Oga replied on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 01:53 PM
Investor2137,
It is unfortunate that we have to be skeptical here, but it is not without reason. So assuming you are what you say you are, I'll give you some free advice since there is some common ground.
I was for a short while an expat in west africa myself. I now run my own small business in pakistan, set up primarily from the very hard earned income. While abroad I also invested semi-actively with a capable relative/friend (meaning regular input in everything, but just not present on the ground). He ignored our joint business causing it to fail, to his own financial loss as well, while his own business did well coincidentally. I still can't figure out the thought process, but I learned a lot.
There is only one reality here. The only business to invest in pakistan is where you are present yourself and you control it. There are two linked reasons 1) Lack of trust. you can trust NO ONE. even if they don't outright defraud you, they will never accept that their efforts may benefit someone (that is why partnerships fail here). 2) No sanctity of contract, no ability to enforce. This may be why #1 is so prevalent.
Save yourself much grief and money. If you want people to benefit from your money, you must bring your own acumen along with it. Money is not in short supply in this wretched society, good intentions and competence are. |
