Last modified: 2019-09-30
Abstract
Abstract
Purpose: Due to the mushrooming of extraordinary innovations and fast progress in the information technology, our planet has become a small village. It can be easily reachable from one corner to another physically and electronically. Unfortunately, many developing nations in Africa and elsewhere have a long way to fully benefit from the available vast stock of valuable knowledge and technologies that are ubiquitous globally (Wamae, 2005; Kemeny, 2011). Nations are now easily able to learn from one other for mutual benefit. The learning includes the HOWs and WHYs of enhancing their socio-economic developmental continuum. They can do that by adapting the successful experience of benchmark nations in the way to fit their objective reality on the ground. Productive and judicious socio-economic interactions and collaborations are vital preconditions for fostering national economic development. Nowadays, it is easier and convenient for nations to engage in dynamic economic interactions with one another in several dimensions. This is possible for all nations despite their developmental stages and resourcefulness (Meseguera, 2009; Link, 2012). In the midst of any national economy, tripartite collaboration among government, community and the private sector is fundamental. In fact, it is an essential push factor for building a strong and creative national economy. Above all, the building of an effective, democratic and broadly outreached bottom-up governance system at all levels is essential. As a priority, enhancing the internal strength is necessary for building the required resources and capabilities for nation building. Singapore is one of the prime examples of this synergy (NG, 2012; Wong, 2013; Chan, 2013).
Eritrea is located in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea achieved its sovereignty in 1991 after 30 years of long and bitter struggle again its big neighbor Ethiopia for historical, territorial and access to the sea reasons. The arduous protracted armed struggle left a marked damaging legacy on Eritrea’s socio-economic capacity. Already 28 years are passed since its independence. Unfortunately, Eritrea’s dream of building a strong and well developed national economy still pending. There are several reasons for the current precarious situation of the country.
Paradoxically, both Eritrea and Singapore are located in the geo-strategically important corners of the world. Singapore is currently one of the most successful nations in the world. Several studies extensively addressed how Singapore achieved its extra-ordinary success in few decades (Ketels, et al, 2009; Ghosh, 2001; Goh, 2005; Yeung, 2000; Kuruvilla and Erickson 2002; Hopf, 2011; Kumar and Siddique, 2010; Amaldas, 2009; OECD, 2010). Singapore was in the same condition as Eritrea five decades ago. In fact, Eritrea is potentially more endowed than Singapore in vital natural endowments. It is also bigger in size. With its potential endowments, Eritrea can pull itself out of the quagmire of abject poverty and precarious economic status by learning from Singapore’s success story. This includes learning from Singapore’s successful building of its national economy by fostering the grassroots entrepreneurial innovation capacity. In this paper, we aimed to: (a) identify the major factors that helped Singapore to build dynamic and creative national economy within a shorter time; (b) evaluate the current situation of Eritrea and its potentially available endowments, (c) articulate what lessons can Eritrea learn from Singapore’s socio-economic achievements so far, and (d) formulate a helpful conceptual developmental Eco-system that can help Eritrea’s efforts in building a strong, viable and creative national economy, The paper will focus on the dissemination of entrepreneurship and innovation at the grassroots level. Indeed, capacity building at the grassroots level is the backbone of any national economy.
Methodological Approach: The paper will focus on critical inquiry and diagnosis of anecdotal facts in a broader fashion. Based on this backgrounder discourse, we will construct a conceptual Eco-system. The objective of the Eco-system is to serve as a helpful reference for Eritrea’s developmental endeavors. Our paper will depend on the relevant secondary data extracted from a variety of sources for the constructing of Eco-system. Our discourse will give emphasis to the elements of the Eco-system in order to reflect the vital elements of the developmental process. We believe that our paper will make a marked contribution towards effective learning from the successful Singaporean nation building experience. Eritrea, as potentially endowed country, can achieve faster and sustainable development by learning from Singapore. Our paper will also attempt to provide helpful recommendations
Scope and Implications: The paper has a limited scope. It will focus on the HOWs and WHYs of learning from the success story of Singapore. The central issue is, what Eritrea can learn and be able to proceed forward in its developmental endeavors. To deal with, we will engage with the construction of a relevant Eco-system containing vital elements of national economic development policies and strategies. We will give more attention towards promoting grassroots entrepreneurship and innovation as engine of economic growth. In sum, this conceptual paper will shed the light and serve as a steppingstone for further research. We hope other researchers will engaged in focused research agendas related to the issue.
Values and Contributions: Nation building is a formidable task and requires dedicated efforts. We expect that our research will contribute to this noble objective by providing recommendations. There is a proverbial wisdom saying: ‘Those who make it best should enlighten you and those who made a mistake should advise you”. Emerging nations like Eritrea should foster their commitment by building the ability of enhancing their developmental process by learning from other successful nations. This is indeed on of the proven developmental roadmaps. The experience of others should be adapted to reflect the local objective reality. We hope this study will provide a valuable information towards building a roadmap for the future developmental efforts of Eritrea
Keywords: Singapore, Eritrea, Emerging Nations, Economic Development Eco-system, Developmental Policies and Strategies, Nation Building Agenda
Paper Type: Conceptual and Inquiry