Explaining differences between Western and ASEAN styles of conducting business

Former Philippines environment secretary, Horacio Ramos, spoke recently of the differences between Western and ASEAN styles of conducting business on the ground.

“While most Western companies adopt a more consistent, structured and rigid business culture and policies, Asian companies are more flexible when it comes to issues concerning their stakeholders and are thus more adept in handling social and political concerns,” he told the recent China-ASEAN business and investment summit in Guanxi, China.

In his paper, “Opportunities and Threats to the Competitiveness of the Philippine Mineral Industry, he recomended that the mining sector should be sensitive to the needs of indigenous and farming communities and suggested the adoption of responsible mining, balancing economic, environmental and social objectives of mining companies.