In 1991, India’s closed economy opened up and attracted investments from several multinational co... more In 1991, India’s closed economy opened up and attracted investments from several multinational companies (MNCs) around the world. As a result, people began to seek information about doing business in India, giving rise to a plethora of literature aimed at assisting them. Generally there are two prominent views of India. One is that India is a poor, under-developed country, lacking infrastructure and rife with religious superstitions, corruption and violence. The other is that India has an under-rated affluent and intellectual class, an advanced Information Technology (IT) sector and a rich culture. Neither view is entirely accurate. For those planning to do business in India, it is important that they are well informed of the real, complex situation in order to make calculated investments. Knowledge about doing business in India has to be constantly revised, updated and eradicated of biased or stereotypical views. A symptom of the maturity of this knowledge is recognition that the I...
Indian communities in Singapore, especially of non-Tamil sub-ethnicity, have received renewed imp... more Indian communities in Singapore, especially of non-Tamil sub-ethnicity, have received renewed impetus to replenish their cultural ties with India as a homeland with the advent of Hindi Cable channels such as Zee TV, Sony Entertainment, and Star Plus. The availability of cable networks in the early 1990s and the proliferation of Hindi media channels have led to a renaissance of Hindi culture, fashion, cuisine, custom, and ritual among the Indian communities in Singapore. Timed against the background of India Rising, this has also fueled the impetus for Hindi speaking communities in Singapore to travel back to India to witness locations that have been included in the shooting of soaps, shop for specific fashion items introduced via the cable, participate in pilgrimage locations, and donate towards political and social causes that affect India. The Hindi cable channels have created new diasporic spheres that facilitate a sense of belonging with the homeland which was previously unimagi...
Through the lens of the now-defunct Singapore government-linked company (GLC) called Internationa... more Through the lens of the now-defunct Singapore government-linked company (GLC) called International Trading Company (INTRACO), this book offers a historical analysis of the country's economic development strategy. Since its Independence in 1965, GLCs like INTRACO were introduced by the former Deputy Prime Minister, the late Dr Goh Keng Swee, a pioneer of Singapore's remarkable transformation from Third World to First, to fulfil strategic economic objectives. As the country's "lifeblood" has been entreport trade, INTRACO was created to "blaze a trail overseas" by facilitating commercial ties behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War. The eventual divestment of INTRACO highlights the same way in which the Singaporean state is acutely responsive to changing global economic and geopolitical trends. This book is useful to academics, students, and the interested lay reader for its insights into the role of the state in economic development in post-colonial countries.
... Cheok A 1986, „UIC launches $127 million takeover bid Intraco‟, Business Times, 31 May. ... F... more ... Cheok A 1986, „UIC launches $127 million takeover bid Intraco‟, Business Times, 31 May. ... Foo CP 1986, „The last of Intraco's pioneering managers tenders his resignation‟, Business Times ... KY 2002, „An Entrepreneurial Culture for Singapore‟, The Ho Rih Hwa Leadership In ...
Business process outsourcing (BPO) has become a key component of any global business model. One o... more Business process outsourcing (BPO) has become a key component of any global business model. One of the main BPO hubs in the world is India with its large pool of relatively-skilled human capital and lower wages. However, the BPO industry in India is maturing and facing constraints and challenges to further expansion. Some of these constraints include lack of employable talent, social norms, increasing operational cost and breaches of security in handling clients’ confidential data. This paper aims to examine Indian BPO companies’ aim to mitigate and resolve these constraints to growth. Some of the possible solutions to tightening labour market and increasing operational costs included recruitment and relocating BPO companies to tier two and three cities.
Singapore provides a useful model of how the flow of transnationals and their economic, political... more Singapore provides a useful model of how the flow of transnationals and their economic, political and social impacts are managed. Singapore is one of the world’s most open economies but its low total fertility rate (TFR) has threatened its economic growth and survival. As a result, the government has been recruiting foreign human capital in order to expand its working population and economic growth. The imperative was business to leverage on global growth in 2005 but the city-state was not adequately prepared for the huge influx of foreigners or non-resident workers. The number of non-resident workers increased by 100 per cent to more than 1.3 million in about five to six years from 2005. Some of the unintended ‘spillover’ effects have been rising inflation, increasing competition for jobs, escalating property prices and overcrowding on public transport. Societal tensions have emerged around the concept of ‘us’ and the ‘other’ in Singapore. The paper discusses how the state and companies have implemented programmes to reduce the ‘gaps’ between local and foreign human capital in Singapore. Some of these have included orientation programmes, activities with voluntary welfare organisations and other interactions under the overall integration policy the state has implemented.
