From aerospace to toiletries and asset management to organic products, many industries with a foreign presence here would like to level the playing field when it comes to market access and regulations. Although the European Business Council tables much of Europe’s advocacy concerns, some players are frustrated at the government’s slow pace of change.
While planning this issue, I sent BCCJ members an email to learn what concerns they have with government policies. The response astonished me. I originally thought that one or two features would wrap-up all advocacy issues industry-wide, but it quickly snowballed. Soon, every sector had enough gripes to warrant a story of its own.
Perhaps the one subject that affects every foreign firm here is covered in our top story on HR advocacy, including issues affecting the lowliest part-timer right up to mahogany row.
But there’s more. Lawyers, accountants, engineers and even a doctor and an academic called me to vent spleen on rules, customs and protocols perceived as trade barriers, either against foreigners, SMEs and entrepreneurs, or just business in general.
So expect to see more advocacy features in future issues of this magazine, and if you’d like to join the debate, please call me.
New website
Following requests from advertisers and readers to launch the magazine online, I can now announce a dedicated website:
www.bccjacumen.com
The website enables us to further serve our global readership and help member companies showcase their services and products to a huge client base. We have also implemented core social media platforms that play a vital role in communication these days.
Books, bottles, tickets
Everyone loves a freebie, so please enter our various competitions offering bottles, books and tickets. There’s three bottles of fine Cham-pagne going on the Foreword page, award-winning export-quality premium sake in the Media section, 10 tickets for Agatha Christie’s first Asian exhibition in the Community pages, and two signed copies of the consulting book reviewed on page 44 are also giveaways.
Finally, I hope our cartoons brighten your day. I once worked for a publisher who did little but choose cartoons, encouraged by someone having said they were the best part of the magazine. Well, I hope that is not the case with BCCJ ACUMEN, but if they cause you to smile I will be pleased.