Showing 1 - 10 of 18
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.
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.
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.
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 rise of smart cities in China
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 02/11/2020
» China is leading the global race to create smart cities -- digitising urban areas by using big data processing and analysis powered by artificial inrelligence (AI) to help manage resources and public spaces for urban living.
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.
Questions surround cutting-edge tech
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 07/09/2020
» As 5G technology continues to roll out around the world and digital storage becomes cheaper and more efficient, the profound impact this will have on the business world is becoming clearer than ever.
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.