APCO Worldwide :: Commentary

China's Indigenous Innovation Policies: A Web of Industrial Policies

James McGregor — 29 Jul 2010 14:41:16 GMT

China's indigenous innovation campaign and surrounding web of industrial policies represent the beginning of a new era in China's economic and political relationship with international business and the developed world. It has already generated a great deal of reaction and comment from many western companies and governments. We hope this report contributes to the debate.

This report was written for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce by Jim McGregor, a senior counselor with APCO Worldwide based in Beijing. It was just released publicly this week and was the subject of a recent article in the Wall Street Journal.

UK Emergency Budget 2010: Political Briefing

Razi Rahman — 23 Jun 2010 17:29:21 GMT

Six weeks after the formation of the Liberal-Conservative coalition government, the new Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne MP, presented his first budget to the House of Commons. With the government stating that its first priority is to reduce the budget deficit and restore economic growth, today’s announcement made clear the scale of the action it believes is required. Announcements made today are likely to affect the UK’s economy, the structure of its public sector and the conduct of its politics for years to come.

UK Election 2010: Queen's Speech

Razi Rahman — 26 May 2010 17:29:21 GMT

With a new coalition government in place in the United Kingdom, the Queen has called Parliament into session and we get our first look at the new political agenda for Britain.

UK Election 2010: A New Government

12 May 2010 16:40:55 GMT

The United Kingdom entered unchartered political waters today as David Cameron and Nick Clegg announced details of the new Liberal-Conservative coalition government. Speaking to press in the Downing Street garden on their first full day in office, Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg emphasized their “shared resolve” to tackle the challenges facing Britain. The Prime Minister said the new coalition will be united behind the principles of freedom, fairness and responsibility and its key purpose would be to provide “strong, stable and determined” leadership for the long term.

Thank Your Lucky Stars - How to Retain High Performers

29 Apr 2010 16:38:59 GMT

With a sluggish economy and high unemployment rates, it might be easy for managers to assume that their workers will remain in their current jobs. However, research shows that such thinking is dangerous...

An Analysis of the 2010 UK Budget Report

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:37:52 -0400

Just weeks before a General Election, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling MP, today presented his Budget Statement to the House of Commons. Given the fragile state of the economy and the poor state of the public finances, this Budget was never going to contain the tax cuts and spending increases that have been the hallmark of so many pre-election budgets, under both Labour and Conservative Governments. However, such limited room for manoeuvre did not alter the fact that this was a clearly a political Budget in content and presentation.

Bridging the Credibility Gap in Greece

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:36:35 -0400

Much like President Obama, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou took office last year with a mandate for change. Domestic civil unrest had dampened the spirits of Greek citizens and undermined the country’s commercial and political success. The consequences of the country’s failing economy, felt throughout Europe, were causing widespread unease.

China's 2010 National People's Congress

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:35:52 -0400

With ritual regularity, the National People’s Congress (NPC) convenes each March in Beijing for a two-week session, drawing together nearly 3,000 delegates from around the country. In theory, the NPC is China’s highest organ of state power, and this gathering marks one of the most important events in the Chinese political calendar.

Seize the chance for change (PR Week)

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 15:33:54 -0400

The one certainty about the result of the next election will be change: likely, but not necessarily, in terms of who governs; definitely, in terms of how we are governed; and, importantly, in terms of how public affairs is practised.

Politics, Economy and Society: Opportunity and Challenge for Public Relations

Wed, 3 Feb 2010 15:32:06 -0400

Public relations and public diplomacy occupy an increasingly converging space. As business takes on a broader role, combining policies and principles, our profession is likewise also broadened, embracing the context and complexity of economy, society and politics. Looking ahead, our profession will be asked to play even more of an ambassadorial, facilitator role, one that is closely linked with public affairs and public diplomacy.

The Global Financial Crisis and its Impact on the International Stock Markets

Wed, 3 Feb 2010 15:31:02 -0400

We have all been coexisting with the global economic crisis for approaching 18 months, and most major economies now appear to have bottomed out and returned to growth. Nevertheless, the crisis has been widely characterized as the worst since the stock market crash of 1929 and the subsequent Great Depression of the 1930s. 2008 was the first year since the Great Depression that the global economy as a whole experienced negative growth. Fears that this recession would develop into a depression have substantially receded, although there are still widespread concerns about the possible shallowness of the recovery. Many economists and other commentators including the IMF continue to caution governments not to relax stimulus packages that have been launched to rescue those economies in recession. Events have moved so quickly that it is sometimes difficult to recall that as recently as mid- 2008, the greatest global economic threats appeared to be the ballooning prices of crude oil and staple food commodities.

iPad Revolution - What's Next for the News Industry

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:30:02 -0400

Yesterday’s announcement of Apple’s new iPad media tablet could prove to be a critical turning point in the fortunes of news media organizations, many of which have been crippled by dwindling subscriber numbers and evaporating ad budgets over the past several years. Even before yesterday’s hotly anticipated launch, technology has already revolutionized news – think of Iran’s Twitter Revolution, budding camera-phone citizen journalists during recent U.S. elections and crowd-sourced news sites like Digg and Stumbleupon – all underscored by the fact that the number of people reading news online overtook print readership in 2008.

