| Networking is the buzzword for today's successful | | | | network is shaped by the Chinese diaspora |
| businesses. Yet, the questions that recur are, how | | | | patterns, with the Chinese forming a diverse |
| do you build a good business network and who | | | | group divided by geographical background, social |
| are the people to network with? Certainly, finding | | | | class and different sub-communities. In Southeast |
| the right opportunity to network does not come | | | | Asia, the networking is sometimes loosely |
| easy. | | | | organised, consisting of loosely connected |
| The 7th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention | | | | individuals and companies, forged together by |
| (WCEC) held recently at the Sunway Pyramid | | | | mutual obligations and trust. |
| Convention Centre in Bandar Sunway, Selangor, | | | | Nevertheless, in recent years, networking such as |
| did just that - it provided the more than 3,500 | | | | guild wars gold,lotro gold,runescape gold among |
| participants the chance to mingle and network. | | | | Chinese businessmen has moved beyond clans or |
| The convention is believed to be the largest | | | | dialect distinction. The ability to communicate in a |
| gathering of ethnic Chinese businessmen, coming | | | | common language such as English or Mandarin |
| from more than 20 countries in Southeast Asia, | | | | provides the link for major Chinese networks, |
| North America, Australasia and Europe. | | | | especially in Southeast Asia. |
| Apart from the opening fanfare, city tours and | | | | Vice Secretary of the Indonesian Chinese |
| gala dinners, the convention provided a forum for | | | | Chamber of Commerce and Indonesia Confucian |
| the meeting of minds and sharing of experience | | | | Society, Richard LC Tan, says the similarities in |
| and expertise among business leaders in all | | | | language, cultural and geography allow for better |
| spheres. | | | | networking.Tan also sees the potential for |
| `There is a lot of potential for Malaysian and | | | | networking to cross ethnic Chinese lines. |
| Chinese corporate and business leaders to work | | | | Malaysians and Indonesians share a similar heritage |
| together,' says Hu Zhengyu, China's ambassador | | | | and it would be easy for the nationals of both |
| to Malaysia, adding that the event is an indication | | | | countries to invest and trade with each other. He |
| of the good relations between Malaysia and China. | | | | says the ethnic Chinese have a role to play in |
| `We are looking forward to more business deals | | | | Chinese- pribumi business networkings. `It is |
| to be signed by the year's end.' | | | | important for the Chinese businessmen to |
| Indeed, the overseas Chinese networks constitute | | | | contribute back to society,' he says. |
| the single most dominant private business | | | | Interestingly, Tan does not see the 7th WCEC as |
| grouping in Asia outside Japan. Indonesian delegate | | | | a business conference. It is a reunion to develop |
| and Indonesia Chinese Chamber of Commerce | | | | the business potential, not a business signing |
| representative, Ted Sioeng, says the WCEC | | | | conference. Chinese-Filipino Business Club president |
| provides the best environment for networking. | | | | Aw Peng Lam shares the view. 'Doing business is |
| We are seeing a long process of business | | | | not unlike making friends. All you need is the right |
| cooperation between Indonesia,Malaysia and China,' | | | | environment, and doing business would come |
| he says, adding that the stable political climate of | | | | almost naturally.'For Aw, the idea of networking |
| the two countries is conducive to business | | | | among Chinese businessmen would also have to |
| cooperation and cross- boundary networking. | | | | come naturally. |
| However, networking remains a very intangible | | | | Thai delegate Prasorng Owlarn, president of the |
| element and is rather hard to ascertain. `You | | | | Owlarn Group and the Thai-Hainanese Association, |
| cannot immediately see the real outcome of the | | | | says one cannot wrap up business deals in a few |
| 7th WCEC, says Wang Wuyi, a social economist | | | | days, as they have to take a natural course of |
| at the Macao Polytechnic Institute. Still, he adds, | | | | scrutiny and evaluation. Yet, Prasorng is confident |
| the mere action of exchanging business cards | | | | that the unity among the overseas Chinese |
| itself would open many doors to future business | | | | provides a positive contribution to a globalised |
| cooperation. | | | | economy where business operations extend |
| How does the networking take place? Working | | | | beyond political borders. |
| along the lines of the British Old Boys Network, | | | | Held once every two years, the WCEC's avowed |
| networking among the overseas Chinese is mainly | | | | objective is to provide a platform for |
| along clan, dialect and trade lines. Interestingly, a | | | | strengthening international cooperation and |
| Chinese of Hokkien descent in Indonesia would | | | | networking of ethnic Chinese entrepreneurs from |
| find it easy to network and do business with a | | | | different nations and regions so as to foster |
| fellow Hokkien in Malaysia or the Philippines. | | | | global linkages in trade and investment for the |
| Quintessentially, the overseas Chinese business | | | | economic growth and prosperity of all nationalities. |