Showing 1 - 10 of 22
Forest loss slowing in Indonesia and Malaysia
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 03/05/2021
» The pandemic prevented major countries and corporations from achieving environmental goals last year as they diverted resources toward economic recovery. Global rainforest conservation took one of its largest hits in almost two decades, with primary forest loss increasing by 12% from 2019, according to satellite data from Global Forest Watch.
Supply chain bottlenecks in Vietnam
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 01/03/2021
» Vietnam's economy has fared better than that of almost any other country except China during the Covid-19 crisis. It grew by 2.9% last year while most other countries fell into recession.
Indonesia steps up creative economy drive
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 01/02/2021
» The United Nations has declared this year the International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development. Indonesia, having sponsored the proposal and proposed the theme of "Inclusively Creative: A Global Recovery", will lead the initiative to promote the creative economy, which is expected to become a new driver or prosperity.
Big ideas will define a post-Covid world
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 04/01/2021
» The rollout of Covid-19 vaccinations in a number of countries provides light at the end of the coronavirus tunnel, even if it doesn't spell the end of the crisis. When we finally make the transition from the current state to the next normal, we may not be sure what the world will look like, but we do know there are a few big ideas in play that could shape the near future.
What the RCEP will mean
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 23/11/2020
» The long-awaited Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) was finally signed on Nov 15 during a virtual meeting between leaders of the 10 Asean member states and five dialogue partners — China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.
The vaccine poker game
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 26/10/2020
» The race to find an effective vaccine for Covid-19 is on, but in today's complicated political, economic and regulatory landscape the path to success remains fraught with unknowns.
China rebalancing with 'dual circulation'
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 19/10/2020
» Ever since Chinese President Xi Jinping set markets abuzz in May by raising the idea of a "dual circulation" economy, observers have been exploring the potential of this new economic model for China which has knock-on effects for the rest of the world.
China's economic recovery
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 12/10/2020
» China's economic recovery continues to accelerate, with retail sales growing in August for the first time this year. Investment and property activity also gathered speed and there was a sharp spike in manufacturing production with the steepest rate of growth in new orders since the start of 2011. The Purchasing Managers Index, which includes services, also rose, while unemployment in urban areas dropped, with the 5.6% jobless rate the lowest since January.
High office vacancy rates trouble China
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 17/08/2020
» China's economy has rebounded since the coronavirus outbreak eased, but office vacancies in major cities are at their highest since the global financial crisis in 2008, reaching an average of 15% in the first quarter of this year.
China's economy pulls back from the brink
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 03/08/2020
» Despite more sanctions piling on from the US, China still had reason to celebrate this month with two important achievements. First, it became the world's first major economy to return to economic growth as the world battles with the Covid-19 pandemic.