Showing 1 - 10 of 11
Risks and rewards of Asia's automation boom
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 22/03/2021
» The ability of automation to disrupt businesses and economies is not a new phenomenon. In the 1800s the factory system in Europe and the development of mechanised production, particularly in the textiles and manufacturing sectors, transformed the world of work and industry and gave rise to workers' movements that smashed the equipment they said was taking their jobs.
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.
Genetics the next frontier of healthcare
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 08/02/2021
» China is banking on genetics as the next frontier of modern healthcare. From genetic testing and sequencing to gene therapy and precision medicine, this range of transformative technologies and services can underpin medical treatments and inform lifestyle choices.
Raising the stakes with lab-grown meat
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 21/12/2020
» Singapore recently became the first government to approve the use of lab-grown meat as an ingredient in food. Many have seen the move as a bellwether for the development of a global synthetic meat market -- an innovative sector which in the long term could significantly reduce our reliance on the slaughter of animals for food while significantly reducing carbon emissions.
The future of agriculture is live streaming
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 14/12/2020
» E-commerce is a way of life for retail in China, but until recently it had barely touched the agricultural industry, one of the country's least innovative sectors. But this changed the past year with the pandemic accelerating farmers' move online.
Chinese wine sales go digital
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 27/04/2020
» With restaurants and bars closed, homebound wine drinkers are creating a surge in online wine sales around the world. While the category had previously lagged other consumer products in e-commerce, recent changes such as working from home and social distancing necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic have led to wine sales catching up.
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.
China's cryptocurrency crackdown
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 16/12/2019
» Weibo, China's largest microblogging service, has banned the cryptocurrency exchange giants Binance and Tron from its platform amid what appears to be a fresh crackdown on digital currency trading in China. At the same time, watchdogs in Shanghai issued notices calling for a cleanup of companies involved in cryptocurrency trading, while Beijing's regulator warned against illegal exchange operations.
Offline experience still king for retail
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 09/09/2019
» Offline retail is making a comeback in China with the rise of brand concept stores. Reimagining bricks and mortar, every part of a concept store tells a story or creates an experience. While e-commerce continues to grow, the store experience is becoming more important than ever as a way to build an emotional connection with consumers.
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.