The biblical tale of David and Goliath comes to mind when one considers the relationship between ... more The biblical tale of David and Goliath comes to mind when one considers the relationship between Singapore and India in terms of size. Singapore, a small island-state at the tip of the Malaysian peninsula with a population of a mere 3 million, stands in stark contrast to India, with at ...
The socioeconomic impact of tourism in the Maldives is discussed. Based on extensive interviews w... more The socioeconomic impact of tourism in the Maldives is discussed. Based on extensive interviews with over 30 residents and the latest statistics, this impact is analysed in terms of gross domestic product, tourist arrivals, air linkages, resort development, cultural effects, and ...
Contents: Introduction: state, society and information technology in Asia: alterity between onlin... more Contents: Introduction: state, society and information technology in Asia: alterity between online and offline politics, Alan Chong and Faizal Bin Yahya. Part I Social Politics of IT: National contexts and the negotiation of Islamic internet identity by Southeast Asian undergraduate students, Nasya Bahfen Migrants, mobiles and money: alterity and the confluence of three transnational flows, Fernando Paragas Blogging Singapore: control and excess between offline and online worlds, Kwoh-Jack Tan Grassroots democratic movements' dependency on new media in contemporary Malaysia: prospects and limitations, Pui Yee Choong. Part II Governmental Steering and Policy Alterity: Hacking, nationalism, democracy and cyberwarfare in the People's Republic of China: a centre/margin perspective, Kay Hearn 'Global city foreign policy': the propaganda of enlargement and integration of an IT-connected Asian city, Alan Chong Biting back against civil society: IT, media and communication regulations in South Korea, Byoung Won Min Growth and government: the rise of information technology enabled services' centres in India and the Philippines, Joefe B. Santarita The political economy of data security in the BPO industry in India, Faizal Bin Yahya Conclusion: alterity in the landscape of Asian IT politics, Alan Chong and Faizal Yahya. Index.
In 1991, India’s closed economy opened up and attracted investments from several multinational co... more In 1991, India’s closed economy opened up and attracted investments from several multinational companies (MNCs) around the world. As a result, people began to seek information about doing business in India, giving rise to a plethora of literature aimed at assisting them. Generally there are two prominent views of India. One is that India is a poor, under-developed country, lacking infrastructure and rife with religious superstitions, corruption and violence. The other is that India has an under-rated affluent and intellectual class, an advanced Information Technology (IT) sector and a rich culture. Neither view is entirely accurate. For those planning to do business in India, it is important that they are well informed of the real, complex situation in order to make calculated investments. Knowledge about doing business in India has to be constantly revised, updated and eradicated of biased or stereotypical views. A symptom of the maturity of this knowledge is recognition that the I...
This paper examines the deliberate state effort to develop specialised clusters and innovation sy... more This paper examines the deliberate state effort to develop specialised clusters and innovation systems, and identify the challenges and possible solutions in the process of developing and nurturing high-tech industries and companies in Singapore. Findings from the case studies indicate that companies born directly into high-tech industries or whose products and services have a high composition of high-tech elements are more optimistic about business prospects and tend to experience greater pace and scope of growth. They are able to leverage government support more effectively, and better benefit from resource sharing and spillover externalities generated by specialised cluster blocks (e.g. Block 71) and the innovation system present in Singapore. In view of these results, a review on government policy support for SMEs in innovation and development is critical. Companies should focus on identifying their core product strengths and leading business propositions and use them as the bas...
Since the installation of the Narasimha Rao government in June 1991, there has been renewed optim... more Since the installation of the Narasimha Rao government in June 1991, there has been renewed optimism among economists and business leaders that India is gaining ground in developing its economy and attaining economic growth rates comparable to the economically ...
With the rise of the two emerging giant Asian economies China and India, Southeast Asian countri... more With the rise of the two emerging giant Asian economies China and India, Southeast Asian countries face a number of challenges. Riding the wave of export-led industrial growth, the more advanced economies among the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) have ...
