DAVID SOON, ADVANTECH SOUTH ASIA PACIFIC, MANAGING DIRECTOR

2007 can be remembered as a year full of challenges: a downturn in business activities relating to the overhang of excess inventory, woes in the financial markets, and high energy prices somewhat dampening the fragile recovery that was taking place in the third quarter. However, innovation and technological progress continued at a rapid pace, and the many new products launched helped generate demand creation.

2008 will be a volatile year with anticipated slow growth due to the ongoing uncertainty in the fi nancial markets, high energy prices, and rising infl ation. Hence there will be a need to relook at new growth areas and uncharted markets which may present good opportunities. It will not be a year where opportunities come knocking on your door, rather, more work needs to be done to uncover them.