India
India has become a focal point of late; with the Mumbai terrorist attack unprecedented in the country catching global attention, October‟s mission to the moon, and its longstanding nuclear power, India's position as a regional power in South Asia and growing presence as an international player are
indisputable. As the world's second most populous country, its vast potential is difficult to ignore; huge amounts of wealth are being created by Indians investing not just locally but internationally. Four of the top ten richest individuals in the world are from India. Still, the country faces challenges politically and commercially because of its caste, religious and regional tensions. Corruption and political influence at all levels are prevalent and mark both daily and business operations. This month's Satyam scandal (“India‟s Enron”) has dismayed investors and raised fresh concerns on governance issues. This has created an environment where opportunities seem almost endless, but where their success depend on a careful understanding of the forces at play including political patronage, opposition interests, regional disparities and the influence and self-interests of family-dominated business.
Posted date 14-01-2009
Articles
Archives
2010
2009
Haiti
The 12th July 2010 marked 6 months since the devastating earthquake that struck the Caribbean island of Haiti earlier this year. The earthquake’s epicentre, which measured 7.0 on the Richter scale, was just south of the capital, Port au Prince, and levelled all but the smallest of structures, leaving an estimated 230,000 dead, 300,000 injured and a further estimated 1.3 million homeless. For those fortunate enough to have survived the initial quake, weeks of tremors that shook the already destabilised capital and further reduced buildings to piles of rubble and twisted steel followed.Googling
We’ve all done it. Approached by the name of a new client, potential partner or investor, we’ve typed their name into the world’s favourite internet browser, checked a few of the links on the first page and ‘Googled’ them. Sometimes, this alone can provide some very useful information about a subject. You can occasionally get an idea of a person or company’s general profile (high or low) and hints of a major red flag from these ten links that come up right away.Bribery Act
The introduction of the Bribery Act, which was voted through the House of Commons on 8 April 2010 and is expected to come into force in October 2010, is going to have a great effect on the way British companies operate aboard. The Act brings together numerous parts of previous legislation relating to corruption and bribery under one bill making it easier for Serious Fraud Office or other law enforcement organisations to prosecute British companies and nationals.Surveillance
Surveillance is increasingly being considered by clients to monitor the movements of an individual in order to gain information. Whilst surveillance can be used as an effective tool in many investigations, in order to obtain the best results and be cost effective, certain issues must be considered before the operation commences:Pakistan at the crossroads
At no other time in its 62 years has the survival of Pakistan looked so fragile. Events of the last few months have generated media headlines of 'failed state' and 'Pakistan on the brink' with the more alarmist observers pointing to a possible scenario of the 'Balkanisation' of the country. International perception has been badly (some say irretrievably) damaged with the consequent impact on foreign direct and institutional investment. But are things as bad as they appear?Sudan
The largest country on the African continent is not high on the list of favourites among foreign direct investors. Issues such as Darfur, the regime in Khar-toum, the years of civil war between north and south, and the impact of US sanctions (intriguingly, except for gum Arabic, which is the only item that is exempt sanctions because it is the essential ingredient for Coca Cola) have blighted most opportunities. That is before the recent ruling by the ICC for the arrest and trial of the sitting President of the country.Offshore Tax Havens
As unravelling fraud and extravagant bonus payments continue to dominate international headlines, there has been an increase in interest in offshore tax havens and the need to better regulate the most secretive tropical islands and mountainous retreats. London, where punitive financial sanctions were discussed as the next step in dealing with these havens.