In 1991, India’s closed economy opened up and attracted investments from several multinational co... more In 1991, India’s closed economy opened up and attracted investments from several multinational companies (MNCs) around the world. As a result, people began to seek information about doing business in India, giving rise to a plethora of literature aimed at assisting them. Generally there are two prominent views of India. One is that India is a poor, under-developed country, lacking infrastructure and rife with religious superstitions, corruption and violence. The other is that India has an under-rated affluent and intellectual class, an advanced Information Technology (IT) sector and a rich culture. Neither view is entirely accurate. For those planning to do business in India, it is important that they are well informed of the real, complex situation in order to make calculated investments. Knowledge about doing business in India has to be constantly revised, updated and eradicated of biased or stereotypical views. A symptom of the maturity of this knowledge is recognition that the I...
Indian communities in Singapore, especially of non-Tamil sub-ethnicity, have received renewed imp... more Indian communities in Singapore, especially of non-Tamil sub-ethnicity, have received renewed impetus to replenish their cultural ties with India as a homeland with the advent of Hindi Cable channels such as Zee TV, Sony Entertainment, and Star Plus. The availability of cable networks in the early 1990s and the proliferation of Hindi media channels have led to a renaissance of Hindi culture, fashion, cuisine, custom, and ritual among the Indian communities in Singapore. Timed against the background of India Rising, this has also fueled the impetus for Hindi speaking communities in Singapore to travel back to India to witness locations that have been included in the shooting of soaps, shop for specific fashion items introduced via the cable, participate in pilgrimage locations, and donate towards political and social causes that affect India. The Hindi cable channels have created new diasporic spheres that facilitate a sense of belonging with the homeland which was previously unimagi...
Through the lens of the now-defunct Singapore government-linked company (GLC) called Internationa... more Through the lens of the now-defunct Singapore government-linked company (GLC) called International Trading Company (INTRACO), this book offers a historical analysis of the country's economic development strategy. Since its Independence in 1965, GLCs like INTRACO were introduced by the former Deputy Prime Minister, the late Dr Goh Keng Swee, a pioneer of Singapore's remarkable transformation from Third World to First, to fulfil strategic economic objectives. As the country's "lifeblood" has been entreport trade, INTRACO was created to "blaze a trail overseas" by facilitating commercial ties behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War. The eventual divestment of INTRACO highlights the same way in which the Singaporean state is acutely responsive to changing global economic and geopolitical trends. This book is useful to academics, students, and the interested lay reader for its insights into the role of the state in economic development in post-colonial countries.
... Cheok A 1986, „UIC launches $127 million takeover bid Intraco‟, Business Times, 31 May. ... F... more ... Cheok A 1986, „UIC launches $127 million takeover bid Intraco‟, Business Times, 31 May. ... Foo CP 1986, „The last of Intraco's pioneering managers tenders his resignation‟, Business Times ... KY 2002, „An Entrepreneurial Culture for Singapore‟, The Ho Rih Hwa Leadership In ...
Business process outsourcing (BPO) has become a key component of any global business model. One o... more Business process outsourcing (BPO) has become a key component of any global business model. One of the main BPO hubs in the world is India with its large pool of relatively-skilled human capital and lower wages. However, the BPO industry in India is maturing and facing constraints and challenges to further expansion. Some of these constraints include lack of employable talent, social norms, increasing operational cost and breaches of security in handling clients’ confidential data. This paper aims to examine Indian BPO companies’ aim to mitigate and resolve these constraints to growth. Some of the possible solutions to tightening labour market and increasing operational costs included recruitment and relocating BPO companies to tier two and three cities.
Singapore provides a useful model of how the flow of transnationals and their economic, political... more Singapore provides a useful model of how the flow of transnationals and their economic, political and social impacts are managed. Singapore is one of the world’s most open economies but its low total fertility rate (TFR) has threatened its economic growth and survival. As a result, the government has been recruiting foreign human capital in order to expand its working population and economic growth. The imperative was business to leverage on global growth in 2005 but the city-state was not adequately prepared for the huge influx of foreigners or non-resident workers. The number of non-resident workers increased by 100 per cent to more than 1.3 million in about five to six years from 2005. Some of the unintended ‘spillover’ effects have been rising inflation, increasing competition for jobs, escalating property prices and overcrowding on public transport. Societal tensions have emerged around the concept of ‘us’ and the ‘other’ in Singapore. The paper discusses how the state and companies have implemented programmes to reduce the ‘gaps’ between local and foreign human capital in Singapore. Some of these have included orientation programmes, activities with voluntary welfare organisations and other interactions under the overall integration policy the state has implemented.
