businesses to navigate the challenges of cross-cultural communication and collaboration. It aims to influence Government policy, support cross-country trade and offer guidance and mentoring.
The centre has recommended to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon that he takes a digital and IT trade delegation with him on his first visit to India. It has also provided opportunities to showcase ethnic talent, including a session with Shashank Handa, Enterprise Architect at the Civil Aviation Authority, who shared insights on his professional journey.
Sunit and Lalita estimate Indian IT professionals contribute $350 million to the New Zealand economy each year, and say there are opportunities to expand that. A closer relationship between the countries’ digital and IT sectors is crucial in achieving success, as seen in Australia, they say.
Indian IT professionals bring skills, experience and fresh perspectives to their work – this is an advantage to the industry, they say. But they are often faced with so many barriers.
They say there are many challenges to people succeeding, including qualifications not always being recognised, a lack of pastoral care, racism and limited opportunities to step into senior leadership roles.
“The one thing people come up against all the time is ‘no Kiwi experience’,” says Sunit.
“They make for a real model migrant community…we attract skills, but often we’re not able to retain them.
“We see a need for this. We see people who are talented and who can contribute so much.”
Shashank Handa presenting
Sunit and Lalita interviewed several senior Indian IT professionals who have worked in Aotearoa. Through their research they realised support was a “predicator to success”. Many of the professionals came to New Zealand on work visas. They had jobs lined up, sometimes a house as well and were usually offered some level of pastoral care.
Now nearing retirement, many of them are giving back to their communities. Sunit is no different. Over the years, he has offered mentoring and guidance to new migrants. He helps them write their CVs, apply for jobs and supports them to navigate the New Zealand system.
“These are people who want to make New Zealand their home,” Lalita says.
“It’s just assumed they will get a job and leave. Of course, they will leave if they are not taken care of.”
They recommend a “landing pad” be established to support new migrants by way of providing information, knowledge, insights, guidance and networks. It would be guided by an advisory panel of IT professionals with connections to India and an understanding of overseas qualifications and work experience.
The couple, who have had a long relationship with the Ministry and former office, put their heart into this work.
“It’s my joy,” Sunit says.
For more information, check out the New Zealand Centre for Digital Connections with India website.