When Flash Fails

Thu, 7 Jan 2010 17:07:07 -0400

“Progressive enhancement” and its goateed evil twin “progressive failure” We all know the value of being prepared. When a project doesn’t go precisely as planned (and what project does?), it’s always best to anticipate some likely scenarios and prepare solutions in advance.

New Restrictions on Access to Chinese Government Procurement Market

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:07:07 -0400

The Chinese government has announced the launch of a national program to accredit indigenous innovation products. APCO understands this program would be used for the purposes of government procurement, part of an ambitious agenda to promote the development of indigenous innovation by Chinese enterprises.

A need for external relations

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:07:07 -0400

Convincing clients of the true value of external comms can be achieved in just a few steps. By Ed Walsh in PRWeek

Secrets of Success

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:07:07 -0400

Twenty-one years ago, The Washingtonian, the Greater Washington Board of Trade, and Junior Achievement of the National Capital Area created the Washington Business Hall of Fame to recognize leaders who have made this area a great place to do business.

The New German Government: Business as Usual?

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:07:07 -0400

The re-election of Angela Merkel as Chancellor of Germany on October 28, 2009, was followed by her swearing in and that of her 15 cabinet ministers. Her new four-year term officially started the next day.

Consumer Trends in Prevention and Wellness Are Impacting Your Bottom Line: How to Get Ahead of the Curve

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:07:07 -0400

Prevention and wellness have become tremendously important for global companies over the past decade, not only for their employees, but also for their customers and their communities.

Critical Impact: Global Trends and Developments Shaping Public Affairs Strategy and Practice

Fri, 9 Oct 2009 17:07:07 -0400

A speech by Brad Staples. We are living and operating in a “reset” world, a world that's been “reset” by a trio of global crises.

A Healthy Economy

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:07:07 -0400

Europeans tend to view president Barack Obama's drive for healthcare reform in the US with smug bemusement.

Gulf of opportunity

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:07:07 -0400

In the Gulf region, leaders believe that the impossible is possible with vision, perseverance and risk. Just 10 years ago, it was defined by desert sand and rich oil reserves. Today it is bidding for the 2020 Olympics, building a Louvre and a Guggenheim, and hosting Formula One. The region is home to some of the world's most beautiful architectural achievements and offers a unique lifestyle, the sampling of which is on every globetrotter's must-do list.

'Prove it' is the new standard

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:07:07 -0400

When it comes to CSR communications, proof has replaced trust as the organising principle

Bloggers, The Beltway & Your Future

Tue, 1 Sep 2009 17:07:07 -0400

The successful pharmaceutical marketer is the one who can most effectively deal with the new power brokers who will influence whether a product is a success.

We Won’t Let the Terrorists Beat Us

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:07:07 -0400

This article was featured in The Jakarta Globe on July 18, 2009. As the news of yet another bombing reached me on my mobile phone early on Friday, I was breakfasting with an expatriate friend. We were together at a restaurant in another high-profile building within sight of the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels.

A Perspective on the Indonesian Presidential Election

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:07:07 -0400

This article was featured in The Jakarta Post on July 22, 2009. To the extent that foreign investment was discussed during the Presidential election debates, it acted mostly as a football, there to be kicked and abused notably by the losing candidates. Apparently foreign investors, so voters were encouraged to believe, have been having much too easy a time in Indonesia and need to be sharply reined in.

Health Reform Discussion with Ken Thorpe

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:07:07 -0400

On July 21, 2009, APCO Worldwide, a global leader in health policy and health care consulting, hosted a dinner in Washington, D.C. featuring Ken Thorpe, Ph.D., one of the nation’s leading health economists.

Where lobbyists were coyotes!

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:07:07 -0400

Latin America presents a vibrant and exciting prospect for communication professionals: from the more developed economies of Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Mexico to the less developed, such as Venezuela, Honduras, Bolivia and Nicaragua.

How Stakeholders Have Become the “New Consumers”