The Far East is a powerhouse. From the moment you step out of the plane at any airport in the region, you will notice activity. The whole atmosphere electrifies you. Earlier, there were only a few Asian tigers. Now some more countries too have gained the Tiger Club. Singapore, Brunei and four other countries will officially graduate from the "developing country" status in 1996, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The Far Eastern countries have made tremendous strides in the last two decades. Some have economic growth of double figures.

Export of goods and capital from Taiwan are booming this year. Exports in April were up by nearly 30% over last year, according to the Taiwanese Finance Ministry. Shipments to the United States are leading the way. Orders from the United States hit a record in March. The country's trade surplus with the U.S. grew 54% in April to 1.5% billion dollars. Taiwan has now become the world's fifth largest exporter of capital in the years 1986-1993, according to official sources.

In Hong Kong, where there are mixed signals on the change from British to Chinese rule, analysts are predicting a decade of "remarkable growth."

In Vietnam, the change from a rigid socialistic economy to a free market one is creating a boom. Hundreds of foreign companies have already set up bases. The Vietnamese are also known not to shirk hard work.

In Malaysia, a smooth transition of power puts Dr. Mahatir in charge. A man of vision, Dr. Mahatir has a plan set for Malaysia until the year 2020.

In the Philippines which was lagging behind, President Fidel Ramos is living up to his promise of economic growth. It has risen by 5% and the liberal economic policies have increased foreign investment by almost 100%. The future looks bright.

Asian countries are now becoming economic powerhouses - the envy of European nations and the United States. The Europeans are now asking for a dialogue among equals. Senior officials from ASEAN and the European Union (EU) met in Singapore recently to lay the basis for an inaugural meeting between the regions' top leaders.

The Far Eastern countries and their leaders are looked upon as equals by the Europeans who believe that their economies and Asia's are complementary in many ways.

Thailand and Indonesia are also catching up. Both are expecting to do a lot of business with the newly independent Russian states. They have their goods and services to offer.

High-Tech industries are sprouting all over the region. Japan and South Korea who, for long maintained their supremacy, are now doing battle to hold sway.

In Mainland China too there is a new trend. Bureaucratic hurdles which previously existed are being swept aside. Hundreds of foreign companies have been invited as the "Sleeping Giant of Asia" wakes up to the modern business attitudes of the last decade of the twentieth century.

You can feel the excitement everywhere. In Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur or Taipei, there is the humming sound. Combining Confucian work ethics with visionary ideals, the Taiwanese are a nation and people to be envied. Taiwan has reserves of about eighty billion dollars. Its government and people are now planning for the year 2030.

And while all this is going on, we may stop and ponder at the conditions in the Arab world. A world of lost opportunities. A world that is truly lagging behind. Some maybe upset at this, but tell me which Arab country can equal Taiwan, let alone South Korea or Japan?

The combined GNP of the Arab world is less than the GNP of Spain. That may cause a shock to many.

Yes, we have had our problems. Some that were created by ourselves - some forced upon us such as the Israeli one. But for how long can we go on moaning and complaining?

It is time that we stop being complacent. that we evaluate our past performance and recognize the problems that exist.

We cannot live in the past. Nations are going to be judged and respected by their economic strength. We don't possess that. It seems that the whole Arab region is being overlooked. What have you to offer us? Asked an Asian businessman.

It is difficult to change the lot of a nation in one day.

Sustained and careful planning is needed. New attitudes and a work ethic that produces should be the ruling value. We need to have a modern educational system where free thought and ideas mix to produce ideals and visions that will guide us into the next century.

Our ideology is strong and our faith deep. Our teachings are sublime. However, there is a big gap that separates our behavior from the teachings of Islam.

We are focusing on trivial matters. The time has now come to call a spade a spade and not a walking stick. Time itself is in short supply. New challenges are confronting us. While many in the Arab world boast of literacy programs, Asian educationists are talking of futuristic experiments in science and technology that are going to change the face of the continent.

The Arab world possesses brilliant men and women who are second to none. We have businessmen and captains of industry. But we also have red tape - and miles of it. Added to this is a bureaucracy that will try any man's patience.

Let us have plans and programs to facilitate our mission in life. Its goal - to bring us to the forefront of the world's regions. We have to start now, for a better tomorrow. If we don't, if we tarry any longer, our future generations will never forgive us.