Christmas Markets: a multi-million business

Nowadays it is a tradition: when Christmas is coming, also the Christmas Markets  are opened in many Cities. Originated in the German-speaking part of Europe, this tradition finds its roots in the late Middle Age: the first one was created in Dresden in 1434. 

One of the most beautiful Christmas Market - Vienna (Austria)

Even if the most beautiful Christmas Markets are located in Germany and Austria, they are spread in many different places. We can find them in Naples, as well as in Madrid and in Edinburgh, there are also markets opened in US and Canada, mainly on the idea of some German immigrants. Even in Japan there are Christmas Markets, in Osaka and Sapporo.

The diffusion of these markets is easily understandable: they are an incredible touristic attraction and a very good business. 

But which is exactly the value of this business? 

Obviously it is difficult to estimate it, considering that touches various Countries.
I found and interesting research made by JFC about the phenomenon of Christmas Markets in Italy.

The amount of this business is around 766 million Euro per year: 284 directly from the trade, and the rest from restaurants, hotels and shops. The most attractive markets are located in the region of Trentino - Alto Adige, near the border with Austria. But there are about 556 in Italy, that can last from just one to 72 days and that will host more than 12 million visitors.

The main products sold are decorations and groceries. Interesting also to point out that Italians like those markets for the atmosphere, for the traditional food and also the entertainment through concerts, exhibitions, and fireworks.

In conclusion, those markets give a positive effect to the economy and generate a business that, at least in Italy, represents about 8% of the total expence made for Christmas (about 9 billion Euro). It is also a good occasion to rediscover local traditions.

So...long live Christmas Markets!

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Reportage from Bangalore: plus and minus of an incredible growth

In October I had the opportunity to spend three weeks in India. I stayed in Bangalore, the capital of the State of Karnataka. With a population of 8.5 millions, Bangalore is the fourth largest metropolitan area in India, after Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai and it is the second fastest growing major metropolis after Surat.

Kempfort Shiva - Bangalore

Above all, Bangalore is the "Silicon Valley of India". It represents  the hub for many IT Companies: for instance, the Headquarters of Infosys and Wipro, the third and fourth largest software Indian Companies are located there. Bangalore also hosts Business and Technologic Outsourcing Centers of many corporations such as ABB, Boeing, Google, Hp, IBM, Nokia and Philips. This makes Bangalore the first outsourcing destination in the World according to Tholons Top 100 Outsourcing Destinations.

A new business center

It is useful to point out that Bangalore has always represented one of the most high-tech city of the region: for instance, it has been one of the first city in Asia to have electricity.

The economic growth of the last ten years has deeply touched this city. With $83 Billion per year and an annual growth of 10%, this metropolis is currently the fourth contributor of the Indian GDP after Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata.

Which are the most significant outcomes of this incredible growth?

The economic development has attracted people from different parts of India for the opportunities to easily get a job. The immigration has completely changed Bangalore: more buildings have been erected, taking away green spaces; moreover, almost everybody had been able to buy a personal vehicle so traffic and pollution became the first evident effect of the growth. In fact, Bangalore is in the top-10 most polluted cities in India.

Traffic in Bangalore

From the other side, prosperity has meant better condition of life, more professional and educational opportunities but, at the same time, also the increase of inequality. It is very common to see poverty and opulence in the space of few meters in the same street.

The wealth is also evident looking at the boost of the Income per capita: in 2000 in the state of Karnataka it was around 17.500 Rupees (250 Eur), now it is around 77000 (about 1000 Eur) - Per Capita Income of India. Also the cost of life is not as low as it could be expected, but actually comparable to the Eastern Europe: Bangalore is the third most expensive city in India after Dehli and Mumbai.

A cow in the street

Bangalore shows positive and negative effects of its economic growth. Even if it is considered one of the best city to live in India - for the business opportunities, the nightlife and the climate - it presents many contrasts. It is possible to find a nice street or beautiful temples and then, suddenly after the corner, seeing some cows browsing in the garbage.

Finally, in every big city in Europe we can see social and environmental imbalance, but in Bangalore those elements seem multiplied by 100 folds.
Anyway, quoting the former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about this modern megalopolis: "Bangalore is a brand the world identifies India with. It is also the single biggest reason why India has become such a hot investment destination".

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Who is the new President of Romania?

Recently a presidential election took place in Romania. In the first round, the Prime minister and leader of the Social Democratic Party Victor Ponta won with 40% of the votes, whilst Klaus Iohannis, leader of the Liberal National Party got 30% of preferences. The situation changed at the run-off: also after the protest on how Ponta's government organized the elections and in particular the Diaspora voting: Iohannis won with 54.5%. 

Klaus Iohannis focused his campaign on judicial independence and fiscal relaxation, offering a more liberal proposal against Ponta government, criticized also abroad for the corruption of the political system. He also built a very good reputation during the long period as major of Sibiu, in Transylvania Region, today one of the most touristic place in Romania and former European Capital of Culture (in 2007).

The figure of Klaus Iohannis is extremely interesting for two main reasons. First, he is Lutheran in a Country where the 86% of people are Orthodoxies (around 17 millions). Secondly, he is part of the Transylvanian Saxons, the German minority that is composed by 36 thousands persons.

In every Country the relation with minorities is not easy and in Romania it is well known the problem with the Hungarian minority, that set up a group of 1.2 million of people. The idea that an exponent of two minorities can become President of its State is a remarkable lesson of civilization and modernity, especially for a Country often considered low civil-minded.

Of course, the judgment will be given on the actions and on the results that the new President will get in the next five years. On some newspapers it came out the comparison with the election of Barak Obama: it is unlikely, but for sure the Obama lesson is that we have always wait the results got, before evaluate a politician. Nevertheless, elections like that can be considered not just interesting, but somehow, historical. 

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