Driving to an appointment recently I stumbled on a wonderful little programme on Radio 4 called A History of the World in 100 Objects . Last week it focused daily on five objects which gave an insight into the Silk Road. I’m now hooked on the series and always catch up with episodes on the BBC’s listen again service.
The Silk Road has for 3,000 years connected China with Europe. Initially overland through “The Stans” (Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan and several other nations), and for 1,400 years or so by sea through large areas of South East Asia. In the early days nobody would have called it the Silk Road, we have the 19th century German geographer, Ferdinand von Richthofen, to thank for the name. It did, in many ways, define the early beginnings of international trade. When I lived in South East Asia I was fortunate enough to be able to collect some Chinese porcelain (merchant quality not imperial quality I hasten to add) that would have found its way there via the Silk Road. That movement of goods continues to today.
If ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) was a single country it would be the world’s 10th biggest economy and the 3rd most populous. Growth in emerging Asia since quarter 2 of 2009 has averaged 11% and prospects remain strong. Reflecting the ancient connections between states, 26% of ASEAN trade is intra-regional and this highlights the growing strength of the economies and an emergence of a burgeoning middle class with money to spend. The UK exports almost 50% more to ASEAN than it does to China and, with historically good cultural links in the region, it offers terrific opportunities for businesses to grow their international trade.
I’m sorry to bang on about it, but the Doing Business in Asia events in London and Manchester on 8th and 9th July respectively will bring together a Who’s Who of experts on Asia and, as we look to grow our businesses, nobody can afford to ignore the opportunities that Asia represents. Attending this event is sure to give any business a fantastic head start.