Hotnewstoday: My company, WPP, will be 30 years old next month. Things have changed a lot since 1985 when together with business partners, meanwhile, have invested in productive activities and shopping basket Teapot.
If I had to summarize the changes in one phrase, it would be the "geographic and technology".
30 years ago, China's GDP is only US $ 300 billion; Now, the figure is over 10 trillion dollars. Just 30 years ago, Tim Berners-Lee has not yet developed the web; Now, Google is said to be the most valuable brand in the world.
West still deny the increasing power of so-called emerging economies. Many Chinese seem to want to fail - this is like shooting yourself in the foot - for the global economy needs China to succeed. Some people complained about the Chinese economy is slowing growth, "only" 7%.
I still believe the Chinese market will continue to grow. China is now the third largest market with our world, behind only the US and the UK, with sales of over $ 1.5 billion and 15,000 employees.
Western views of Chinese tech companies expressed deep smug and somewhat patronizing to the popular saying that "All the Chinese firms to do is copy and steal." By the way, this is the question people often say about Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea. My experience shows that many executives Chinese (CEO) understand better technologies western counterparts.
A few weeks ago, I attended the festival in Shanghai Creativity - organized by the British Government to introduce the UK business with the Chinese market. At this event, I interviewed Jack Ma, the founder and executive chairman of Alibaba, giants of ecommerce village with a market capitalization of more than $ 200 billion.
Jack Ma is a "rockstar" in China and increasingly more popular in many other places.
Alibaba's goal is simple but ambitious. Alibaba Jack Ma is the word wants to be "the infrastructure for e-commerce in China". The company focuses on small businesses, helping them to sell through electronic marketplace Taobao, provides financial services through Alipay and logistical support through cloud computing and databases.
Most of them said that the Chinese company can not and do not want to expand internationally. Not so. "We are a start-up Internet business in China. The goal is to help our small businesses on a global scale," Ma said.
Now though revenue from the international market of Alibaba accounted for less than 5%, but Mr Ma wants this figure is 50%.
Europe will be the first destination, followed by Japan, South Korea, India and Indonesia. Xiaomi - 4 year old firm and smartphones are priced $ 45 billion - has a similar geographical ambition: reaching out to India, Indonesia and Brazil.
Mr. Ma has an eye on the US market, but concluded that market access was too difficult - at least in the short term. "Everyone predicted we are going to America ... We want to help American farmers and American as well as US small businesses selling into China. But I personally think Alibaba can do more in Europe compared with the US. "
However, Alibaba also has a foothold in the US through a series of investments in start-up companies, including Tango, specializing in video chat and Lyft, which specializes in auto sharing services. As of May 3/2015, Alibaba has a data center in Silicon Valley in order to attract customers cloud.
Though always respected US technology leadership, Ma did not shy when it comes to competition. Amazon "served as a model or in the 1990s"; eBay was for a "lag".
Replies to allegations of copying, Mr. Ma said that China is increasing value for global technology, but the new "just started". Jack Ma punish anyone in the company complained about the technology of rival Alibaba had been stolen.
"That means we are not fast enough. We have not improved enough. The losers always say," They are stolen from us. "And the winner said" I run faster ".
Many Western companies are regarded China as a threat. But instead of worrying about the "intruder from the East", should learn Jack Ma approach constructively and start an adventurous few.
The biggest risk for the global economic growth in the long term culture of hatred Hazard companies. Too many of them focused on their position rather than visionary, intent on managing costs while not investing enough resources in the growth category. Global cash mountain, idle in the balance sheet, the mountainous nature.
Growth in the doldrums, the lowest inflation ever and brands no pricing power. Thus, mergers and consolidation continues to be popular games - in every field, from food and beverage to building, pharmaceuticals and media.
However, one thing has not changed in three decades merger between the leading brands is not the best solution. History shows that, regardless of the issue of how each party, the so-called merger of those peers is not the most optimal solution.