The biblical tale of David and Goliath comes to mind when one considers the relationship between ... more The biblical tale of David and Goliath comes to mind when one considers the relationship between Singapore and India in terms of size. Singapore, a small island-state at the tip of the Malaysian peninsula with a population of a mere 3 million, stands in stark contrast to India, with at ...
The socioeconomic impact of tourism in the Maldives is discussed. Based on extensive interviews w... more The socioeconomic impact of tourism in the Maldives is discussed. Based on extensive interviews with over 30 residents and the latest statistics, this impact is analysed in terms of gross domestic product, tourist arrivals, air linkages, resort development, cultural effects, and ...
Contents: Introduction: state, society and information technology in Asia: alterity between onlin... more Contents: Introduction: state, society and information technology in Asia: alterity between online and offline politics, Alan Chong and Faizal Bin Yahya. Part I Social Politics of IT: National contexts and the negotiation of Islamic internet identity by Southeast Asian undergraduate students, Nasya Bahfen Migrants, mobiles and money: alterity and the confluence of three transnational flows, Fernando Paragas Blogging Singapore: control and excess between offline and online worlds, Kwoh-Jack Tan Grassroots democratic movements' dependency on new media in contemporary Malaysia: prospects and limitations, Pui Yee Choong. Part II Governmental Steering and Policy Alterity: Hacking, nationalism, democracy and cyberwarfare in the People's Republic of China: a centre/margin perspective, Kay Hearn 'Global city foreign policy': the propaganda of enlargement and integration of an IT-connected Asian city, Alan Chong Biting back against civil society: IT, media and communication regulations in South Korea, Byoung Won Min Growth and government: the rise of information technology enabled services' centres in India and the Philippines, Joefe B. Santarita The political economy of data security in the BPO industry in India, Faizal Bin Yahya Conclusion: alterity in the landscape of Asian IT politics, Alan Chong and Faizal Yahya. Index.
In 1991, India’s closed economy opened up and attracted investments from several multinational co... more In 1991, India’s closed economy opened up and attracted investments from several multinational companies (MNCs) around the world. As a result, people began to seek information about doing business in India, giving rise to a plethora of literature aimed at assisting them. Generally there are two prominent views of India. One is that India is a poor, under-developed country, lacking infrastructure and rife with religious superstitions, corruption and violence. The other is that India has an under-rated affluent and intellectual class, an advanced Information Technology (IT) sector and a rich culture. Neither view is entirely accurate. For those planning to do business in India, it is important that they are well informed of the real, complex situation in order to make calculated investments. Knowledge about doing business in India has to be constantly revised, updated and eradicated of biased or stereotypical views. A symptom of the maturity of this knowledge is recognition that the I...
This paper examines the deliberate state effort to develop specialised clusters and innovation sy... more This paper examines the deliberate state effort to develop specialised clusters and innovation systems, and identify the challenges and possible solutions in the process of developing and nurturing high-tech industries and companies in Singapore. Findings from the case studies indicate that companies born directly into high-tech industries or whose products and services have a high composition of high-tech elements are more optimistic about business prospects and tend to experience greater pace and scope of growth. They are able to leverage government support more effectively, and better benefit from resource sharing and spillover externalities generated by specialised cluster blocks (e.g. Block 71) and the innovation system present in Singapore. In view of these results, a review on government policy support for SMEs in innovation and development is critical. Companies should focus on identifying their core product strengths and leading business propositions and use them as the bas...
Since the installation of the Narasimha Rao government in June 1991, there has been renewed optim... more Since the installation of the Narasimha Rao government in June 1991, there has been renewed optimism among economists and business leaders that India is gaining ground in developing its economy and attaining economic growth rates comparable to the economically ...
With the rise of the two emerging giant Asian economies China and India, Southeast Asian countri... more With the rise of the two emerging giant Asian economies China and India, Southeast Asian countries face a number of challenges. Riding the wave of export-led industrial growth, the more advanced economies among the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) have ...
Commentary on the Committee of the Future Economy Report and its impact on small and medium enter... more Commentary on the Committee of the Future Economy Report and its impact on small and medium enterprises
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