Lessons Learned
Strategic development:
There is a vast body of successful experience concerning development, that is,
the effort to bring about a comprehensive package of improvements to a particular
society or group thereof i.e several societies working together. Countries which
have gone from the developing rank to the developed rank are said to have 'graduated'
or to have 'taken off'. The experience of the Republic of Korea warrants attention;
this country grew from a developing country to a world economic power in a relatively
short time. The experience of Singapore also warrants attention perhaps because
of its size but more importantly by its strategic approach. The experience of
Mauritius similarly warrants attention.
Crucial ingredients
and considerations:
The most important consideration is to have a positive outlook to the effect
that with good will it is possible to bring about the needed improvement or
to deal with setbacks. One of the most important ingredients is 'peace' and
its correlate 'law and order'; no development is possible without peace and
law and order. The experience of Japan and Germany should be mentioned, in that
after the second world war, rather than to devote resources to the military,
both countries devoted resources to development, particularly of a technological
nature and very soon these countries were able to make up for their losses and
rise to compete with other world economic giants. Another important ingredient
common to all successful developmental experiences is qualified human resources
that is also competitive in cost (Mauritius). Assuming there is peace, law and
order, perhaps the most important ingredient is leadership with a vision and
strategy (Singapore, Malaysia). Countries have prevailed over harsh setbacks
and natural difficulties and have come ahead (Israel). Applying existing technologies
and developing new ones can make a significant difference (desalination, hydroponics);
developing local physical infrastructure and capabilities are cases in point.
Local entrepreneurship and partnership with foreign companies with technologies
and financial resources are crucial considerations as well. Size is not a problem
if a country is able to work with neighboring markets (Singapore with ASEAN)
or foreign markets (Japan has performed in such as a way as to make the world
its market). A strategy for market penetration, for example through partnership
with multinationals, is generally part of the broader strategy.
Lessons learned:
There is a vast body of experience available as pointed out above. There is no need to spend time and energy to re-invent the wheel so to speak. It is possible to look at the body of experience available and to identify what works and what does not. The bottom line is to apply known successful recipes and there are numerous examples around. Of course, each country has to choose and pick what is appropriate or not and to make local adaptations. The ingredients pointed out above are available in all countries to varying degrees of course; but if countries were to make the best use of them, there would be a significant difference in the lives of millions and perhaps billions!!