The Japanese government has approved the world’s largest trade deal. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) could come into force next January. Deborah Elms, Executive Director of the Asian Trade Centre in Singapore, explains what it is, how it differs from other trade deals and what has to happen next. RCEP is a big deal, literally and metaphorically. When it’s signed off, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership will create a free trade zone covering

Member nations of a Pacific regional trade deal agreed Wednesday to allow the U.K. to begin the process to join in a potential boost for the country’s trade following Brexit. Japanese Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said the move would strengthen economic ties between the U.K. and Japan, as well as making the zone covered by the deal equal to the EU in terms of economic size. He spoke to reporters after hosting an online meeting of ministers and officials from the 11 cou

The World Bank’s projections suggest that the region will bear the scars of COVID-19 for many years to come. The Asia-Pacific region will experience a lopsided recovery from the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the World Bank said in its latest economic outlook for the region, due to uneven containment of the disease and widely varying vaccine distribution timelines. The World Bank’s East Asia and Pacific Economic Update, released on March 26, predicts that the r

Leading specialist trade and investment advisory firm OCO Global is further expanding its presence across Asia with the appointment of KW Group, as Associate Regional Partner based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The new partnership will enhance OCO Global’s presence across the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, supporting existing operations in China, South Korea and Japan, while boosting OCO Global’s footprint across Asia Pacific, including Australia and New Zealand. Joachim Arnold, Ch

Congratulations to the team at UNESCAP for the recent online edition of the Asia Pacific Business Forum 2020. For those of you who may have missed the program we are pleased to share the video link. For the full online recordings visit: https://apbf.unescap.org/about #trade #fdi #business #asia #valuechain #supplychain #sme #asean #asiapacific #globaltrade

Asian Development Bank (ADB) today launched the latest edition of its annual statistical report for the region, Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2020, and an update to its online database, Key Indicators Database. Key Indicators 2020 presents a comprehensive set of economic, financial, social, and environmental indicators, including for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), for ADB’s 49 regional members covering the years from 2000 to 2019. A key statistic in the r

Asia FDI Experts Webinar 2.0 - Free To Attend Asia Webinar on High Value FDI, Trade & Investment Innovation Strategies & Virtual Solutions For Investment Promotion. REGISTER: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/critical-strategies-for-ipas-in-the-new-reality-apac-fdi-webinar-20-tickets-115160456024 WHO PARTICIPATES: Corporate's & Multinationals, Government Trade & Investment Agencies, Investment Promotion Agencies, Regional Development Agencies, Free Trade Zones, Industrial Parks &

Vietnam’s new immigration law includes a new type of visa for foreigners who come to Vietnam to conduct activities as part of international agreements Vietnam has signed. Hanoi (VNS/VNA)- Vietnam’s new immigration law includes a new type ofvisa for foreignerswho come to Vietnam to conduct activities as part of international agreements Vietnam has signed. The change is expected to facilitate the implementation of new agreements that Vietnam has signed such as theEU-Vietnam Fre

With concerns over Chinese strategic relations in South Asia, India should reach out to its neighbours, have better terms of trade with them. At a time when it is increasingly worried about growing Chinese economic and strategic relationships in the region, India is missing a “costless” trick. As the numbers show, it can trade a lot more within the region, both in terms of exports and imports. This piece focuses more on India’s imports from South Asia, because larger and more

Interesting insights By Krasna Bobenrieth When COVID-19 first started to garner attention at the beginning of 2020, nobody foresaw the widespread health, economic and social impact it would have. While the world has experienced terrible pandemics before, it’s hard to remember one with such far reaching consequences in our lives, societies and economies, and that affected so many different parts of the world in such a short time. The region has already been experiencing trade

Decoupling Between Washington and Western Industry By Scott Kennedy and Shining Tan Although the Trump administration does not openly embrace the idea of decoupling, its various policies – restrictions on high-tech exports to China, expanded investment limits, and efforts to have American companies move production out of China and on-shore manufacturing in the United States – effectively add up to a decoupling strategy. There are some signs that because of the trade war and o

Vietnam ratified a free trade agreement with the European Union on Monday that will cut or eliminate 99% of tariffs on goods traded between the Southeast Asian country and the bloc, and provide Vietnam with a much-needed post pandemic boost. Deputies in the National Assembly, which nearly always ratifies government proposals, voted by over 94% in favour of the European Union Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). The EVFTA, expected to take effect in July, is the European Unio

As we celebrate Global Exhibitions Day today, June 3rd, the team at KW Group are very excited to announce that we are partnering Conway Inc, Publisher of Site Selection Magazine to support The Global Free Zones Summit which is hosted in Yingkou China this October. The GFZS is a hugely important networking event hosted by the Government of Yingkou, China specifically for Site Selectors, Corporates, IPAs, NDOs, Free Zones, Special Economic Zones and Logistics Zones. As countrie

Leaders in Foreign Direct Investment Conway Inc (US) Publisher of Site Selection Magazine since 1954 have appointed Malaysia based KW Group Sdn Bhd to represent and support the growth of Conway across the Asia Pacific region. As part of the largest international organisation dedicated to economic development, FDI and corporate site selection we are delighted to offer a full range of services across Asia Pacific. Services Include: Lead Generation & Virtual FDI Services (Globa

China has established itself as a major trade partner of South Asia. This mainly reflects the region’s strategic importance for China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Despite geographical proximity and the existence of bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements (FTAs), South Asia is one of the least economically integrated regions in the world. Owing to protectionist policies, high logistics cost, lack of political will and a broader trust deficit, intra-regional trade in So

Due to the unparalleled success of Conway’s recent Training Webinars in Latin America, North America & EMEA we will be running our next series dedicated to the Asia Pacific Region in June as part of the Conway-KW Group partnership towards FDI, Trade & Economic Recovery. This series is developed for Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs), National Development Organisations and Free Trade Zones to educate participants on how best to work effectively to promote their community dur

US based economic development-investment promotion industry firm Conway Inc announces major new partnership with Malaysia based KW Group Events & Advisory to expand in Asia Pacific. We are delighted to jointly announce a new regional agreement between Conway Inc (US) Publisher of Site Selection Magazine & Conway FDI Advisory, Consulting, Training & Events with Malaysia based KW Group Sdn Bhd Exhibitions & Advisory to represent and support the growth of Conway across the Asia

A new normal is here! Without a doubt 2020 has a lot of twists and turns in store for global trade & investment. Our May newsletter shares the top stories from the last few weeks as well as a final reminder to register for this weeks FREE Webinar: Asia Pacific High Value FDI, Trade & Investment Innovation Strategies For Economic Recovery Join 500 participants from Governments, IPAs, Free Trade Zones, Site Selection & Industrial Advisory to discuss FDI, Trade & Investment reco

A final reminder to register for this week’s FREE webinar: Asia Pacific High Value FDI, Trade & Investment Innovation Strategies For Economic Recovery FINAL REGISTRATIONS The webinar will host 500 international participants - registration will close 19th May. Please submit questions in advance to allow us to review and add to the schedule (time permitting). LOGIN: Will be sent to you by 19th May through Zoom Registrations WEBINAR DATE: Thursday 21st May TIME ZONE (GMT+8): 9am

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has replaced the EU to emerge as China's largest trading partner in the first two months this year, customs data showed, as many Southeast Asian countries presented an unbreakable supply chain with China to secure trade despite external shockwaves like the coronavirus, experts noted. Trade between China and ASEAN economies rose by 0.5 percent year-on-year to $85.32 billion in January and February, against a backdrop of falling tr