Risky Business: Corruption Fraud Terrorism and Other Threats to Global Business

The events of 11 September 2001 and subsequently have brought into sharp focus the risks to businesses and employees in international markets. The risks are not confined to the actions of a few fanatical terroists. They encompass a range of activity arising from different cultures and attitudes. They stem from the willingness or otherwise of governments to strengthen weaknesses in policing, judicial systems and anti-terrorism and to stamp out organized crime, corruption, unfair trading, cronyism, bureaucracy and civil unrest. All these things exist to some degree in every country of the world. Through its international network - both offical and clandestine - Stuart Poole-Robb's company, the Merchant International Group, acts for many major international corporates in evaluating risks before investment and determining likely threats to success and safety well beyond the norms of due diligence. This book is the result of 20 years' experience in this field. It explains in detail the nature of risk and provides country analysis showing the extent and severity of local risk. It also explains defences against the listed risks through careful assessment, staff awareness, architecture and design and security equipment.

Table of Contents:
Foreword The Rt. Hon. Sir John Wheeler PC JP DL, Chairman, Service Authorities for the National Criminal Intelligence Service and National Crime Squad Foreword Dan Pinck (ex CIA) Acknowledgements Introduction Part One: Invisible Risk and its Impact on Investment 1. Operating in overseas markets 2. Invisible risks Grey Area Dynamics MIG's ten GADs and their sub sections The iceberg 3. The problem with strategy Direction Information collection Analysis and planning Bargaining Decision-making 4. Understanding culture Business integration Case study: South Korea] 5. Bureaucracy, corruption and FDI Bureaucracy and liberality of investment regimes Corruption Case study: Indonesia (1) Case study: Indonesia (2) 6. Legal safeguards Case study: Poland Case study: CIS/Ukraine/Russia 7. Criminal activities Counterfeiting and Fraud Case study: Russia Case study: European Union 8. The good, the bad and the unethical Case study: Burma Case study: Royal Dutch/Shell 9. Other headaches Extremism Unfair competition Case study: Russia Case study: industrial espionage 10. A little light relief Part Two: The World's Troublespots 11. Introduction Religious fanaticism and creeping Islam International organized crime syndicates 12. Origins of the threat to business 13. Political terrorist groups 14. Global scenario update 15. Risk ratings 16. Middle East - the Saudi domino effect Instability in Saudi Arabia Expanded US operations against Iraq Re-radicalization in Iran Higher intensity Israeli-Palestinian conflict Instability in Turkey 17. Latin America Regional recession 18. Asia Pacific Indo-Pakistani conflict over Kashmir US operations extended into Pakistan US operations extended into Pakistan A widened Sino-Indian war A new Taiwan crisis A Korean crisis Islamic revolution in Indonesia 19. The lesser risks - country by country Asia and the Far East Europe and the Former Soviet Union The Middle East Latin America Africa Part Three: Threat and Defence 20. Introduction Extortion/blackmail Kidnapping or hostage-taking Political terrorism 21. The defence of buildings, personnel and stock The threat from direct action groups Protection after the blast Chemical and biological threats Evacuation of buildings on receipt of a warning or after terrorist attack Defence of stock Cybercrime 22. Proactive & precautionary measures Personal security International travel Documents and currency Medical Airport safety Hotel safety Street awareness Security when mobile Portable computer and mobile telephone security Security at home Child safety Leisure Women travellers Attack and kidnap for ransom Personal reactions Coping with captivity Safeguarding your family Response to a kidnap call Dealing with bombs Part Four: Conclusions 23. Conclusions Appendices References About the Authors About MIC Merchant International Group (MIG) Publications Index

About the Author :
Stuart Poole-Robb is the Chief Executive of MIG. He joined the military at 15. Many transfers and postings later, he was selected for training in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism. Later he saw service in Egypt, behind the 'iron curtain' in Germany, Libya, Nigeria, Oman, and the Yemen, among other hotspots. As a civilian, he has worked for the Rank Organisation, Sperry Rand Inc, Alders International and Corals plc. His work with MIG began in 1982. Alan Bailey was the Chairman of the Merchant International Group between 1995 and 1998 and has recently re-joined the board. He is also the Executive Chairman of City and West End Clubs Ltd (Placemakers), ABS Communications and Alastor Ltd. This follows a varied career in the army Intelligence Corps, public service, the charity sector and as a columnist and cartoonist for national newspapers, magazines and journals.