Bill Gates presented his vision of the world, preaching for development of the planet through the spreading of technologies and the access to information for everyone from Africa to Asia.

Bill pictured the society of tomorrow where the convergence of all media and systems will permit to be "wired" permanently in an interactive world.

The availability of information and new media will permit to create transparency in those countries where the practice block the individial initiatives.

It will permit to everyone to compete at a more equal level, in a more balanced world.  Already the Web 2 technologies  shows the great possibilities to generate new business models and speak up to a world with more freedom.

He explained how at the age of 13, together with his pal Joe Allen, he stepped into the entrepreneurial world.

At that time Bill gate had no ambition to succeed in Business, he was simply a passionate teenager, who loved spending his time programming.
 
He had the vision that computers could be used by the wide public and not only the companies. At that time this thinking was totally out of perspective, no one could believe that PC would reach most of our homes . IT was for specialists only.

He  focussed developing software that could be use with no clue of programming. There started the big story that made him the richest man in the world.

From 2008 Bill Gates will retire from his function of Microsoft Chairman and work exclusively for his foundation. His ambition is to partner with pharmaceutical companies to permit the access to medicine to whose who cannot afford to subsidy the billions R/D efforts  by paying the high price.

What surprised me most during this debate is  the simplicity and humanity  that  Bill Gates his showing though his formidable achievements.

Emmanuel Facovi

I would like to uncover here some tips  learned during my "livings" and experiences abroad

lets start with   Japan " how to behave in society or business"

and first:

-Do not say "NO",

Say  "Maybe or I will think of it or hummm!", it is almost the same .Very often when Japaneese  do not understand or disagree something ,they put their hand in front of their face and move it soflty right and left.

-Never contradict directly your interlocutor in public , you will make him loose face which is a kind of way of insulting him. Honour is something of the foundation of japaneese culture.Appearance is more important than Truth

-Do not call someone with his first name , always use his last name + San

-Avoid physical contact (exept maybe handshakind but prefer the bending)  Never put your hand or arm on someone's shoulder. Do not look japaneese straight in the eyes.

-Do not open doors to women or do not let them enter somewhere before you (as frenchman quite sorry to have to folllow this rule). When I lived in Japan I was quite chocked in the companies I worked to see how generally women were ordered , and how they were running to proceed what they were asked. This was 10 years backwards I hope it is changing

-Do not make big gestures or speak loudly 

-Do not complimente someone in public

- Bring a Gift (omiyage) but not too important ones (It would appear as corruption). Give it with your two hands like your vivit cards and bend.

-Take your shoes off when entering by someone.(there is always slippers waiting for you)

If you are invited, before starting your meal say  "thank you " ("itadakimasu") Do not play with you sticks and do not use the same sticks for serving and eating. Do not leave yous stick in your food.

- Smile  (but with respect) , Meals are often the occasion of very good laughtings. Try to learn some basics in Japaneese you can be sure they will love it and it will make them laugh (I learned Japaneese 2 years and even my japaneese was very poor it opened great opportunities with them). If you are a women put your hand over you face when you laught

Firsto f all to communicate properly in Japan , you have to keep a very high control of your emotions. Japaneese do not like someone showing its feelings or acting differently from "the group". The communication follow a formal path and to act differently is consider as unpolite.

Japaneese hate conflicts, whenever possible they try to find a good compromise.

These advises are not always or fully in use amoung the young generation who act and react west style, anyway following this would certainly give you better chance to be welcome in Japan.  

I would like to recommend interesting view of Japan: The excellent movie "Lost in Translation" (from Sofia Coppola with Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray  ) and the books "Stupeur et tremblement"  (Amelie Nothomb) and "Geisha" (Arthur Golden)

Diplomacy as understood today has very little in common with the Diplomacy from King Louis 14th or Diplomacy during the Cold War.

Globalisation of world economy has moved Diplomacy from Political to Economical field with increasing number of actors. Today world is ruled by global companies and cross national alliance between those companies who need diplomats to lobby on international organizations and governments.

The states themselves are engaged into the economic competition requiring this new type of diplomacy, sometimes State Presidents take a direct part into it acting as Super Salesmen

From the scope of  Borders and Defense we have seen   diplomatic action growing n the field of Energy, Transportation Industry (Car, Planes), Telecommunication, Biology and Technology (Hard and Software’s). Some of the more powerfull managers wear a dipmomat cap today.

Bill Gates himself has moved from a Genius Engineer to a Brilliant Entrepreneur  to the leading Microsoft Chief Diplomat , spending much times with Gouvernments and Political representatives.

le Bog de l'equipe Via Venture part a la decouverte de nouveaux horizons par le partage d'informations et de "best practices", de veille economique , culturelle, technologique .Incubateur d'ideés, sur la creation ,la diplomatie  ,les nouveaux projets économiques et culturels.