Voice of the Diaspora
Samrat Basu
Current Role: Country Manager, Bajaj (Since Sep 22)
Location: Mexico City (3.5 years)
Education: MBA, NMIMS, India
Past Experience: Tata Motors, India
Location: Mexico City (3.5 years)
Education: MBA, NMIMS, India
Past Experience: Tata Motors, India
Q1: What motivated you to choose LATAM specifically? Did you also consider other regions such as Europe or the United States?
When a project opportunity opened in Mexico within my company Bajaj, I jumped at it. The motorcycle and three-wheeler market was booming here and across Latin America, so expansion made perfect sense. It wasn't really a choice between regions—this was where the opportunity was, and I was excited to be part of that growth story.
Q2: What were your initial impressions of your country in LATAM? What surprised, shocked, or delighted you the most?
Everything felt different at first—the culture, people, and food. Adjusting took time, especially without many friends initially. Being a non-vegetarian helped with the food transition! What really made the difference was how friendly people were. My company's support made settling in much smoother than I'd expected.
Q3: Which professional associations/ industry networks are you a member of? Are there any local initiatives, social impact projects, or volunteer activities you are involved in or interested in supporting?
Everything felt different at first—the culture, people, and food. Adjusting took time, especially without many friends initially. Being a non-vegetarian helped with the food transition! What really made the difference was how friendly people were. My company's support made settling in much smoother than I'd expected.
Q3: Which professional associations/ industry networks are you a member of? Are there any local initiatives, social impact projects, or volunteer activities you are involved in or interested in supporting?
I'm not currently part of any professional associations, but I'm genuinely interested in getting involved in social impact work. Activities like mentoring young professionals in business development really appeal to me. I'd love to contribute where cross-cultural exchange meets community impact.
Q4: Which local events or cultural celebrations have you taken part in (such as festivals or national holidays)?
I regularly attend events of my state (West Bengal) at the Embassy or religious events at ISKCON temple in CDMX, plus Holi and Diwali celebrations organized by the Indian community. On the Mexican side, Día de Muertos has become my favorite—the celebration of life and memory is beautiful and deeply meaningful.
Q5: What are your professional plans after graduation or in a few years? Do you want to work in India–LATAM relations?
I plan to stay with my company for the next few years, continuing work that directly strengthens India-LATAM relations. I've already helped Bajaj expand their presence across Mexico, Colombia, Central America, and Peru through partnerships and market development. Building these cross-regional business bridges is exactly where I want to grow.