Beijing Shibo Real Estate, a Chinese developer, is bringing Broadway to Beijing, by developing a row of 32 theaters in Haidian district.

The theaters will present well-established Western shows and musicals. Many of the shows will be translated into Mandarin from English.

The move shows the extent to which an upper class and upper middle class is emerging and expecting Western entertainment.

Secondly, this entertainment is a status symbol, part of conspicuous consumption. Companies and wealthy individuals will likely take their families or connections as part of guanxi to these events.

Lastly, Beijing’s new Broadway illustrates the tendency for Chinese to adapt Western influences. Planners are not innovating musicals, but reproducing them in local terms.

By Michael Stanat, Author of China’ [...]

By Ramesh Hariharan, Executive Director of Defussion Knowledge Solutions

Today's organized retail sector in India is valued at $7 billion, and within 3 years (by the year 2010) the figure shall be 3.5 times as large at $25 billion.

According to a recent Kline report, India’s personal care market grew 12.6% in 2006 and consumers are showing a marked preference for upmarket cosmetics. Anti-ageing and skin-whitening products are the biggest sellers in India, according to Kline. Per capita spending on personal care is $3.4 0USD according to Kline. The luxury market in India is expected to grow 25% by 2010.