Other Briefings
The Cost of Business in Cambodia Compared With China
In Part One of our series comparing ASEAN nation business costs with China, we discuss Cambodia and how the country may fit into your China strategy.
Philippines and the European Free Trade Association begin FTA Negotiations
The Philippines and members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) have begun their first round of free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations in Makati, Philippines. The EFTA is made up of four countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. A completed FTA could have profound effects on businesses in both regions.
April 2015 ASEAN Regional Meetings
There are a number of important ASEAN regional meetings taking place in April, including the 43rd ASEAN Consultative Committee on Standards and Quality (ACCSQ) held in Manila, and the 26th ASEAN Summit, which will be held in Kuala Lumpur.
Indonesia Struggles to Strengthen Weakening Rupiah
Tuesday, March 17th, Indonesia’s central bank, Bank Indonesia, announced that it will hold the country’s key interest rate steady at 7.5 percent. The bank has chosen not to follow the recent regional trend of countries drastically cutting their borrowing costs. Markets have so far met the news positively and the rupiah has strengthened 0.6 percent to 13,165 against the dollar – the largest gain in eight weeks. Indonesia’s government has been struggling to strengthen a rapidly weakening rupiah, the country’s currency. The rupiah is Asia’s worse performing currency against the U.S. dollar this year.
CLMV in India’s “Act East” Policy
The 2015-2016 Indian budget includes a proposal to set up manufacturing hubs in Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam.
ASEAN Case Study: The Auto Industry and GM
With the ASEAN Economic Community going into effect at the end of this year, many companies are now seriously considering moving their operations to the region. However, the question remains as to where in ASEAN to base your business. As such, it is helpful to consider corporations that have made the move to ASEAN in the past and to try and understand their reasons for doing so. We delve into GM’s expansion into the region and provide snapshots of their operations in a few key countries.
British Firms Encouraged to Expand into the Philippines
British firms are being encouraged to set up shop in the Philippines in order to take advantage of this up and coming Southeast Asian country. Last week, in a recent sign of the growing business relations between the two countries, British Ambassador to the Philippines, Asif Ahmad, hosted the Great British Festival in Manila.
March 2015 ASEAN Regional Meetings
March will see a number of important ASEAN regional meetings; these include the ASEAN-OECD Conference and Meetings on Good Regulatory Practice held in Kuala Lumpur and the ASEAN-EU Science, Technology and Innovation Days held in Paris.
Services Now Over 25 Percent of Singapore’s Exports
Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry announces that services now make up a quarter of the country’s exports, reflecting a structural shift in exports in which services are growing faster than goods.
Philippine Economic Growth Looks Strong in 2015
The Philippines has become one of the fastest growing economies in Asia, with an annual GDP growth rate of 6.1 percent in 2014 – the second highest in the Asia-Pacific region after China. This healthy growth is due to strong economic fundamentals and a faster than expected GDP growth of 6.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014.
