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Tag: globalisation

  • Indians welcome eco globalisation & regional integration – TNS, WEF pan-Asian survey

    NEW DELHI: The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) East Asia Economic Summit in Singapore opened last week to the backdrop of a survey carried out in ten Asian countries.
    Commissioned by the WEF and conducted by leading global market information company TNS, the findings of the study reveal the views of Asians towards globalisation, economic liberalisation, open borders and Asia’s new generation of leaders.
     
    Whilst more than half of Asians feel positively about the impact of economic globalisation and nearly three quarters want increased cooperation between Asian countries, an overwhelming majority are opposed to a free flow of workers within the region with an open border policy.

    Indians reflect a similar outlook towards the impact of economic globalisation, like their other Asian counterparts. At the same time, a majority of respondents pointed to employment as a major concern and called on their next generation of leaders to prioritise job creation.
    The survey suggests that Asia’s next generation of leaders have a lot to live up to. In addition to economic reform and development, they will need to focus on ending corruption and introducing more democracy. However, they will not be without support – 40 per cent of respondents said they were willing to pay higher taxes to stimulate faster development both in their own country and in the region.

    Proportionally more respondents in India (72.2 per cent) are willing to pay taxes to stimulate faster development in both their own country as well as in other Asian countries. Indians also identified the ‘education system’ as the most necessary area of improvement, which governments should strive for.

    The business community was also under the spotlight in the survey. Approximately half of the study’s respondents reported that they trust companies operating in their own countries expressing that corporations acted in the best interests of society – particularly, providing employment, which was perceived by the vast majority (86.2 per cent) as the main role of the corporate sector in society. However, in India, “To be innovative and make advancements” is thought to be the main role of companies in a society, followed closely, by its foremost role “To provide employment.”

    Other key findings include:

    * Respondents from the Philippines felt, more than any other country, that globalization had negatively affected their lives (28.4%).

    * In Hong Kong, with the lowest rate of corporate tax in the region, respondents ranked “pay tax” as the primary function of business in society.

    * Proportionally more respondents in India (72.2 per cent) than in Singapore (25.2 per cent) are willing to pay taxes to speed up development in the region.

    Commenting on the findings, World Economic Forum Director for Asia Frank-Jürgen Richter said, “The study adds a new dimension to the Summit’s discussions by indicating the relevance of our programme – on regional integration, the challenges of globalisation and the role of business in society.”

    TNS Regional Director for North Asia David Richardson added, “We are honoured to be associated with the World Economic Forum and applaud its efforts to explore new angles of cooperation. We hope that the findings from this survey will provide some support to this.”

    The World Economic Forum held its 12th East Asia Economic Summit in Singapore from 12 to 14 October. This year 800 participants from 32 countries came together for discussions and decision-making on the Summit’s theme “Asia’ Future: Recapturing Dynamism.”

