AHK India Newsletter July 2023
Indo-German Chamber of Commerce
This Newsletter features the latest news from both India and Germany, with an emphasis on fostering closer ties between the two countries. It aims to highlight the many different aspects of Indo-German business and culture, and the powerful potential for collaboration that exists between the two.
Topics covered include:
- Jobs and careers
- Business enquiries
- Events
Get More From Your Next Executive Search With These Strategies
One of the key responsibilities for any organization is to nurture a high performing and retaining culture. But finding the right leader and management for your organization can be a daunting task. The stakes are high and mistakes are not allowed. A wrong decision in your executive search can cost you money, time, and even the success of your company.
Emerging Talent Trends Shaping India’s Dynamic Job Market in 2023
The talent market in India is experiencing significant changes, driven by global economic shifts, technological advancements, and evolving workforce expectations. Some noteworthy talent trends observed in India, as per EY’s Future of Pay Report 2023, include an expanding talent pool, shortage of skilled talent, intensified competition for top talent, upskilling and reskilling, key sectors for job growth, and retention and attrition rates.
SOTM: Europe holds a significant market share of spark plug imports to the top African countries
Angola, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa are the top importers of vehicle parts in Africa. The countries with significant market shares for European automotive parts are Morocco at 66%, South Africa at 54%, and Egypt at 26%.
Guangzhou’s Talent Green Card System: Benefits, Eligibility, and Application Process
The city of Guangzhou in southern China officially approved a set of measures to implement a Talent Green Card scheme. The primary goal of this scheme is to attract high-level talent from both domestic and international sources. Under this program, two tiers of Talent Green Cards are offered to individuals with outstanding skills, granting them a diverse range of benefits to facilitate their relocation, living arrangements, employment opportunities, and business endeavors in Guangzhou.
UAE Expands ‘Emiratisation’ Employment Plan: Foreign Investors Take Note
The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has announced a significant expansion of its Emiratisation programme for the private sector. The new plan now includes companies and individual establishments employing between 20 to 49 workers, focusing on 14 specific main economic activities.
Selling to the Indian Market
This publication offers insights into different approaches for entering the Indian retail market and establishing a corporate entity, along with essential factors for foreign retailers to consider when investing in the country.
Topics:
- Overview of India’s Retail Industry
- Market Entry Routes and Retail Strategy
- Key Considerations Before Selling Foreign Products in India
AfricaContact: The International Business Magazine
This is a joint publication by BVMW e.V. and MWM Medien Foreign Trade - Logistics - Customs I Trade media and seminars.
Topics covered:
- E-mobility: Social enterprises shape change in the African transport sector
- The 10 Sub-Saharan African countries with the highest growth forecasts for 2023
- Setting up a business in Africa: How to find the right local partners?
- Improving performance through skill competitions
Czechia: Amendment to the Labor Code addresses the performance of remote work
A major amendment bill to the Labor Code which seeks to implement EU legislation is still being debated on the floor of the House of Deputies. The planned changes concern, among other things, the performance of remote work.
The amendment to the Czechia's Labor Code anticipates that remote work may only be performed based on a written agreement to such effect between employer and employee. The obligation to which such an agreement gives rise may be terminated by way of a mutual understanding between the parties; it may also be cancelled (for any reason, or without stating any reason at all) observing a 15-day notice period.
Why the South African medical technology market is interesting for German manufacturers
According to an article published by africon GmbH, almost 40% of all medical devices and laboratory equipment in South Africa are imported from Germany.
As the MedTech sector continues to draw interest from German manufacturers, africon GmbH's CEO, Marc-Peter Zander sheds more light on ongoing projects in Africa's healthcare sector in this article for Medizin & Technik.
An Introduction to Doing Business in India 2023 for EU Businesses
This guide covers the following topics:
- India’s investment climate
- Foreign trade scenario: Policy and procedures
- India-EU investments, trade, and potential for collaboration
- Human resources and payroll
Human Resources & Payroll in China 2023 (10th Edition) covers the following:
Human Resources & Payroll in China 2023 covers the following:
- Hiring Staff
- Staff Administration and Payroll
- Terminating Employees
- Employing Foreign Workers
- Privacy and Data Protection
A Guide to Singapore’s Labor Law
The field of human resource management in Singapore has undergone significant advancements in response to the dynamic and competitive market environment, especially from the mid-1990s onwards. National-level policies and strategies have been devised to optimize the utilization of human capital and facilitate substantial transformation. The Singaporean government has consistently advocated for a centralized approach to human resource management, while foreign investment has continued to play a significant role in shaping the landscape.
The Power of Knowledge Management in Recruiting Top Talent
When we reach out to potential candidates, having access to tailored templates and adaptable models for candidate outreach can save time and ensure a consistent, yet specific approach across different candidates and searches. Nowadays, quick and relevant communication is expected. And knowledge management ensures that it can be delivered.
...strategic information and knowledge management in recruiting top talent not only saves us an enormous amount of time but also ensures quality, reliability, consistency, efficiency – and success.
Wage costs are increasing noticeably and steadily
René Harun Managing Director AHK Services, Subsidiary of the German-Czech Chamber of Industry and Commerce (AHK), Prague
What impact does the Czech Republic have on the German economy?
