Other Briefings
Indonesian FDI Highest Among ASEAN Members in First Half of 2015
With growing uncertainty over China’s economic stability, recent FDI statistics released by the Financial Times come as a reassurance that investors are taking a more pragmatic, nuanced approach towards risk mitigation in Asia.
Singapore’s Social Security Requirements – What a Foreign Employer Should be Aware of
Singapore has one of the world’s most transparent and honest retirement systems. Its mandatory social security system, the Central Provident Fund (CPF), strives to provide eligible contributors with a safe and secure retirement.
Singapore’s New Amendments to the Companies Act: the Annual Audit Exemptions for Small Firms Explained
Qualifying small companies in Singapore can now benefit by foregoing a yearly financial burden – annual audits. The new regulations arise from the amendment of Singapore’s Companies Act in October, 2014 – the most sweeping change made since the law’s original promulgation in 1967.
The Future of ASEAN-India Trade Looks Bright
Trade between ASEAN and India has seen strong growth over recent years. In 2014, total trade amounted to US$77 billion, a significant increase over the US$44 billion seen during 2009-10. Over the past decade, bilateral trade has increased at an average annual rate of a blistering 23 percent.
The Three Most Common IPR Mistakes for SMEs in ASEAN
There are very few SMEs that would not take the issue of intellectual property rights (IPR) seriously in their home countries, but IPR legislation can be opaque when they move overseas. Here we take a look at the top 3 IPR mistakes SMEs make in ASEAN.
UK Prime Minister Cameron’s ASEAN Trip Reflects Growing Trade Links and Opportunities
Last week, David Cameron capped off a five day long tour of South East Asia to discuss trade with the UK. The region, which has outpaced global growth by over two percent over the past two decades, is attractive to UK businesses seeking markets beyond the EU.
Prevention Not Cure: Understanding Online IPR in ASEAN
E-commerce in ASEAN today is relatively underdeveloped. However, a study undertaken by AT Kearney predicts that as purchasing power parity in the region increases and internet penetration spreads, online retail in ASEAN markets could rise by around 25 percent annually.
Grounds for Investment: Opportunities in Southeast Asia’s Coffee Industry
Southeast Asia has an ideal climate for coffee cultivation. While Vietnam has traditionally led the way for coffee production in ASEAN, other countries in the ten-nation bloc are steadily growing as coffee exporting nations. In this article, we provide an overview of the coffee industry in these countries.
Applying for Permanent Residency in Singapore – What a Foreigner Needs to Know
A contributing factor to Singapore’s success is the government’s strong incentives program for foreign talent to commit to the country. One such incentive is the permanent residency (PR) scheme, with basic perks including the freedom to enter and exit the country, the right to purchase real estate, and a certain degree of job security.
Thailand Economic Growth to be Curtailed in 2015, 2016 to be Brighter
Thailand’s central bank and HSBC have both lowered their growth forecasts for Thailand in 2015. However, both banks have raised their economic outlooks for 2016. In 2014, Thailand’s economy grew at its slowest pace in three years and has failed to recover so far this year.
