My email to a friend....

After returning from Korea and making quick conclusion among other APAC countries. Korea definitely still in the title contention to steal some thunder from China and Indian for economical growth. Thailand remains pretty much not far behind as Thaksin despite not my favorite PM had instill some energy into Thailand economical strides.

All i wish to see is a game plan for a better future. Korea's future is the merger of North and the South Korea within this decade. Malaysia began to consolidate their values and had identify their virtues to propel ahead, probably dollar for dollar battle with Singapore while Indonesia would still need some work in their political stability. Filipine as usual...political is in a shamble as usual, but who cares as domestic maids are bringing in the dough?

So what Singapore's game plan? Casino? More Tax? More red tape? More Foreign talent?

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Hi Robert,

Sorry for the inactivity lately, as i was in South Korea for a business trip for a week. Its my first trip to Korean and i saw wonderful things in Korea that i been wondering why we Singaporean are much jaded as compared to the Korean's achievement.

Nationalism in the act? Perhap?

1st thing that drew my attention is their local manufactured products saw extensive usage in their own domestic market. I agreed that their population was huge, but it's amazing that Korean not only good enough to create products for domestic market but also good for global export. Brands like Samsung, LG, Hyundai really making great inroad and offer great run of money against the Japanese's products. Again i noticed they relied solely on local labour as well. Which is a good thing in my opinions.

Especially developed countries, many low end jobs goes to cheap foreign labour is Ok sight if the economy is strong and having a bull run, because there were enough jobs for everyone to be blue collar and above. But when the economy suffers, many middle managers and blue collars will face tremendous pressure to down size their career should they were laid off. So question is how to create jobs when factories are moving out and nothing revolutionary in manufacturing is being created to ensure that other countries are buying from you.

With so much macro ripple effect when economy is down, domestic labor should be able to fill low end job for survival...but the facts is who will want to absorb domestic labors when typical foreign labors were much cheaper which contributed significant costing saving.

Recent North Korean and South Korean celebrated the 5th years anniversary high level governance meeting in year 2000. Since then, both ties had been cordial with the exception of nuclear issue in North Korean. I was thinking that it was only matters of time the two nations merge. Maybe in 10 years time, i foresee. The merger will be interesting as North Korea offers access to cheaper labor and plenty of factory space without moving to China or India. Despite the drawback will be economical burden to absorb the northern's debt and the way i look at it if it was all manage well, social impact can be minimized (rich south and poor north [assumption]) and many jobs can be created, it could wrestle some economical attention away from China and India.

Overall i see some future in Korea and i see bleak future in Singapore. haha

Such ironical feeling, guessed i have to migrate out before it too late.

Cheers