Introduction

GMS 691: The Asian Business Environment

 The professor
•   PhD – Griffith University
•   MBA – Schulich (York)
•   MA – U of Regina

Work Experience – RBC, PwC, Statistics Canada, CADA and many more..

Research – Asian Markets and Global Linkages

Teaching – Ryerson, U of Guelph and many more..

  Use practical approach to teaching…

 The course
•   This course examines cultural, demographic, political and economic issues that shape the Asian
business environment.
•   The Southeast Asian region is profiled but particular attention is paid to China, India, Japan and
South Korea as Asia’s super powers.
•   The importance of foreign direct investment to the development of this region is underscored as
well as the emergence of Asian multinationals and their approach to outward direct investment.
•   The challenges encountered by Western firms in penetrating Asian markets are discussed in
detail.
•   Consideration is given to the role of government in business transactions in this part of the world
and the need for innovative strategies when dealing with Asian business partners.
 How to learn…?
•   Read the assigned chapters and readings
•   Follow and participate
•   Check D2L regularly as materials will be created and updated
•   Ask if not sure – prof, TA
•   Group work – 50% of course marks
•   Have fun!
Week 1: East, South East and South Asia geography
and history
 China
Landarea: 9,561,000 sq km
Population: 1.4bn (2019; official estimate)

Main towns
Population (millions) of metropolitan areas (2019; Economist Intelligence Unit Access China estimates)
•   Shanghai: 22.5
• Beijing (capital): 19.7
• Shenzhen: 12.9
• Guangzhou: 11.0
• Tianjin: 10.7
• Chongqing: 10.2
• Dongguan: 8.7
•
Foshan: 8.0
•
Wuhan: 8.6
•
Chengdu: 8.5
•
Nanjing: 6.9
•
Shenyang: 6.2

Language
• Mainly putonghua, or Standard Chinese, based on northern Chinese (the Beijing dialect known as Mandarin); local
dialects and languages are also used

Climate
•Continental, with extremes of temperature; subtropical in the south-east
•Weather in Shanghai (altitude 4 metres): Hottest months, July and August, 23-33° C (average daily minimum
and maximum); coldest month, January, 1 to 9°C; driest month, September, less than 5 mm average rainfall;
wettest month, June, 160-165 mm average rainfall
History: Dynasty rule; British colonialism; Republic of China (1912); Japanese occupation; People’s Republic of China
(1949)
Source: EIU Fact Sheets
 India
Land area
• 3,287,263 sq km (including Indian-administered Kashmir); of the total, 57% is agricultural land
and 16% is forest area
Population
• 1.38bn (2020; UN)

Main towns
(Population of metropolitan areas and regions in millions - 2011 census)
•   New Delhi (capital): 21.8
• Mumbai (Bombay): 20.8
• Kolkata (Calcutta): 14.6
•   Chennai (Madras): 8.9
• Bangalore: 8.7
• Hyderabad: 7.7

Climate
• Varied: humid subtropical in Ganges basin, semi-arid in the north-west, tropical humid in
northeast and most of the peninsula, tundra in the Himalayas. All areas receive rain from the
south-west monsoon in June-September; the south is also served by the north-east monsoon in
January-March
• Weather in New Delhi (altitude 218 metres): Hottest month, May, 26-41°C (average daily
minimum and maximum); coldest month, January, 7-21°C; driest month, November, 4 mm
average rainfall; wettest month, July, 180 mm average rainfall
History : British Rule; Partition; Independence (1947); Democracy

Source: EIU Fact Sheets

 Japan
Land area
• 377,899 sq km
Population
• 126.5m (2019; UN)
Main towns
(Population in millions 2014)
•   Tokyo (capital; 23 central wards): 9.1
•   Yokohama: 3.7
•   Osaka: 2.7
•   Nagoya: 2.3
•   Sapporo: 1.9
•   Kobe: 1.5
•   Fukuoka: 1.5
•   Kyoto: 1.5
Climate
• Temperate, with the monsoon season in June, seasonal winds and typhoons in August- September, and
heavy snow in December-February on the Japan Sea side
•   Weather in Tokyo (altitude 5.3 metres): Hottest month, August, 29°C; coldest month, January, 7.6°C; driest
month, August, 9.5 mm rainfall; wettest month, September, 319.5 mm rainfall
Language
• Japanese
History: Feudal; World War II (Axis); Atomic Bombing; Reconstruction; Democracy

Source: EIU Fact Sheets

 South Korea
Land area: 99,678 sq km
Population: 51m (2017; UN)
Main towns
Population in ’000 (2017; UN)
• Seoul (capital): 9,776
• Busan: 3,429
• Incheon: 2,923
• Daegu: 2,465
• Daejeon: 1,531
• Gwangju: 1,501

Climate
• Continental, with extremes of temperature
• Weather in Seoul (altitude 87 metres): Hottest month, August, 26.5°C; coldest month, January,
minus 0.4°C; driest month, January, 10.8 mm average rainfall; wettest month, July, 274.1 mm
average rainfall
Language: Korean
History: Foreign invasions (Japanese, Chinese, French, US); Established 1948; Partitioned in 1945;
liberal democracy

Source: EIU Fact Sheets