Asian Enterprise and CSR

At one time the mere mention of Asian businesses used to create serious critical debate and consternation. Were they doing the ‘right’ things? Were they investing for sustainability? Did the Asians promote good employment practices? Were they investing in the right sector? Trading enterprises based on import and export, but moslty importing were considered to less beneficial than manufacturing. Behind all this, one of the major concerns, often not articulated clearly was: were the Asian traders not taking unacceptably high profits in a low margin sector of the economy?

It appears that in Uganda these issues are not taking centre the stage at present. It also seems that many Asians have moved higher in the enterprise value chain; they seem to be investing in areas which require major investment, syndicated finance with international partners and banks and they are going into areas which reflect high cost of entry into ‘difficult’ business sectors. They are taking major risks.

However, during the early seventies the centre for Asian retailing used to be Nairobi. How has this changed? This web-log invites contributions that would help to address the following areas of interest:

• What types of concerns still prevail about Asian enterprise?      
• Have the Asians moved into higher value-added industries that may be considered to be more suitable for secure economic development? These terms need to be explained. 
• Has Asian dominance of retailing been reduced by emerging African traders?
• How are Asian businesses involved in corporate social responsibility, or CSR?
• Are these questions important and valid?

The most successful example of social responsibility that can be recalled is investment in the townships of Lugazi and Kakira, where Asian business ‘dynasties’, that is, the Mehta and Madhvani families provided schools, hospitals, sports fields, safe shopping centres and also good health and welfare facilities. But these sugar factories were remote islands of employment and like mining towns anywhere in the world, the Asian entrepreneurs had to provide the living accommodation and facilities for a civic society.

 

How well is CSR being practiced today by Asian businesses? It would be good to hear from them.

 

 

Cultural Issues

 Whatever happened to Cultural Tourism?

 

One of the issues worth investigating is how the creative arts and culture have been developing in the rural areas, the smaller towns and in Kampala, Nairobi and Dar-es-Salaam. When in Kampala recently, I did not have enough time to go into the crafts shops opposite the High Court to see the crafts on offer and to discover the makers.  The location of the crafts centre near the main hotels appears to be a splendid decision; tourists do go there with their wallets stuffed with dollars and pound sterling. I will be asking the appropriate Government department to send some information. However, are prices likely to curtail the interest of local buyers? There are a couple of crafts shops in the Sheraton Hotel. A few ‘pieces’ were on sale but prices were sky-high. One is reminded of the phenomenal amount of travel advertising in the UK media.  Promotions feature the rich heritage of India and Pakistan, the exciting developments in Dubai, the forthcoming attractions in China and the powerful imagery of Buddhist culture in Thailand, for example. Then the advertisers’ cameras inevitably move to Africa, but only to cover the wildlife in safari parks- not in itself a disputable matter but why are tourism providers not promoting African culture? Is there a package of cultural work that tour companies can promote if they wanted to?

 

Another area of interest is the development of performing and visual arts. The National Theatre seemed to be busy but there was no information in the newspapers about the type of activities that the theatre is developing. The theatre would be a good place to start finding out.