Published in November last year, this China-India book is a compilation of entries by more than 20 leading academics who discuss their research findings on four major areas of concern in the two countries - identity & ethnicity; challenges, opportunities & responses to globalization; national security; and governance & social security.  The book is a bit pricey - around US$ 50 on Amazon - but well worth the buy.

The list of scholars who contributed to this book is quite impressive, have a look at their profiles at: http://www.worldscibooks.com/economics/etextbook/5919/5919_contributors.pdf.

No better time for a credible and in-depth publication on China and India’s economic relationships with African countries.  Released on February 1st this year, the book - by Harry Broadman - provides a strong outlook into the comparisons and similarities of China and India’s strategies in ‘going Africa’.  A great thing about the book is that it gives empirical case studies based on first-hand investigative research and the author surveyed 450 firms, including Chinese and Indian companies (16 practicing in Africa), operating in four African countries.  The book is the most un-biased piece I’ve seen out there and it gives refreshing perspectives on a triangular regional area that is all too often - and perhaps overly - criticized these days.  What’s better, the book is available online for free at: http://siteresources.worldbank.org/AFRICAEXT/Resources/Africa_Silk_Road.pdf.

Check it out!

The OECD published a book last May on the implications for Africa of China and India’s global rise.  Most compelling in this piece is the emphasis on how growth strategies in many African economies are directly influenced by (and in some cases modeled after) those of the two Asian giants - this can be seen particularly in Africa’s commodities-export and oil markets.  The authors talk about how African countries are redirecting parts of their trade and relationships from traditional OECD partners to China and India, they discuss the consequences of this phenomenon and the conclusions are quite shocking.

a summary of the publication is available for free at: http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/54/62/36905545.pdf

The topic of political and economic relationships (and intentions) of China and India with African countries is hot-off-the-press these days - and is proving to be quite a sensitive issue in the global community - have a look at what others are saying:

Africa Emerges as China and India’s New Economic Frontier (World Bank, September 2006)

China, India Boost Africa’s Growth (China Radio International Online, November 2006)

What is Behind the China-African Courtship? (China Elections, November 2006)

China’s Influence in Africa Arouses Some Resistance (New York Times, February 2007)

This overview of China’s tax regime and applicable rates includes details of income tax, individual income tax, VAT, and other applicable taxes foreign businesses face in China. It was kindly provided by the Dezan Shira & Associates Shanghai office and can be accessed at: http://www.2point6billion.com/China_Tax_Introduction.pdf.

For further clarification on this topic please contact info@dezshira.com or view their website at www.dezshira.com.

The Conducting Bussiness in China presentation was given by Chris Devonshire-Ellis, Senior Partner of Dezan Shira & Associates in Beijing to members of the International Fiscal Association in Mumbai. It details the basics of Trading with China, Establishing Representative Offices, Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprises, Joint Ventures and Profits Repatriation. The full presentation can be accessed here. 

For further information on these topics please contact the author directly or view the firms website.

Introduction to two presentations on the success and failure of businesses and associations in India:

India is currently the 10th largest economy, fourth in terms of purchasing power. Growth for this year alone is over 8%. The current, estimated GDP is around $719.8 Billion. Since becoming an open economy in 1991, India has worked to make its mark in the global market. The average age of its citizens is 27 years old and many of whom are well educated, married and without children; India has the ability and resources to be among the top four nations in terms of economy. The presentations include lessons to follow when establishing business operations in India: http://www.2point6billion.com/Succeeding_in_India.ppt and an overview of the climate for setting up a business in India: http://www.2point6billion.com/India_presentation.ppt.

This presentation was given by Ajay Muttreja, Plexus Consulting Group Affiliate in India and CEO, Director of Tecnova India. 

We are grateful to Plexus Consulting for allowing us to post this powerpoint presentation. Please visit them at www.plexusconsulting.com

By Chris Devonshire-Ellis 

Asian stocks are rallying for the first time in five days, stemming a worldwide sell-off that wiped US$1.5 trillion from the value of global shares. 

The downward trend began last Tuesday when the Shanghai stock market dropped over 9 percent.  Other Asian markets began to tumble and by the end of the week the European and American markets where in decline as well, leading many to look at China as the cause for the general downturn.

But China’s fall cannot be blamed for the global re-positioning of markets.  As the New York Times reported, many economists and strategists predicted that volatility could increase sharply in Asian markets as investors pull back from speculative investments and redirect assets to more mature markets, and as other investors look for buying opportunities. (more…)

By Simon Lazenbatt

While China and India are often cited together in breathless appraisals of international business opportunities the realities of doing business in these two Asian giants are, and will long remain, distinct. Perhaps the only comparable fundamental is that the new entrant had better beware.

Still, the launch of this website is timely as international business with China and India has expanded massively in recent years. It is worth considering the background issues that will shape the development of both nations in the coming decades. The social structures, political processes, and national aspirations in each country may well produce different and complementary futures, but other factors – energy requirements, population dynamics, environmental concerns and relations with the wider world (notably with the USA) – will inevitably create a complex future. (more…)

Please see below the highlights of the new Indian budget, with details of tax policies and changes reviewed. This is courtesy of the Dezan Shira & Associates partner firm in India, Rahul Gautam Divan & Associates. Both firms are members of the Leading Edge Alliance (www.leadingedgealliance.com), an international partnership of firms in 78 countries, with collective revenues of USD2.3 billion.

Key Features of the 2007-2008 Union Budget

By Rahul Gautam Divan & Associates

AN OVERVIEW OF THE ECONOMY
• 2005-06: Growth rate was 9%, with the manufacturing sector at 9.1%;
• 2006-07: GDP growth likely to be 9.2% with the manufacturing sector at 11.3%; the services sector to 11.2%. Average inflation in 2006-07 is between 5.2% and 5.4% vis-à-vis 4.4 in 2005-06. (more…)

Chindia. We’ve all heard it, seen it and sometimes we let it slip out subconsciously - after all, China and India talk is about the town and these two countries remain some of the hottest spots in cross-regional media coverage.  The term Chindia may seem acceptable to most of us but if we actually think about its context for a split-second, we should be able arrive at agreement that it doesn’t seem to make much sense at all to clump two mutually exclusive countries together referring to them as one.  In terms of their modern economies, societies and polities the two don’t have much in common but commentators continue to resort to Chindia when comparing and contrasting the two countries.  Can China and India even be compared?  Surely its fair to talk about them simultaneously - each in its own right is undergoing phenomenal growth and change and the Sino-Indian relationship is certainly fascinating but to make assertions that they drum to the same beat is absurd.  They are simply different creatures and are more than likely to remain that way.  

Check out what others have to say:

One of the most critical Chindia commentaries that I’ve found so far is a piece by Arthur Kroeber, China and India: myths exploded in the Q1, 2006 China Economic Quarterly issue and can be accessed at http://www.wys35.com/article/ceq2006q1.pdf. 

…and a few more notable Chindia articles worth reading: 

China, India like chalk and cheese and twain may never meet by Guy de Jonquieres (The Australian, Dec. 2006)http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20864038-36375,00.html.

The Myth of Chindia (Economist, Nov. 2006) http://www.economist.com/daily/columns/asiaview/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8311987.

India, China or Chindia - which is Asia’s real sleeping giant? (The Age, January 2006) http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/india-china-or-chindia-8212-which-is-asias-real-sleepinggiant/2006/01/30/1138590441014.html.

…and a quirky little fact, Chindia is said to be an actual place, the name of a still-standing 15th century tower in Romania known as the ‘torture-fort’ where the then royal tyrant physically took part in and watched the torture and death process of his victims.