A PhD candidate with the University of St Andrews, Guan Kiong's research interests focus on the evolving historical context of the automotive industry around the world during the 20th and 21st centuries. A former bike and piano salesman, Guan Kiong sees salespeople as informal ambassadors. Goods and services tell so much about how countries regard foreign products and how exporters view their clients. In an age where the effects of sanctions change day by day, we can no longer afford to sweep these tales under the brush of growth, productivity or any of the old school economic monikers any longer.