For as long as I can remember, we’ve referred to the relationship between ‘East and West’ as the answer to everything, including new food recipes, innovative fashion designs and even maintaining world peace. When I was a young boy growing up in suburban London, my Father travelled to what was then referred to as the ‘Far East’ and came home with unusual gifts from exotic faraway places which were the envy of my friends – white silk pyjamas, colourful batik shirts and porcelain mahjong sets. When I was old enough to travel on my own, I headed straight to Hong Kong and Singapore to see it all for myself, and now I can’t stay away!
Luckily for me, and for you perhaps, I now live in the middle of what I regard as the world’s new ‘North-South Corridor’ which includes the most populated, innovative and dynamic countries in the world. It stretches from Beijing in the north of China to Queenstown in the south of New Zealand, and everywhere else in between. Take a look at this map:
Most of the world’s land, people and capital line up within this corridor. Most of the world’s innovation, consumption and production exists within this region. As a result, the opportunities that present themselves for those willing to learn, invest, trade and/or make friends along this line will define the successful names, brands and heroes of this Asian Century. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?
Let’s give up on the old ‘East-West’ idea. It’s all a bit dated. It’s time for a new view of the world: The North-South Corridor.