Foreword In the summer of 1999, for the second consecutive year, PricewaterhouseCoopers surveyed a substantial number of chief executive officers of leading Asian corporations on questions of critical interest. The 334 participating CEOs (an increase from 282 last year) lead companies headquartered in 11 countries, including for the first time Australia. The study was designed and conducted with the full support of the World Economic Forum. In this booklet, we present the findings with our analysis and interpretation. Naturally, we were eager to learn the views of these business leaders on the economic and financial recovery of the region after the widespread crisis of 1997–98. We also explored in considerable depth their assessment of what promises to be the most far-reaching economic revolution of our time: the network of communication, marketing, production, and distribution mechanisms known by the generic name of E-Business. We find the results useful and instructive, and we trust that you also will find food for thought here. Within the aggregate results, the participation of 95 Japanese CEOs and 65 Australian CEOs looms large. We have included their responses in the general survey report, but we also thought it worthwhile to break out the Japanese and Australian responses in separate “mini-surveys” at the end of this booklet. This document is meant to be the beginning, not the end, of dialogue. We hope it prompts discussion and amplification. You can reach me personally at jjs.ceosurvey@us.pwcglobal. James J. Schiro Chief Executive Officer PricewaterhouseCoopers .....