Showing 1 - 9 of 9
We may have already passed 'peak petrol'
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 05/04/2021
» Last year saw an 11% drop in global petrol consumption, marking the beginning of a historical shift after more than a century of continuous growth in demand. The International Energy Agency (IEA) is now predicting that we will probably never see pre-Covid levels of petrol use again.
The 6G revolution
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 12/04/2021
» While many countries are only starting to roll out 5G, China is already focusing on the development of 6G -- the next-generation mobile technology that will be orders of magnitude faster than its predecessor and a key enabler of the Internet of Things.
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.
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.
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.
In the eye of the beholder
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 11/05/2020
» Many museums across China remain shuttered, having closed their doors early this year to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. However, a number are now adopting technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), animation and games to enable people to engage in digital cultural experiences without leaving their homes.
How can we learn from the coronavirus?
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 17/02/2020
» The negative effects of the new coronavirus, now officially known as Covid-19, have been rippling through the regional economy ever since it was first identified in China at the beginning of this year.
A lift in the trade war gloom
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 23/12/2019
» The news of a trade deal between China and the United States last week cheered markets and lifted the economic gloom -- even though it is only tentative and limited.
Droughts in monsoon season a wake-up call
Asia focus, Suwatchai Songwanich, Published on 05/08/2019
» The serious drought hitting Thai farmers this monsoon season demonstrates more than ever the need for regional cooperation in water management. Given the considerable stress and economic hardship being caused by unseasonably dry conditions, people are looking for someone to blame and fingers are being pointed at the dams of our upstream neighbours along the Mekong River, China and Laos.