I report in today from Shanghai where preparations are underway for a major global summit on entrepreneurship at the end of March. The recent events in Egypt have put a spotlight on the role of a younger, well-educated generation of entrepreneurs peacefully channeling expressions of economic freedom. China has been miles ahead in reconciling a strong government with messy entrepreneurialism and offers some useful lessons for Arab nations as they grapple with enabling, rather than blocking, their citizens under the age of 25.
It is well-known China has seen dramatic increases in growth over the past decade and has enormous potential, plus the human resources, to realize even more growth in the future. The motivation and freedom to start new companies is evident here with plenty of examples of founders who have taken the leap. Baidu’s Robin Li and many more following Li and other rockstar entrepreneurs offer excellent role models. Tomorrow I will join, among others, Niu Wenwen, founder & president of The Founder Magazine—which has become a leader in shining the light on startup entrepreneurs in China—in announcing that China will host the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Shanghai next month, gathering hundreds of such Chinese entrepreneurs in one room.
To read the full, original article click on this link: Chinas Chance - Entrepreneurship.org
Author: Jonathan Ortmans is president of the Public Forum Institute, a non-partisan organization dedicated to fostering dialogue on important policy issues. In this capacity, he leads the Policy Dialogue on Entrepreneurship, focused on public policies to promote entrepreneurship in the U.S. and around the world. In addition, he serves as a senior fellow at the Kauffman Foundation.
