Connectivity a catalyst for growth

AFTER decades of seemingly inexorable progress towards ever greater global integration through the free movement of goods, capital, people and ideas, we are witnessing the rise of protectionism and the erection of new trade barriers in the US and Europe.

At the same time, while global growth is anaemic, there are many opportunities for companies and individuals to bring to bear their products, capabilities and talents to target pockets of growth across the world.

In a study on the top 100 companies from emerging markets that are still rapidly expanding and globalising with confidence and ambition, the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) found that these "global challengers" have grown in size nearly four times faster than their peers in mature markets and generated shareholder returns more than five times higher.