Showing 1 - 8 of 8
Transforming the face of Chinese tech
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 26/04/2021
» China's technology industry is at a crossroads. In the middle of the Covid crisis last year, Chinese tech companies were booming as people embraced online services, entertainment and shopping. This led to a sharp rise in profits for the parent companies and soaring share prices.
Banking on the unbanked
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 22/02/2021
» Southeast Asia's fintech scene is going from strength to strength, with the regional industry valued at up to US$100 billion at the end of last year. Yet it has so far only produced a handful of unicorns -- startups valued at more than $1 billion.
Alternative foods take the next step
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 15/02/2021
» Earth's population will expand to about 10 billion people by 2050, putting incredible strain on our ability to feed everyone. Added stresses from climate change will only increase pressure on the planet's natural resources. Heading off these challenges means we need to start getting creative about food production now.
China confronts its economic challenges
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 08/06/2020
» In an unprecedented move, China has decided not to set an economic growth target for this year. The economy contracted by 6.8% in the first quarter and, if growth in the second quarter is also negative, the country will officially be in recession for the first time in more than four decades.
Opportunity amid crisis
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 13/04/2020
» While many industries around the world continue to be affected by the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak, certain business sectors have benefitted from people and companies changing their behaviour in reaction to the pandemic.
Food delivery needs to get greener
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 06/01/2020
» China is home to the world's largest online food delivery market, estimated to be worth US$37 billion in 2019, with rapid growth at 35% year-on-year in the third quarter alone. An online poll by National Business Daily found almost 23% of respondents ordered takeaway food every day, with nearly 52% saying they ordered it one to five times a week.
Asean alternatives to single-use plastics
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 28/10/2019
» Single-use plastics, and how to reduce our dependency on them, has become one of the hottest consumer issues in the world, especially with young people. This is certainly true in Thailand where a number of high-profile stories have galvanised people into changing their habits.
China opens door to more foreign investors
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 19/08/2019
» China has significantly loosened its restrictions on foreign investment across a range of business sectors, including oil and gas exploration, agriculture, and mining and manufacturing, by reducing the number of business activities that foreign businesses are barred from on its "negative list". The list has been on a downward trend for the past few years, falling from 180 activities in 2011 to 40 this year.