In Asia, the casualty rate would stand about the same or slightly higher, Mr Soh added. He was speaking in a forum at the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia CASBAA 2000 Convention at the Singapore Expo. He identified the lack of active financing and replication of US Internet models as the biggest contributing factor to the dotcom failure in Asia. Mr Soh said: "Asia caught the tail end of the Bull Run before the Internet bubble burst in April." Then the industry went going through a major correction and dot-coms had problem getting financing. "The first half of next year will be a period when all the negativity in the dot-com industry will be washed away," Mr Soh predicted. After this cleansing period, the financing for dot-coms will normalize, he added. ING Barings Asia managing director and head of Media and Technology Group Peter Schloss concurred. "The capital faucet was turned up full blast about 24 months ago.

Now the faucet has been turned down. Listing is going to be difficult because the funds have all dried up." Mr Schloss is of the opinion that "it will be towards the end of 2001 when interest rates will fall and we can see a more normalised ability to access the capital market." To a question on how dotcoms can improve their chances of survival, Mr Soh said that dotcoms must try to continuously gain access to capital, ensure a sustainable business model, and make sure they don't overlook the fundamentals of business management. Citing Pets.com, an Internet business that sells pet products, Mr Soh said selling and delivering dog food, which comes in large bags, or canned foods, which can be very heavy, may not be a good idea as compared to Amazon.com selling compact discs. Companies must understand what the Internet can do for their business-something that may be a viable business in the US may not fare as well in Asia, he added. In arrangement with India.CNET.com