The Czech Republic's impact on the German economy is grossly understated. This could be for a number of reasons, amongst which are the lack of relevant media coverage, and preference being given to the supposedly more "exotic" countries such as Russia, China, Iran, or South America. In the end, many tend to forget that the Czech Republic plays a significant role in the development of the German economy. The country is Germany's tenth most important foreign trade partner, with a new foreign trade record of 113 billion euros in 2022.
I have a long candidate blacklist
Lubica Zaťková Assignment Manager Czech Republic & Slovakia at CT Executive Search, Prague
How difficult is it to find the right candidates in the Czech market?
Of course, it strongly depends on the position to be filled. However, in general, I can say that it is very difficult in the field of skilled workers. This is especially true for more remote areas without good infrastructure. Many candidates are inflexible and not willing to relocate, even if there are welcome bonuses or relocation packages.
Slovak skilled workers, who used to be widespread in the Czech Republic, are now hardly coming here anymore. Salaries in Slovakia have now reached Czech levels in many places, so the incentive is not as great anymore.
Updates on Foreigners' Law in the Czech Republic
Dr. Stephan Heidenhain bnt – attorneys-at-law s.r.o., Prag
EU citizens and British citizens who already had a residence permit in the Czech Republic by the end of 2020 can stay in the country without a residence permit. Family members of EU citizens (including British citizens and EEA and Swiss citizens) can obtain a residence permit relatively easily. The provisions for stateless individuals were included in § 170d of the Act on Foreigners in 2021.
Doing Business in Dubai 2023
This brand new, 120 page publication is a unique introduction to the United Arab Emirates with a special focus on Dubai. It deals with the corporate legal, tax and compliance mechanisms involved in establishing and managing a business in Dubai and contains all the latest details of the new 2023 Dubai tax code, set to come into effect from June 1st, 2023.
Clarifying UAE Individual Income Tax Liabilities & Exemptions For Residents and Non-Residents
Recent cabinet decisions clarifying Individual Income Tax liability and exemptions have just been issued before the June 1st new tax regime. Individuals in the UAE should pay immediate attention to these new rules regarding:
- Individual Income Tax Threshold
- Determining Business Activity
- Salary, Personal Investments and Real Estate Investments
Shanghai Implements New Criteria for Permanent Residence Applications from May 1, 2023
Shanghai has introduced some new criteria for permanent residence application starting May 1, 2023. Among others, foreigners who apply for permanent residence as working staff are now subject to higher salary thresholds and stricter non-criminal record requirements.
Czechia: EU seeks the establishment of gender balance on company boards
EU member states will newly be required to adopt binding regal regulations under which listed companies must staff their boards such that the underrepresented sex is not put at a disadvantage.
The bulk of the Directive consists of a summarization of its value-based assumptions and its assessment of the current situation in the recitals. It perceives equality between women and men to be a major founding value of the European Union, and makes reference to a number of other pieces of EU legislation and recommendations aimed at fostering gender-based equality across the private sector.
DON'T START WHEN EVERYONE ELSE STARTS
Sven Henniger, Partner, Henniger Winkelmann Consulting (HWC LLC)
We are already talking about 400 billion euros in reconstruction costs. In principle, any company can participate in the reconstruction. The reconstruction will not primarily be a question of costs, so Western European companies can also be involved. Therefore, companies must already consider how they want to position themselves for participation in the reconstruction. If a peace treaty is signed, then all companies will want to be in Ukraine. It will be difficult to obtain appointments, land, and licenses, as institutions and service providers will be at full capacity. Therefore, it is important to find the right timing for engagement in Ukraine. It could be today or tomorrow, but one should not start only when everyone else has already begun.
Ukraine: PREPARING FOR THE POST-WAR ERA
Christian Tegethoff, Managing Director, CT Executive Search
How do you find executives in Ukraine under the current circumstances?
International companies currently have particularly good chances of filling management or representative positions. Ukrainian managers who want to improve their career prospects have few alternatives at the moment. Kyiv and Western Ukraine is currently an employer's market for executives in general, and there are candidates available who would not normally be available in normal times. In other areas, such as accounting and finance, there is indeed a local shortage of personnel due to migration to Western countries.
Rebuild Ukraine
Ost-Ausschuss der Deutschen Wirtschaft/German Eastern Business Association
According to the German-Ukrainian Chamber of Industry and Commerce, around 2,000 companies from Germany alone are active in Ukraine. German companies are active in many sectors such as agriculture, construction, transport and logistics, electronic components and health care.
The document is divided into seven sections and begins with comments on general frameworks and ideas for structuring the reconstruction process. This is followed by six sector-specific sections on the topics of construction, logistics and infrastructure, energy, agriculture, health and digitalisation.
THRIVING IN INDIA: CAN EXPATS BECOME EXPERTS?
CT Executive Search Press Release
As economic ties continue to strengthen, what should German companies and employees expect when doing business in India? What are the current HR trends in India, and how easy is it for expatriates to integrate into India’s business culture?
“India is fast becoming a production location, with local and international companies manufacturing goods for the rapidly growing domestic and international markets. We have seen a significant increase in the number of requests to recruit top management to various European companies currently based in India. As India’s economy continues to grow, I predict a boom in executive search, which will include a significant demand for expatriate personnel, particularly, during market entry. In India, we recruit both locals and expatriates to fill top management positions. We have an extensive pool of Indian and expatriate candidates for companies to consider.” - Christian Tegethoff, Managing Director, CT Executive Search