What should we make of the volatility that seems to be suddenly sweeping some of the world's most dynamic developing economies, including China, India, Brazil, Turkey, South Africa, Indonesia, and Mexico?

When Mexico set up the first maquiladoras half a century ago, they were sweatshops that simply bolted or stitched together imported parts, then exported the assembled product north across the border to the United States. America got cheap goods; Mexico got jobs and export revenues. Now, with competition growing from other low-cost locations, and with the government cutting some of their tax breaks, the maquiladoras are having to step up their efforts to become innovative.

Despite a slow economy, North American CEOs have their sights set on growth, expecting their companies to increase revenues by an average of 14.6 percent over the next three years, according to the 20th Annual Survey of Third-Party Logistics Provider CEOs.

The "Beyond BRIC markets" -- the rising automotive markets emerging behind the quartet of Brazil, India, Russia, and China -- offer the last great growth opportunity in a world in which established markets are largely characterized by stagnation or low growth and the key stakes have already been distributed in the BRIC markets.