  • TV broadcasting biz to grow to Rs 130b by 2007: I&B minister

    NEW DELHI: India’s information and broadcasting minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has said that the digital revolution and the phenomenon of convergence are creating a new model of society and changing the way in which information is used.
    Delivering the keynote address on Promotion and Preservation of Cultural Diversities at the first conference of ministers of information and broadcasting of Asia-Pacific Region at Bangkok today, Prasad said technological advances have created a whole new spectrum and array of venues for the global circulation of cultural content.
    In this context, he called for broadcasting to act as an important instrument. “There has to be sharing, mutual exchange and reciprocity through institutional arrangement among the broadcasting organisations,” the minister said.
    Dwelling on the theories of globalisation, Prasad said that the emergence of the satellite culture in India has clearly shown that success in a large diverse market like India requires a high degree of localisation. The transformation of Star and music channels (like MTV) offer ample proof of that..
    Although there is no legislation in India mandating screen time quota restrictions or local content requirements, the public demand itself forced broadcasters to cater to all such requirements, Prasad pointed out.
    Outlining the electronic media’s expansion in India, Prasad said that total TV connectivity in India (including the reach of pubcaster Doordarshan) today is about 82 million households. TV broadcasting industry is expected to grow to Rs 130 billion and TV software segment is likely to grow to Rs 35 million by 2007.
    Prasar Bharati, that oversees the functioning of DD and All India Radio, has an average daily audience of over 400 million with 213 radio and 50 TV stations, 340 radio and 1358 TV transmitters in every nook and corner of the country, Prasad said.
    The minister also called for cultural policies by countries to be adapted to globalisation for striking a balance between free flow of cultural goods and services and the need for preserving and promoting domestic culture. According to Prasad, the challenge is to develop a model that promotes cultural diversity by marrying traditional broadcasting with new media and expanded global distribution.
    He said, the development of a policy on cultural diversity should be mindful of global disparities that may have a direct bearing on cultural industries in developing countries. The promotion of cultural diversity is not intended to further entrench these disparities but to spell out the terms on which cross-cultural dialogue and creativity may be fostered.
    Prasad stressed the need to recognise and move towards cross-cultural exchanges and at the same time promote and preserve heritage and culture. “These are not mutually exclusive objectives, they can be pursued simultaneously, the need is, to strike the right balance,” he added. He pointed out that often developing countries face enormous development challenges and it is difficult to balance between development priorities and cultural needs.
    “Most countries now recognise the need to balance these priorities. We in India consider diversity as essential to progress and enrichment,” he said.
    The two-day conference in Bangkok is organised as a preparation for the International Telecommunication Union Conference to be held later this year. The other issues discussed at the Conference include Aspects of Globalisation, Public Service Broadcasting and Global Digital Divide-How Does It Affect The Region.

  • No proposal to reconsider FDI limits in DTH: Prasad

    No proposal to reconsider FDI limits in DTH: Prasad

    NEW DELHI: Minister for information and broadcasting Ravi Shankar Prasad has said that there is no proposal to reconsider the FDI limits in DTH service.
     

    Replying a question by Kunwar Akhilesh Singh in the Lok Sabha today, the minister said that the companies who have applied for license for providing DTH service are Space TV Pvt Ltd, Mumbai, ASC Enterprises Ltd (letter of intent given) and Essel Shyam Communication Ltd.

    Licenses for DTH service will only be granted on fulfilling of laid down eligibility criteria and compliance with various terms and conditions prescribed in this regard.

    CENSOR BOARD: The government has decided to extend the engagement of detective agencies to carry out checks in cinema halls to all regional centers of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in the 10th Plan.

    Replying to a question posed by Pawan Kumar Bansal in the Lok Sabha today, Prasad said that with a view to ensuring strict compliance of the provisions of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, the CBFC on a test basis had hired a private agency for carrying out regular checks in cinema halls initially in the four metropolitan cities during the period from 1 May, 2001 to 30 April, 2002.

    He said that the agency carried out checks in 1859 theaters in the four metros and registered 31 cases. The number of complaints relating to censorship violations received by the CBFC in various forms in several states and union territories during the year 2000, 2001 and 2002 were 57, 144 and 105 respectively.

    ECONOMIC AGENDA: Speaking at another function today, Prasad said that economic reforms in India today form an important component of political agenda. He said the impression that the reforms are elitist and meant for only the upper class of society has to be removed. The domestic reforms are as important as the globalisation process, but the pace is a matter of debate, he said.

    Delivering the keynote address at the Annual General Meeting of the American Chambers of Commerce in India today, Prasad said that the scope of Indo-American relations is very large in the geo-political fight against terrorism, civilized democratic behaviour, free press and even in the military context.

    He said, a great amount of maturity is coming about in Indo-American relations because of commonality of free society, free media, mutual trust and he hoped these will further develop despite some disagreements.

    Prasad said the Indian economy has its inherent strength, which is reflected in its growing foreign exchange reserves’ steady growth rate of over 5 per cent, 50 per cent growth in the software exports, decline in the people living below poverty line from 36 per cent to 27 per cent and containment of inflation rate despite severe drought, the Kargil war and sanctions following the nuclear explosion.

    He referred to the great infrastructure thrust and said that 14,000 kilometers of national highways are being constructed at a cost of 5,400 billion rupees, every village is being connected by metalled road, two crore telephones have been installed in last two years as compared to 1.86 crores in the last 50 years and the revolution in the communication and the broadcasting sector.