Challenge and Competition
in a Globalised World

At Zurich airport, we met some delegates at the conference. We then set off by car for Zug. It was a journey of around an hour. The very smooth road passed through beautiful surroundings, with abundant greenery and well-planned rows of buildings. Not once did a car overtake the vehicle we were travelling in. On the contrary, it seemed as if every car was moving ahead in its lane, in the same way as stars travel in their orbits. Furthermore, the person driving the car continuously provided us with information about the country, like a good guide.

We finally arrived at Zug, where arrangements had been made for accommodation in a hotel. Zug is a historical town consisting of two portions—an old section and a new section. The town is located on the banks of a lake called Lake Zug. The first reference to Zug is from 1242 C.E. In 1273, Rudolf IV of Habsburg bought this area. In 1352, it was incorporated into the Swiss Confederation. In the period of what is called ‘The Reformation’, it remained Roman Catholic. There are still many historical buildings in the town.

There was a small library in the hotel suite where arrangements had been made for me to stay. It contained books on general topics. We placed some of our books in the library. I came across an English magazine, Pearls of Switzerland, in the library, where I spotted an article about education. A passage from the article, produced below, highlights some significant facts:

‘The world economy is becoming increasingly global, and markets are virtually integrated. For a small and open economy like Switzerland’s, globalisation and the integration of markets means that companies are in permanent competition with others. In such a marketplace, companies can only survive and gain market shares if they constantly develop new and original market products and services that respond to customers’ needs. Research and development, the generation of knowledge and know-how, innovation, and technological progress are crucial to this process.’

Some people want to respond to competition by demanding protective measures for themselves in our world. However, the wise policy is to face the challenge with proper preparation. One cannot face the challenge of competition by running away from it.