Showing 1 - 10 of 47
Creating Asean's interconnected energy future
Asia focus, Kar Min Lim and Marko Lackovic, Published on 04/07/2022
» A comprehensive interconnection of Southeast Asia's power grid has been a long-held dream, first emerging into serious discourse in the 1980s. Now, almost four decades later, we might finally be approaching a moment when the pressure for climate action moves this idea towards a more established reality.
Sri Lanka needs a currency board
Asia focus, RM Manivannan, Published on 13/06/2022
» The war in Ukraine has generated an economic tidal wave that is crashing over countries near and far. Among the more far-flung is Sri Lanka, half a world away from the battlefield, where surging food and fuel prices have supercharged a downward spiral that was already under way.
Time for plastic detox
Asia focus, Pattama Kuentak, Published on 09/05/2022
» Anyone who has ever strolled along a beach is familiar with the sight … plastic straws, snack packaging, some of it dating back years, plastic bottles and other junk washed up on the sand. It's enough to spoil your vacation memories -- and it's also part of a global crisis.
Six strategies for digital growth in Southeast Asia
Asia focus, Praneeth Yendamuri and Derek Keswakaroon, Published on 11/04/2022
» The digital economy is booming in Southeast Asia. With 350 million digital consumers, the region is set to leapfrog China, outpacing the latter with a growth rate that is 1.6 times higher and becoming the fastest-growing digital economy in Asia-Pacific.
Malaysia's digital challenges
Asia focus, W Audi Pattarapatumthong, Published on 04/04/2022
» The digitisation of the global economy has been helping many businesses to thrive in ways not possible just a decade ago. At a time of fragile economic recovery, digital technologies such as e-commerce platforms can play an important role in promoting trade expansion, notably cross-border trade, as well as productivity gains.
Wasted Year
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong, Published on 21/02/2022
» Once perceived as Asia's final frontier, Myanmar has been tested severely by dual shocks -- a surge in Covid-19 cases in 2021 and the military coup that has brought its economy close to a standstill and left its people suffering from ongoing violence.
Bloc-to-bloc bridges
Asia focus, Ismira Lutfia Tisnadibrata, Published on 14/02/2022
» Amid the new challenges brought about by the disruptive changes wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic, European countries are seeing potential to expand cooperation with their counterparts in Asia, particularly on digitisation and climate change.
Year of Turbulence
Asia focus, Asia Focus Team, Published on 27/12/2021
» Pandemic drags on recovery: In the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, many Asian countries had enviable success, avoiding large-scale outbreaks and mass deaths. But the arrival of the more transmissible Delta variant this year and sluggish vaccine rollouts compounded by low availability sent cases surging. Combined with poor monitoring and easy movement among countries, often unofficially, Southeast Asia became a virus hotspot. The ballooning health crisis collided with churning political discontent in the case of Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia. Economically, the new wave of infections, and attendant restrictions imposed to curb the spread, stalled recoveries. After nearly two years of strict border controls, many countries started to loosen up and live with Covid. But the rise of the Omicron variant now threatens to scuttle those tentative reopening plans and usher in a third year of economic anxiety.
Energy crossroads
Asia focus, Nareerat Wiriyapong and Ismira Lutfia Tisnadibrata, Published on 04/10/2021
» The coronavirus pandemic has taken a huge toll on nearly all forms of economic activity and the energy sector is no exception. Mobility restrictions and lockdowns have put energy resilience to the test as demand plunges and many projects come to a standstill.
Powering up rooftop solar in Thailand
Asia focus, Marko Lackovic and Isada Hiranwiwatkul, Published on 04/10/2021
» 2020 was a record-breaking year for renewable energy. Solar photovoltaic power will be at the forefront of this continued opportunity in 2021-22, with renewable energy expected to account for 90% of new capacity expansion globally.