ASEAN’s Rising Minimum Wage Levels: Indonesia
Investors have complained that the somewhat drastic minimum wage hikes amongst ASEAN nations have hurt the market in terms of global competitiveness. In this article we will discuss the impact of recent minimum wage changes in Indonesia on conducting business in the country.
ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard
Jun. 11 – The ASEAN Capital Markets Forum (ACMF) and the Asian Development Bank recently established a joint initiative called the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard. Corporate governance refers to the system of governance which controls and directs corporations, and monitors their actions and policies. The stated objective of the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard is to: […]
Speculation that China May Join TPP Talks
Jun. 7 – With Chinese President Xi Jinping visiting the United States over this upcoming weekend, speculation is growing that as an olive branch to be offered to develop trust between the two countries, China might be invited to join talks over joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership. China has been highly critical of the TPP bloc, […]
New Issue of Vietnam Briefing: Re-evaluating Your Vietnam Representative Office
This issue of Vietnam Briefing examines ROs – the processes of working with them, and the rationale for either upgrading or closing them. We explain not just how to close up your RO, but also list out the common reasons for doing so.
EU Lends its Support to ASEAN Over South China Sea Disputes
May 24 – Officials in the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) have recently confirmed that senior officials from the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) met with officials from the European Union (EU) in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City to discuss the issue of territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Currently there are numerous […]
Impact Investing in Asia
May 24 – Impact investing is a growing trend in the worldwide economic market. This relatively new concept, which first came to light in 2007 at a Rockefeller Foundation meeting, is the process of a company or individuals investing in other companies, funds or organizations to generate not only financial profit, but also social or […]
Malaysia’s Post-Election Rally
May 17 – Last week during the national elections in Malaysia, the National Front Coalition (NFC), the party that has governed Malaysia for 56 consecutive years, won a majority of the country’s parliamentary seats to officially extend its reign. The NFC first obtained majority after Malaysia declared independence from Britain in 1957, and has won 13 […]
First Round of RCEP Negotiations Conclude
The first round of negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) wrapped up on Sunday after being launched by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and six free trade agreement (FTA) partners last week.
FTSE & ASEAN Join Together Over Joint Indices
May 10 – The FTSE Group and five ASEAN stock exchanges (the Bursa Malaysia Exchange, the Indonesian Stock Exchange, the Philippines Stock Exchange, the Singapore Stock Exchange and the Stock Exchange of Thailand) have joined forces to launch a unique and innovative set of indices known as the FTSE/ASEAN Index series. The FTSE/ASEAN venture provides […]
New Issue of Asia Briefing: An Introduction to Development Zones Across Asia
In this issue of Asia Briefing Magazine, we break down the various types of development zones available in China, India and Vietnam specifically, as well as their key characteristics and leading advantages. We then go on to provide a snapshot of the latest development zones across the rest of Asia. We hope that this issue will provide the basic fundamentals to understanding one of the most important business tools available to international businesses operating in Asia.