Grant Thornton Launches International Business Report 2007

Survey examines the opinions of 7,200 businesses in 32 countries including Malaysia

 

Kuala Lumpur, 1 January 2007 - Accounting and consulting firm Shamsir Jasani Grant Thornton, local member of Grant Thornton International, is all set to launch its initial findings of the International Business Report (IBR) 2007 later this month.

The report, previously known as the International Business Owners Survey (IBOS), is conducted annually by Grant Thornton member firms, providing a global insight into a variety of issues affecting business owners from Medium to Large Enterprises (MLE) around the world. Key issues to be explored include economic prospects, business expectations, operating in foreign markets, importing and exporting trends and stress among business owners.

As the only survey of its type, IBR provides a valuable source of global business information, gauging the opinions of senior management such as the Managing Directors, Chief Executive Officers, business owners or other senior executives on their economic outlook and company expectations for the coming 12 months.

This will be the second time the Malaysian firm is participating in the Global Report, now in its fifth consecutive year. For its previous involvement, the full results were launched in May last year by the Second Finance Minister YB Tan Sri Datuk Seri Nor Mohamed Yakcop.

“IBR is a comprehensive study of MLEs in 32 countries around the world, covering 81% of global GDP. Last year we saw China participating  for the first time, this year we have Armenia and Brazil join the 32 countries participating in the survey, increasing the total respondents to 7,200,” said Dato’ N K Jasani, Managing Partner, Shamsir Jasani Grant Thornton.

The research was conducted on a professional and confidential basis by Experian Business Strategies Limited and Harris Interactive, with fieldwork running throughout the closing stages of 2006. The first findings on economic optimism/pessimism will be released later this month. Full results are expected to be ready by first half of 2007.

 

Further findings from the survey will be published throughout the first half of 2007:

February – Emerging Markets – BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China)

March – Women in Business

March – Super Growth Index

April – Energy and Environment

May – Business Stress

June – Global Report

 

Dato’ Jasani highlighted that, for every completed questionnaire, Grant Thornton International will donate US$5 to UNICEF. This will result in a donation of over US$35, 000 in 2007.

He added that the IBR will enlighten the Malaysian Corporate Sector and the Government on the perceptions of the business community. Comparisons on how we fare as compared to our ASEAN neighbours, the emerging giants i.e. China and India as well as the global average will help us widen our horizons.

Dato’ Jasani elaborated that in this competitive world, such insights are of significant importance.

“Our nation needs to value the views of the MLEs, who are the engine of growth and key contributors to revenue and employment. Whilst the Government is doing its best to spur the economy, Malaysia has yet to achieve the higher growth rates of the early 90s. The survey will highlight the views and concerns of MLEs and thus, help the nation to prioritise and fine tune the policies,” concluded Dato’ Jasani.