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This is a report of the proceedings of - Asian Strategy & Leadership ...

This is a report of the proceedings of - Asian Strategy & Leadership ...

This is a report of the proceedings of - Asian Strategy & Leadership ...

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THE ASIA THINK TANK DIALOGUE REPORTRebuilding Confidence, Restoring Livelihoods Session Three 29What Next? – Programmes for ActionDr. Thomas TangExecutive Director, Global Institute for Tomorrow (GIFT),Hong Kong.Dr. Tang took <strong>the</strong> debate on social venturesfur<strong>the</strong>r. These ventures were similar toSocial Enterpr<strong>is</strong>es, he said. SEs started <strong>of</strong>f asenterpr<strong>is</strong>es with a m<strong>is</strong>sion to bring benefit tosociety. Where <strong>the</strong>y ‘fail’ <strong>is</strong> <strong>the</strong> lack <strong>of</strong> business skills andmanagement systems necessary to drive <strong>the</strong> enterpr<strong>is</strong>eforward. Healthcare and education for example, wereimportant but systems were needed to ensure delivery.Funds were required to maintain <strong>the</strong>se enterpr<strong>is</strong>es. Inrespect <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> SE, <strong>the</strong>re was now a changing mindsetas a result <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> move towards Corporate SocialResponsibility. Although private money was required forsocial ventures, projections, pr<strong>of</strong>it making, cash flow,returns etc, were looked at as investments, he said. Hecited <strong>the</strong> example <strong>of</strong> renewable energy which wascurrently big business as climate change had takencentre-stage in <strong>the</strong> global agenda. Westerners werelooking at where <strong>the</strong>y could invest in renewable energy,especially in <strong>Asian</strong> countries. He predicted that in time,people will look at forests as good investments.In regards to <strong>the</strong> digital divide, he ventured thatinfrastructure was a major <strong>is</strong>sue, but <strong>the</strong>re were alsoo<strong>the</strong>r factors to be looked into closely to derive simplesolutions to simple problems. Empowering villagers with<strong>the</strong> right technologies and <strong>the</strong> right skills would help<strong>the</strong>m attain competency and subsequently reduce <strong>the</strong>digital divide.Mr. Michael SwitowCo-Founder, ONE (SINGAPORE) / Founder,SUPERSEED, Singapore.Mr. Switow suggested <strong>the</strong> need for botha macro and micro view as <strong>the</strong>re werecross-cutting <strong>is</strong>sues. These were <strong>is</strong>suesthat could be taken to G20, and wereamong <strong>the</strong> five top-line demands:• Debt: There was more money going out thancoming into countries. Indonesia spent 25-40 percent <strong>of</strong> every dollar earned on debt repayment• Aid: The quality <strong>of</strong> aid needed to be improved• Trade: In rich countries <strong>the</strong>re <strong>is</strong> talk about freetrade but it <strong>is</strong> never about fair trade• Gender equity: Women make up 70 per cent <strong>of</strong><strong>the</strong> world’s poor• Transparency and accountability: People havea right to know how <strong>the</strong> money <strong>is</strong> spent andtransparency was expected for both donor andrecipient.In a reference to migrant labour policies, Mr. Switowcalled for greater regulation by <strong>the</strong> authorities as ithas become a form <strong>of</strong> business taking people from<strong>the</strong> rural areas to <strong>the</strong> cities in prom<strong>is</strong>e <strong>of</strong> a better job.He called for <strong>the</strong> formation <strong>of</strong> unions and for workerrights to be observed to ensure that no individual <strong>is</strong>manipulated.

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