Dr. Usui of ADB repeatedly challenged the AGSB masteral candidates audience in the Opeman forum for reviving Manufacturing to change their mindsets about development and industrialization. He challenged them to do a peat of the BPO. It was not an industry that did not exist 10 years ago, but now it brings in nearly $20 billion in trade to the PHL, and about a million jobs. It does not have govt fiat or support except location of cyberzones in PEZA. The mindset (entrepreneurial mindset) has something to do with it.
Think about the banana that sells for PHP 100 each, or fresh mangoes in a nice box that sells for USD l00? Think about the opportunity here (the product comes from PHL) and there (the market for that high selling price is in NYC or Tokyo)
The businessman must not stick to the traditional knowledge on economics and business as he pursues his business objectives. For example, typically, he says that barriers to entry of foreign business in PHL is high power cost. While this is true for steel smelting or copper refinery, this is not a major factor in other industries where power is minor CGS!
He went at great length to explain the product space theory of Hidalgo and compares PHL with Thailand at various periods in history.
I love this presentation - it is a strong supporter/advocate of entrepreneurship
He also used the Lego of Development as a metaphor for his speech where the children are the countries, the bricks are the capabilities. As per my text conversation with Dean Albert of AGSB, he said he liked best Dr. Usui's talk best
Athens Cruz and JP Molina of Sentrep attended the forum
