CFI Top 25 Most Powerful Individuals in Emerging Markets 2012

Few will argue about Vladimir Putin being the most powerful man in emerging markets this year. On the back of his long term track record of domestic economic success and foreign policy strengths, he will soon be re-elected as President of Russia. Russia’s has vast land with an abundance of resources, including commodities such as metals, oil and gas. Russia also has strong military power and also skilled elite scientists. These factors combined with a still centralized government with the President at the helmet, makes Putin the most powerful man.

The Chinese government and party representatives are well represented on the list because they hold powers over an enormous labor force, the world’s largest army, production capacity and natural resources (including rare earth) as well as cash and securities (denominated in foreign currency).

Also, India has a skilled and aspirational labor force and knowledge capacity. Thus, they are represented by their visionary entrepreneurs and experienced head of government. As a politically powerful economist Manmohan Singh is helping India fulfill its potential.

Some of the world’s richest men, including Carlos Slim, Lakshmi Mittal, Li-Ka Shing, Alisher Usmanov and the royalty from the Middle East, are on the list because they use their considerable capital not only to produce returns, but also as a power tool to advance their projects and agenda – all creating progress for mankind. Capital yields power to impact developments.

Some wield powers by producing ideas that move the world to impact our lives through persuative diplomacy (incl. Ban Ki-Moon,) and integrity (e.g. Dalai Lama) rather than military power (e.g. Kim Jong-il) or the capital wealth aforementioned.

Other heads of government, such as Dilma Rousseff (Brazil) and Recep Erdogan (Turkey) heads up successful countries on the way up and personifies that democracy and a sense of fairness are conducive to economic growth.

Table 1: CFI Top 25 Most Powerful Individuals in Emerging Markets 2012

Rank Name, Title Organization Age
1 Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Russia 59
2 Hu Jintao, President People’s Republic of China 68
3 Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al Saud, King Saudi Arabia 87
4 Sonia Gandhi, President Indian National Congress 64
5 Dilma Rousseff, President Brazil 63
6 Carlos Slim Helu, Chairman Telmex 71
7 Wen Jiabao, Premier People’s Republic of China 69
8 Zhou Xiaochuan, Governor People’s Bank of China 63
9 Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister India 79
10 Zhou Yongkang, Secretary of the Commission for Political and Legislative Affairs People’s Republic of China 68
11 Ali Al-Naimi, Oil Minister Saudi Arabia 76
12 Rostam Ghasemi, President Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) 47
13 Lou Jiwei, Chairman China Investment Corporation 60
14 Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Chief of Army Staff Pakistan 59
15 Kim Jong-ul, Supreme Leader North Korea 28
16 Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General United Nations 67
17 Li Ka-shing, Chairman Hutchison Whampoa Limited 83
18 Lakshmi Mittal, Chairman ArcelorMittal 61
19 Recep Erdogan, Prime Minister Republic of Turkey 57
20 Dalai Lama, Dalai Lama Tibet 76
21 Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, President United Arab Emirates 63
22 Ahmed Shuja Pasha, Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence Pakistan 59
23 Azim Premji, Chairman Wipro Limited 66
24 Xi Jinping, First Secretary of the Secretariat of the Communist Party People’s Republic of China 58
25 Alisher Usmanov, Oligarch Ukraine 58

Source: CFI, Forbes, Other


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