How to Most Effectively Influence Government Policy-Making in Asia?

By Shijie Chen | Published May 3, 2012

Frontier Strategy Group’s research has found that Multinational companies across Asia use a wide variety of channels to influence government policy as differing political systems and cultural norms demand unique strategies to manage domestic government engagement.

1. Effective Channels For Influencing Government Policy

Companies across China, India, and S.E. Asia find local industry organizations, chambers of commerce, and external government affairs agencies to be the three most effective channels for influencing government policy

2. Top Choice For Influencing Government Policy

Local industry organizations are also the first choice for more than 40% of the respondents for influencing government policy across all regions

Interestingly, India is the only region in which engaging external government affairs agencies is a top choice for influencing public policy. Handling India’s political complexities and unreceptive government officials requires strong local connections that government affairs agencies are able to manage effectively

In China, engaging business partners to influence public policy is considered highly effective due to the strong relationship between the government and the private sector. This is not surprising because “guan xi” (relationship ties) play a very important role in gaining access to policy makers thus influencing their decisions

*Shishir Sinha contributed to this post