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VIEWPOINT

Time for leadership

Ask people on the street what they think of businessmen, and they may well reply in terms that correspond more to movie-theater villains than hard-working entrepreneurs. Ask yourself why the popular mythology draws an unsavory picture of the business world, and you will find some hard answers. The historical roots of this misperception run deep, and sadly they have been reinforced by the local yellow press thanks to the unfortunate behavior of some members of the business community.

Socialism seemed like a very good idea at a time when the bulk of the population lived under conditions resembling the feudalism of the Dark Ages. The mistrust of capitalism and its exponents is part of the legacy of that era, and it is an attitude that cannot be expected to change overnight. The situation is not helped by incidents of back-biting, rumor mongering and self-promotion. The time has come for Egyptian business people to come of age and start acting in a more responsible, socially conscious manner.

First and foremost, I would like to take issue with excessive competition among business people. Take our project promotion methods. Many of us are involved in large-scale investment and development projects, and yet we act as if we were developing these projects in a vacuum. In promoting these projects, it is only common sense that one must first promote the context of the project - namely, the advances made by Egypt to create an environment suitable for investment. We should call attention to the efforts of the business community as a whole by mentioning similar projects undertaken by our colleagues.

By promoting Egypt we are promoting ourselves. If business people are worried about competition, they should remember one thing: The competition is not inside of Egypt; we are competing with a powerful global market, so it is far more intelligent to act as a united front.

We also bandy about the word "ethics" a great deal these days, and I'm afraid it's now looking a bit worse for wear. Ethical actions speak louder than words, and the fact is that ethics begin at home, under the roofs of our organizations.

If Egyptian businessmen are to win a reputation as conscientious corporate citizens whose work benefits their communities and has a direct impact on the prosperity of their nation, they must begin by convincing their partners and employees. Proper wages, motivation and shows of appreciation are crucial. People are our greatest assets, and they will be the most effective distributors of information about the qualities of their bosses and colleagues.

Business people must remember that they are members of a greater community. If we have worked hard and reaped benefits, they must be shared. Taxes must be paid. We must look around us and see where the need is the greatest and try to remedy it. Building hospitals, schools, making contributions to existing institutions - these are all standard corporate practices in the West. In Egypt they are even more crucial, not only because the need is greater but because these actions help win the confidence and support of the people on whom our continued prosperity depends.

Long-term thinking is the key. I believe we have reached the stage where we can all realize the value of visualizing the future in terms of our enterprises, our role in the community and our responsibility to our country. Ill-fated get-rich-quick schemes, poorly built buildings and certain depressing stretches of the Red Sea and Mediterranean coasts are testament to previous failures to think of ourselves as part of a community.

If we think we have the right to complain about the ill effects of previous administrations on our images and our ability to do business, let us ask ourselves a question. What legacy will we leave to future generations of enterprising men and women? The private sector is in the process of building a nation. Let us begin now, in a mature spirit of co-operation, to do so in a generous and large-minded way - a way of which we can be proud.

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