Other Briefings
Singapore: An Emerging Hub for Medical Devices
Singapore’s involvement in the medical devices industry has grown rapidly pushing the city state to become one of the top medical tech hubs in Asia. Learn how opportunities within the industry can be exploited and its challenges overcome.
The Philippines Export Development Plan: Addressing Obstacles to Trade
Seeking to maximize its position within ASEAN, the Philippines has announced stimulus measures aimed at readjusting its export sector. Outlined in the recently passed Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP), the success of these reforms will likely play a significant role in the island nation’s business landscape in the coming months.
Investment Protection in ASEAN – Part 2: Bilateral Investment Agreements
In contrast to ASEAN-based investors that are covered under the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement (ACIA), protection for non-ASEAN investors is largely dependent on bilateral investment treaties (BITs). While some agreements offer similar provisions, many are less extensive or unaccommodating and vague. For those considering investment within the region, a firm understanding of available agreements and their details is a critical component of pre-market entry due diligence.
Investment Protection in ASEAN – Part 1: The ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement
For companies seeking to expand operations in South East Asia, the region’s rising stature in manufacturing, ICT, and other areas of production remains tempered by regulatory uncertainty. To help investors mitigate their exposure to such risks, in this article we examine the ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement.
A Guide to ASEAN’s Strategic Transport Action Plan
Aware that well-developed and organized transport infrastructure plays a vital role in economic growth, ASEAN’s leadership has recently published its 2016-2025 ASEAN Strategic Transport Action Plan. In the following article, we take a closer look at the initiatives of the plan, what has been done so far, and how the various projects will impact businesses operating within the region.
ASEAN Regulatory Brief: Foreign Banks in Myanmar, Thai Minimum Wages, and Increasing SME Aid in Brunei
In this week’s ASEAN Regulatory Brief, we discuss the issuance of new banking licenses in Myanmar, highlight rising minimum wages in Thailand, and analyze the impact of SME support in Brunei.
Foreign Exchange Volatility in ASEAN: Assessing Exposure & Managing Risk
Understanding that foreign exchange volatility is likely to be a long term risk associated with ASEAN based production, the following article overviews the issues surrounding foreign exchange within the region and highlights market entry strategies that can be utilized to reduce operational exposure.
Remitting Profits in ASEAN – Part 1: Singapore and Malaysia
In part one of a three part series on the state of remittances in ASEAN, we explore regulations relevant to the remittance process and explore their application in two of ASEAN’s most developed economies – Singapore and Malaysia.
ASEAN Regulatory Brief: Liberalized Philippine Aviation, Thai Visa Policy, and Hotel License Bans in Malaysia
In this week’s ASEAN Regulatory Brief we discuss emerging opportunities in Philippine aviation, discuss the implications of increased Thai enforcement of visa policy, and highlight limitations on hotel construction projects within Malaysia.
Indonesian Stimulus Gets Serious with Major Negative List Revisions
On February 17th, 2016, Indonesian president Joko Widodo announced plans to further liberalize his nation’s economic policy’s 10th economic stimulus package aimed at attracting foreign direct investment. In this article, we discuss what impact this new package will have and examine the potential of the Indonesian consumer base.
