CFI Top 25 Most Powerful Individuals in Emerging Markets 2012

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

Source: CFI, Forbes, Other