I’m very happy that I’m back online and able to blog again after an enforced absence due to Purdah (which prevents public bodies like UKTI from issuing information during the election period) and then a vacation (unenforced, but not if you ask my wife) in Italy.
The nineteenth century was arguably Britain’s century, the twentieth century America’s, but you will find few people who would disagree that the twenty first century will be Asia’s. Some statistics, but I hope not too dry:
Asia accounts for 60% of world population. India and China alone account for 40%.
Asia accounts for 35% of world GDP but accounts for more than 50% of its growth.
Firms need to look at how they’re going to position themselves in relation to this huge and growing market. It will be imperative to have a proper Asia strategy and in order to help you get to that I’d like to draw attention to a fantastic opportunity happening in Manchester on 9 July. It’s a unique gathering of British Ambassadors and High Commissioners to the ten Asian countries of China, India, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore and Hong Kong. They will be at the Hilton Hotel in Manchester holding clinics for firms with an interest in building their Asian business. They will be bringing the most up to date market intelligence available and these clinics should prove invaluable.
In addition to this, RBS is sponsoring the event and will be flying six of its top directors back from India, China, Singapore and Malaysia. They’ll be able to give really focused practical help on financial issues affecting business in Asia. There will also be a special workshop on intellectual property rights protection.
All in all it’s an event not to be missed and I would urge any business with an interest in growth, especially in a region of the world that offers so much potential both in the short and medium term, to sign up and hear what’s going on. To do this, visit the website http://www.businessinasia.co.uk/.
Asia is the part of the world where I cut my teeth in a business sense and I lived and worked there for a decade. It was exciting and rewarding and I constantly look forward to going back. If you get involved in business in Asia, I know you’ll feel the same way.
It’s great to be back blogging and I promise I’ll not leave it so long again.
5 comments
Comment by John James posted on
Dear Clive,
What useful impact information. As Executive Secretary of Newham Chamber of Commerce Ltd, I have distributed your blog to some 700 businesses in East London. Some, I know, will be very interested in the Manchester event.
John
Comment by John James posted on
Dear Clive,
What useful impact information. As Executive Secretary of Newham Chamber of Commerce Ltd, I have distributed your blog to some 700 businesses in East London. Some, I know, will be very interested in the Manchester event.
John
Comment by John James posted on
Dear Clive,
What useful impact information. As Executive Secretary of Newham Chamber of Commerce Ltd, I have distributed your blog to some 700 businesses in East London. Some, I know, will be very interested in the Manchester event.
John
Comment by Amit posted on
Rightly said in the blog that 21st century belong to Asia.China and India are becoming the powerhouse of the world and testimony to that was their growth rate during the time when US and EU plunged into deep recession.
I think UK needs to engage itself more with India and China.India UK trade & Investment needs to be upscaled.Indo UK trade(goods & service)stands at 12 Billion GBP with UK running into trade deficit with India.I found a good analysis on this topic on the portal http://www.ticorridors.com/IndiaUK/Pages/Article.aspx?postid=1.
Comment by Amit posted on
Rightly said in the blog that 21st century belong to Asia.China and India are becoming the powerhouse of the world and testimony to that was their growth rate during the time when US and EU plunged into deep recession.
I think UK needs to engage itself more with India and China.India UK trade & Investment needs to be upscaled.Indo UK trade(goods & service)stands at 12 Billion GBP with UK running into trade deficit with India.I found a good analysis on this topic on the portal http://www.ticorridors.com/IndiaUK/Pages/Article.aspx?postid=1.