Instructor explores China, India, will present his findings

MHCC business instructor Andy Wong spent the winter term on sabbatical in China and India studying business environments.

On Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. in the Town and Gown Room, he will share his observations as part of Mt. Hood’s Worldview series.

“India Incorporated versus China Incorporated: A Personal Journey,” will be a mix  of a travelogue and his take on the business aspect.

Firsthand encounters with pollution, infrastructure and cultural differences made quite the experience for Wong.

“You hear about a lot of things, but you don’t realize how bad it is until you experience it,” he said.

Wong wanted to stray from academic research, and instead immerse himself in each country’s business community to confirm previous perceptions and discover new things.

He chose India because he teaches case studies on India, but had never been to the country.

While China presented a challenging infrastructure 20 years ago, it has improved since. However, India today is in a similar position that China held previously, he said. Some rural areas in China have developed into industrial parks since Wong last visited in 1987.

He also found how prevalent technology is in China now, and how social media would be a useful tool for businesses.