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Cashing in on what am I

I was out with the boss yesterday when I noticed a rather unusual sight. We were walking along the river Thames when we noticed a group of Indians in the distance who were waving the Indian National flag. As far as I knew, there was no major event going on in India. Then, I noticed that the flag that was being waved around was the flag of the BJP, the ruling party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Then I realized that this is the year of elections for India and the United Kingdom has a significant number of what you call “Non-Resident Indians” (NRI) who have the power to vote in Indian elections. Given that the BJP was waving its flag in the UK, its clear that the NRI population in the UK is a significant voting block for political parties in India.

Mentioned this to my brother when we met at night and he mentioned that India was not the only place where political parties looked for votes outside their own borders. Turkish President Erdogan went to canvas for votes amongst the Turks living in Germany.

These two incidents are telling us something. It’s telling us that people who leave a country and chose to find work elsewhere are becoming more valuable to their countries of origin. The Western powers, or more specifically the British were the first pioneers of this. The Hongs in Hong Kong were started by Scotsmen who left Scotland and the “homeland” to make their fortune in the China trade. They built fortunes in the East and also contributed the fortunes to their homes.

The Chinese have also done this. Say what you like about Communist China and the CCP but for years, it did what it needed to do to ensure that people of Chinese descent, whether they were in Hong Kong or Taiwan or South East Asia would find investment opportunities “back home.” Taiwan’s businessmen lead the charge to invest and build up China despite the fact that China and Taiwan are nominally enemies on the political stage. After the madness of the Cultural Revolution, Deng Xiaoping was quick to understand that people of Chinese ancestry outside China were an asset that could be utilized.

Something similar happened in India. Prior to the 1990s and the opening of the economy, the NRI community were portrayed by the Indian Government as losers who couldn’t hack in in their native lands. They were known as “Not Required Indians.” However, as the economy loosened up in the 1990s, the image of NRI’s within India changed. Suddenly they were the people who had knowledge of the outside world and could bring back world standards to India.

Where India has often lagged in the past, especially when compared to China has been in the area of utilizing its diaspora. Talk to enough Chinamen and they’ll talk about returning to China after their studies or work outside of China. Talk to the Indians who leave, and plenty of them will tell you that India is the last place on the planet they want to be. As Wion news argued – Indians celebrate when one of their own CEO of a large multinational without realizing that the CEO’s loyalty is to his (usually are) shareholders often based elsewhere rather than to their country of origin. I think of the way Indian media had to be told that Rishi Sunak was becoming Prime Minister of the UK and not India. The Chinese by contrast head back to China to build unicorns in China.

Could this be changing? Mr. Modi clearly believes that the NRI community is an important base for him and in just about every foreign trip he makes, he makes it a point to meet with leaders of the local NRI community. This makes sense – who else would India and its opportunities than the people who were brought there.

I believe its healthy that people leave their homeland once in a while. It helps broaden horizons and improve skills. Too often we get stuck in notions of loyalty and sticking in one place. However, the reality is that we live in a world where people are increasingly mobile and are able to access opportunities from all over the world. I think of Olam, which, while listed in Singapore, makes all its revenue overseas.

How does a single operator work in this day and age. To quote Odin from the Thor movies “Asgard Isn’t a place – it’s a people.” So, instead of looking at China, solely as the People’s Republic, what unifies Chinese people regardless of the passport they hold and where they live. The same is true of Indians. Lock into a community and you get a broader range of the market you are looking to tap into.

This is not to say nation states will lose their importance. Places will always be there. However, countries are no longer blocks belonging to a particular ethnicity and we need to understand that mobility creates opportunities.

 

Tang Li

*Although I’ve been based mainly in Singapore for nearly two decades, I’ve had the privilege of being able meet people who have crossed borders and cultures. I’ve befriended ministers and ambassadors and worked on projects involving a former head of state. Yet, at the same time, I’ve had the privilege of befriending migrant labourers and former convicts. All of them have a story to tell. All of them add to the fabric of life. I hope to express the stories that inspire us to create life as it should be.

 

 

yyy
READER COMMENTS BELOW

13 Responses to “Cashing in on what am I”

  • No Singapore flags:

    Haha, we don’t see people wave Singapore flags in London, Paris or other foreign places. What does this say? Singaporeans are happy to leave Singapore behind.

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  • Singaporean R Free Rider:

    I believe its healthy that people leave their homeland once in a while. It helps broaden horizons and improve skills.
    ====================================================================
    Yes, I agreed with you on this, especially if you are honourable and talented like Chew Shou Zi or ME.

    Honourable and helping others without demanding returns.
    https://youtu.be/oysE0i1N_Cs

    We don’t want the dish0nourable one that help others with SEX in mind
    45years old man buy 16 years old girl for SEX
    https://youtu.be/0zPJDfLjA5o

    Just like some old Singaporean chi ko pek who go Philippine marry 16 years old girl.

    When the old chi ko pek finished all their monies enjoying screwing, they will crawl back to Singapore and ask our great PAP for financial assistance.

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  • dave:

    “This is not to say nation states will lose their importance. Places will always be there. However, countries are no longer blocks belonging to a particular ethnicity and we need to understand that mobility creates opportunities.”

    Creates opportunities for who? For foreigners or citizens?

    Ignoring the importance of citizens, selling out the interests of citizens have their consequences. In many countries, this is called treason. The perpetrators are called traitors.

