Growth & Export

The Chinese word for "crisis" is often erroneously thought to be composed of two characters: one representing danger and the other representing opportunity. Etymological nuance aside, how you see the 'glass' will ultimately determine how you perform through a crisis. The Chinese are very good at planning for such an event. After all, it's all in Sun Tzu's 'Art of War'.

The great Michael Lewis is probably the best and most readable chronicler of the current financial crisis. In this fascinating piece, he investigates the collapse of Iceland, and finds that mass delusion and lack of dissenting voices, products of Iceland's provincial and isolated culture, were keys to this "perfect bubble" and ensuing disaster.

The great Michael Lewis is probably the best and most readable chronicler of the current financial crisis. In this fascinating piece, he investigates the collapse of Iceland, and finds that mass delusion and lack of dissenting voices, products of Iceland's provincial and isolated culture, were keys to this "perfect bubble" and ensuing disaster.

At a time of global economic uncertainty, the issue of trade and employment is becoming the focus of public debate - particularly with news of large scale redundancies in the media. If this trend continues, there is the risk of increased calls for protectionism here in Australia (as has already occurred in the USA). This is a concern because we all know what has happened in the past when the world has returned to protectionism - mass unemployment, inequality and conflict extending well beyond the trade sphere.

The term "losing face" is big in China. Mistakes are a blight on someone's reputation and must be hidden and protected at all times. Truth and foresight can be impaired if "face" is involved. It supersedes all other qualities and motives.

The term "losing face" is big in China. Mistakes are a blight on someone's reputation and must be hidden and protected at all times. Truth and foresight can be impaired if "face" is involved. It supersedes all other qualities and motives.

Shanghai. You would think that in China - with its growing power base, its population of more than 1.4bn people and its status as a...

Shanghai. You would think that in China - with its growing power base, its population of more than 1.4bn people and its status as a...

Chile, the “jaguar” economy of South America, holds a newly-minted Free Trade Agreement with Australia. The Airport Economist, Tim Harcourt, explains why this is good news on both sides of the South Pacific Ocean.

Australian exports to China and India are booming on the back of insatiable demand for commodities. However, that’s not the full picture. Tim Harcourt...

For years, Australian entrepreneurs dreamed of riding the Chinese dragon. Now, at last, Aussie SMEs are too busy wheeling and dealing in China to...

China has been the economic panda in the room for over a decade. Now, in the spring preceding the Beijing Olympics, foreign export opportunities...

Small is still beautiful…. when it comes to exporting, that is. That’s the word from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), which estimates that...

Is India really the new China for budding Australian exporters? Darren Baguley examines this complex trading partner and wonders whether establishing a foothold on...

Do you find the soaring Aussie dollar depressing? Don’t despair. Austrade’s chief economist Tim Harcourt reveals some silver lining for Australian exporters.     The Australian dollar...

  According to DFAT, approximately one million Australians live overseas. That’s one in 20. With so many of us having a red hot go “over...

In these pensive days, where a backpacker on a bus could pose more of a threat than a cave-dwelling Taliban, Governments and corporations are hungry for technology that will help secure their people and resources. It has fed a boom in the defence tech sector; a world of cutting-edge machinery and multi-million dollar contracts, and home to some of the world's keenest strategic and technical minds. Several Australian companies are emerging as genuine players in this highly competitive space. Liz Heynes and Catherine Kerstjens take a look at six on this new front line.

Over $500 million in venture capital was earmarked for China in the first half of 2005 alone. With a shortage of deals and management talent, opportunities abound for both investors and investee companies from abroad. In the third instalment of this four-part series, Paul Waide pulls back the curtain to reveal the complex machinations of China's vibrant private equity market.

We may no longer refer to the economies of Asia as ‘tigers’, but Singapore (literally ‘Lion City’) is roaring like never before. For Australian...