Business in Borderless Asia — the Hurdles, Possibilities and Prospects.
One-day International Seminar
Concept Note
Preamble:
Asia has certain unique features of business, manufacturing and consumption pattern. Right from the ancient period till now endeavours are consistently on towards identifying the factors of unity in Asia. Modern Asia has evolved itself into conflicts of larger scale at various geographical points than fostering forward the factors of cohesion or unity. In the ancient period also during pre-medieval period India was more intensely in connection with Asian Nations and people at large, though the philosophical tenets of Asian unity when made available during Vedic period in India (roughly twenty thousand years prior to Birth of Lord Jesus) and in China, Japan, Korea post Buddhist period.
During the modern period the first formal initiative was taken by great Indian revolutionary and personality symbolic of Indian heritage, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, during the 2 nd World War period the concept of Asiatic integration was launched and promoted by Him and supported by Hideki Tōjō, Prime Minister of the Empire of Japan, Zhang Jinghui, Prime Minister of Manchukuo, Wang Jingwei, President of the Reorganized National Government of the Republic of China, Ba Maw, Head of State of the State of Burma, Subhas Chandra Bose, Head of State of Provisional Government of Free India ( Arzi Hukumat-e-Azad Hind ), José P. Laurel, President of the Second Philippine Republic, Prince Wan Waithayakon, envoy from the Kingdom of Thailand
The resolution adopted at the Great East Asia Conference during 1943 was predominantly the most powerful initiative by seven nations present in the conference.
Asiatic Integration:
Karl Gunnar Myrdal from Europe and Kenichi Ohmae from Japan had echoed the idea of Asian unity through a process of identifying Asian Powers in the context of globalization and liberalization. The issues triad powered by Kenichi Ohmae highlighted the consumer focus in corporatization making the regulatory and fiscal lesser important than expected of it. The trend of consumerism on one hand and the trend of commercialization of manufacturing on the other have actually made the issues of national domain and regulatory constraint within nations volatile and less important. As Myrdal has pointed out specific production technology called “Asiatic mode of production” which does not remove the role of individual totally from the manufacturing process, even if the process is system driven, individual figures out as important in the whole gamut of things. Ohmae has truly visualised a consumer paradise in Asia in line of the consumer paradigms already established and taken route in Europe and United States of America. The pattern of consumption, by and large depends upon the attitude to life and philosophical bent of mind of the individual and the groups of individuals. Modernism, established through education having mostly the Western values, has created for the last few decades a band of people in every country who speaks the same tongue, wears the same pattern of dress, consumes similar kind of things from early morning till go to their bed at night and career choice for building individual and collective career in that.
Philosophical identity of Asia:
The philosophical tenet of Asian mind has been contributed by almost all nations located in the continent. However, certain civilizations, based on their rich heritage, have contributed more than others. India has contributed the concept of Brahmin and the concept of Atman. Brahman is all pervading represents itself in each life through the Atman. Both have the invisible dimensions within individuals. Both have contributed to the growth of homogenous mind which was identified at the Great Eastern Conference 1943. The view of Asian integration and Asiatic federation has been challenged by the ongoing current status of corporatization in Asia and in adjoining territories. Factors of production and distribution which Asia has adapted during the last period of half a century, Asia have been the destination of the global assembly and manufacturing by various Western origins multinational corporations. China was at the centre stage of the Western model of getting things produced from in a large scale and thereafter allowing a process of distribution across the world. Japan and Korea had its mode of production and distribution throughout the world even before that. This is to be mentioned that post 2 nd World War reconstruction initiative in Japan was the impetus towards creating a Japanese model of manufacturing process and Japanese way of managing multi-national corporations. The concepts of 5S, the concept of Kizen, the concept of long-term employment (probably lifetime) were all unique to companies originating from Japan and positioning the Japanese economy as number two (next to USA) in the world for almost a period of three decades closing at the end of last century. South Korean enterprises have gone ahead in the world stage with a massive manufacturing agenda and thrown open competition to the major MNCs in areas of automobiles, white goods, electronics and telecom sets. It is competing with global majors and global corporations. If the forces which operating from Asia can join hands then it may lead to a massive manufacturing and distribution force which Europe could not develop in that scale post European unifications.
Lao Tzu and Confucius and later on Buddhism contributed major ideals of Chinese Society creating a fabric of strong nation on one hand and philosophical identity on the other.
Dear Delegates and Dignitaries,
This International Collaborative Seminar is attempted to create a view of sensitization among people of Asia towards creating a Borderless Asia for having free flow of business and enterprising.
Logically this Seminar should lead to the next phase of formation of the Borderless World. Let us start thinking in terms of the homogenous spirit and consciousness built on factors of unity. Once Asia goes ahead with this formation the business flow in Asia should be made open for all types of products and services to be offered and received by nations within the Asia horizon.
Deva Bhage Yatha Purbe Sam Janana Upasata. Let us all attempt to speak the same tongue, combine our minds to reveals its factors with communalities and one pointedness, understand and identify the goodness in life for all actions and behaviours that we are destined to taken into account.
This verse of the Rik Vedas from India contributes to the tenets of homogeneity and commonness among Asian nations and enterprises.
Prof. (Dr.) R. P. Banerjee