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  • Observer:

    There is no benefit to the American Elites’ “Divide and Rule” plan by adding Indo-Aryan Indians from the Sub-Continent, or the Dravidian Indians from the Sub-Continent.

    In contrast to the Red Indians who wore feathers and fought cowboys.

    African-Americans complained that the Indo-Aryan Indians and the Dravidian Indians from the Sub-Continent would support white-supremacist groups in racism against Africans.

    Unlike gold or oil, ordinary people cannot safekeep uranium inside their house.

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  • Pappies:

    Well said.

    Singaporean R Free Rider: We don’t want the dish0nourable one

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  • SINGAROAR:

    Modi, the UK and the US may make it easy for their citizens to vote when they are overseas. Cannot say the same for the PAP govt. as in California, our embassy is in San Francisco and those in LA or other regions in the west coast will have to travel to San Francisco.

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  • Sporeans Keep Govt Employed:

    https://mothership.sg/2024/05/singapore-embassy-staff-voyeurism/

    Ex-S’pore Japan embassy staff, 55, allegedly took photo of boy, 13, & others in public baths, summoned to court

    Singaporean R Free Rider:
    I believe its healthy that people leave their homeland once in a while. It helps broaden horizons and improve skills.
    ====================================================================
    Yes, I agreed with you on this, especially if you are honourable and talented like Chew Shou Zi or ME.

    Honourable and helping others without demanding returns.
    https://youtu.be/oysE0i1N_Cs

    We don’t want the dish0nourable one that help others with SEX in mind
    45years old man buy 16 years old girl for SEX
    https://youtu.be/0zPJDfLjA5o

    Just like some old Singaporean chi ko pek who go Philippine marry 16 years old girl.

    When the old chi ko pek finished all their monies enjoying screwing, they will crawl back to Singapore and ask our great PAP for financial assistance.

    GD Star Rating
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  • Backside Seller:

    Well, willing seller, willing buyer. It takes two hands to clap, clap, clap.

    The video says Philippines women work hard to give birth to daughters whom they then sell off for profit. The mothers are more than pimps and engage in women trafficking.

    The girl hopefully gets a better life. But I think she might be forced into a life of prostitution in the US.

    It is the same as the China Brides demanding money in an earlier article. But the China ones at least retain their freedom.

    They are all whores. World’s oldest profession.

    Singaporean R Free Rider:

    We don’t want the dish0nourable one that help others with SEX in mind
    45years old man buy 16 years old girl for SEX
    https://youtu.be/0zPJDfLjA5o

    Just like some old Singaporean chi ko pek who go Philippine marry 16 years old girl.

    GD Star Rating
    loading...
  • Singaporean R Free Rider:

    Backside Seller:
    Well, willing seller, willing buyer. It takes two hands to clap, clap, clap.

    The video says Philippines women work hard to give birth to daughters whom they then sell off for profit. The mothers are more than pimps and engage in women trafficking.

    The girl hopefully gets a better life. But I think she might be forced into a life of prostitution in the US.

    It is the same as the China Brides demanding money in an earlier article. But the China ones at least retain their freedom.

    They are all whores. World’s oldest profession.

    Granted willing seller and willing buyer.

    The point is:
    Should we or Country help provide chi ko pek financial assistance after they spent all their monies screwing around or gamble away their monies ?

    https://youtu.be/IEh2ObsgJp0&t=9s

    Please download and share.

    GD Star Rating
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  • Sporeans Keep Govt Employed:

    There’s this Action For AIDS set up for the gay people. Some counsellors also get to meet handsome homo men.

    Maybe they should set up some counselling for seniors who go overseas for sex. Or in the video for bawdy entertainment.

    Tell your useless F up ed dogs at Raffles City that people can be useful – for the right price of course.

    People won’t choose those yaya papaya pay very little bosses. Bosses want loyalty, respect, devotion and some groveling, then pay well for it.

    your dogs bo lumpa. All eunuchs or have less courage than ku niangs.

    And your old dogs are very noisy. So old still want to bark so loud. I know it might be their last chance. They may meet Satan soon.

    Singaporean R Free Rider: Granted willing seller and willing buyer.

    The point is:
    Should we or Country help provide chi ko pek financial assistance after they spent all their monies screwing around or gamble away their monies ?

    https://youtu.be/IEh2ObsgJp0&t=9s

    Please download and share.

    GD Star Rating
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  • PAP mandate strong:

    @SRFR

    Let me add in sinkies ah peh beware! Dont fall prey to China golddiggers.

    Just look at China 谭竹. Successfully digged 50萬 rmb from a bf 胖猫. End up bf commit suicide. Or HK 新移民大妈 from China successfully digged HK ah peh 30萬 hkd.

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  • Smart Oldman:

    Sinkies must learn from the rich old man who married a Taiwanese and gave her $300 allowance a month.

    THREE HUNDRED BIG DOLLARS

    PAP mandate strong:
    @SRFR

    Let me add in sinkies ah peh beware! Dont fall prey to China golddiggers.

    Just look at China 谭竹. Successfully digged 50萬 rmb from a bf 胖猫. End up bf commit suicide. Or HK 新移民大妈 from China successfully digged HK ah peh 30萬 hkd.

    GD Star Rating
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  • PAP mandate strong:

    Yes. That displaying chinese culture 正夫纲.

    GD Star Rating
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