Corporate Longitude

FULL SUPPORT TO RESTART PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI TALK

China welcomes and supports all efforts that would break the current deadlock of the Palestinian-Israeli negotiation and relaunch their dialogues.China has always supported the Palestinian people in their just cause to restore the lawful rights of the nation, and maintained that establishment of an independent state is the lawful right of the Palestinian people.

EUROPEAN UNION PASSES OIL BUCK TO CHINA

By agreeing to close off Iran's second-biggest market, European foreign ministers have dramatically escalated the pressure on Iran to negotiate on its nuclear program. However, the immediate effect will be to pass the diplomatic initiative to Iran's largest trading partner, China, which will reluctantly become a powerful arbiter of the oil market and Iran's fate.

INDIAN CENTRAL BANK MOVES TO BOOST ECONOMY

India's central bank has cut the cash reserve ratio [CRR] for commercial banks by 50 basis points, reducing the percentage of cash they need to hold in reserve, in a move likely to inject billions of dollars into the banking system. The CRR,last reduced more than three years ago, now stands at 5.5% and is expected to pump 320 billion rupees ($6.27bn) into the banking system amid concerns about slowing growth in Asia's third-biggest economy due to a liquidity crunch.

IRANIAN ENERGY POSES ASIAN DILEMMA

It makes tactical sense for countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, India and Turkey to slowly retrench from Iranian oil, but it would be a strategic disaster for them to become reliant on Western approval to access Middle Eastern energy, which will remain important in Asia's energy mix for at least some more years.

BEIJING, TOKYO TO COMMEMORATE TIES

Beijing and Tokyo are planning to launch a grand opening ceremony in mid-February to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations. Japan plans to proactively make "concrete efforts" to strengthen its ties withChina and establish more "open and multilayered networks" in the best interests of both countries.

BACK AT LAST TO MANDALAY

Myanmar has fast become the world's must-visit country, and not just by politicians negotiating an end to sanctions. A surge in visitors, keen to take in majestic Himalayan mountains, glittering pagodas and pristine tropical seas - and secure business deals - is leaving visitors struggling to find hotel accommodation, seats on domestic flights - and even travel guides.

FINLAND HIGHLIGHTS RENEWABLE ENERGY PARTNERSHIP IN TIES

Finnish European Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister Alexander Stubbis visiting Jakarta as Finland seeks to strengthen its economic partnership with Indonesia, with a focus onrenewable energy cooperation.Indonesia and Finland have agreed in the meeting to encourage efforts to enhance our trade and investment ties, as well as energy partnership.

CHINA, INDIA ENTER HEATING-UP ARCTIC RACE

India, China and Japan have sought permanent observer status in the Arctic Council as competition heats up for the ecologically sensitive region's vast mineral and energy resources. While Delhi's expeditions are studying the potentially disastrous effects of climate change, Beijing is anticipating how global warming could dramatically shorten its trade routes.

Professor Edvinsson is a key pioneering contributor to both the theory and practice of Intellectual Capital. As the world’s first director of IC in 1991 he initiated the creation of the world's first public corporate Intellectual Capital Annual Report 1994, and inspired the development ever since on IC metrics. He was parallel to that prototyping the Skandia Future Center as a Lab for Organisational design, one of the very first in the World in 1996, and inspired many to be followed.

During 1996 he was recognised with awards from the American Productivity and Quality Centre, USA and Business Intelligence, UK. In January 1998, Leif received the prestigious Brain Trust "Brain of the Year" award, UK. for his pioneering work on IC. In 1999 noted as Most Admired Knowledge Award on Knowledge Leadership. He was also awarded The KEN Practitioner of the Year 2004, from Entovation International, where he also is an E 100. In 2006 also listed in a book by London Business Press, as one of The 50 Most influential Thinkers in the World. He is listed in Who’s Who in the world. Also associate member of The Club of Rome. He is also Cofounder and Chairman of The New Club of Paris, focused on the Knowledge Economy Agenda setting initiatives

Professor Leif Edvinsson has his education from the University of California, Berkeley, USA, and Lund University, Sweden. He is the author of numerous articles on the service management and on Intellectual Capital. In March 1997, together with Michael S. Malone, he launched one of the very first books on Intellectual Capital. He is also special advisor on Societal Entrepreneurship to the Swedish Governmental Foundation for Competence and Knowledge Development, as well as on Service Science to the Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation. In 1997 co founder of Intellectual Capital Sweden AB.

Leif is serving on the Board of Directors of several knowledge intensive enterprises among others earlier the Swedish Brain Research Foundation as well as for many years the Center for Molecular Medicine at Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Since 2000 he has been the Honorary Chairman of the UK based Henley College, KM Forum. Since 2000, he has been Professor, adjunct at Lund University on Intellectual Capital. He is also serving on the Jury of the Swedish Knowledge Award as well as the Globe Forum Jury for Sustainability City Award. In January 2006, he was also appointed professor adj. at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, and later promoted to Chair Professor in 2007. In 2009 also appointed Guest Professor at Jiaotong University, Xian, China. In June 2010 awarded in Kuala Lumpur for Branding of Human Capital.

For contact use email: leif.edvinsson@unic.net