Thought Papers

Tobby Simon

Founder & President, Synergia Foundation.

Economic & Social Reforms

I have had the good fortune to interact with several people on a daily basis; through my work with companies, universities, foundations, and with entrepreneurs, politicians and activists in both the developed and developing world. I have silently listened to the rhythms of people talking about geopolitics in Beijing, Bruxelles, Tokyo, London, Boston and Delhi and have heard the chant of China and India being invoked with increasing frequency, to express dread, mystery and optimism. These experiences form the basis of my writing today. A decade of doing business and understanding how entrepreneurs in developed and emerging markets deal with each other has enhanced my ability to discern an interesting pattern in the current trend. I draw equally from history and current scholarship in Sino-Indian relations, though I make no pretence of being comprehensive.

As we speak, the Chinese are capitalizing on Indian opportunities and India on China’s. Recognizing the availability of opportunities in China and India and the complementarities of their economic systems, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged both the countries to join hands and build what he called “Asian century of prosperity and renewal”

Xi quoted the iconic Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping as saying that no genuine Asian century would come without the development of China, India and other developing countries. China and India, Xi said, are “ready to shoulder this mission”. The combination of the “world’s factory” and the “world’s back-office” will produce the most competitive production base and the most attractive consumer market, he said.

There is a coincidence of needs as well. Each of these economies needs to invest in new geographies. They need to generate wealth out of what are now stagnant reserves. These are countries that have successfully completed their industrialization projects and need to find outlets for investment in the industrialization of others.

The decisions made in the past will script the future.