The Golden Triangle SEZ in Laos is mired in scandal and criminality, but the silence from SEZ authorities on the matter is deafening. In February 2022, authorities raided the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Laos, freeing dozens of Chinese women from forced prostitution. For years, the Golden Triangle SEZ has been home to numerous illegal industries including human trafficking, wildlife smuggling and drugs production. Despite this, the zone has announced signifi

Trusted Partner of Regulators, Governments, Associations & Enterprise CREDENTIALS 2022 Established in 2010, KW Group Consulting & Events support Asia FDI, Trade Development, Exports & Market Access. We work with regulators, government's and businesses on Asia market access, FDI, trade, policy, export & market intelligence as well as supporting institutional development & alliances in heavily regulated sectors. We have extensive government networks to support investment strate

With Southeast Asia’s e-commerce market forecast to be worth at least US$300 billion by 2025 we are pleased to share this opinion article written by Shane Britten, CEO, Crime Stoppers International with references to the latest report by our partners at EU-ASEAN Business Council, 'Tackling Illicit Trade in ASEAN' Asean has long been a fertile hub for counterfeit products, partly due to its proximity to China, which is the world’s largest manufacturer and consumer of fake or i

As India emerges from a public health crisis, the serious issues of illegal products need to be addressed on a war footing. COVID-19-induced mobility restrictions gave an impetus to illicit trade of essentials and non-essential items. As a result, the alcohol and tobacco trade invariably hung in an uncomfortable situation. According to a market research report by Euromonitor research and TII (2019), India has become the fourth-largest and fastest-growing illegal cigarette cap

For over 11 years we have been at the centre of FDI, Trade & Investment in Asia: Inbound & Outbound FDI, Trade & Supply Chain Digitalisation, Anti Illicit Trade, Intelligence, Technologies & Market Access from our HQ in Malaysia. KEY SERVICES · Technical Consulting - Donors, Governments & Technologies · In Market Representation · Investment Lead Generation and Investment Outreach (By Region and By Sector) · FDI Consultancy, Marketing & Communications Strategy · Corporate Site

Trade in counterfeit goods represents a longstanding, and growing, worldwide socio-economic risk that threatens effective public governance, efficient business and the well-being of consumers. At the same time, it is becoming a major source of income for organised criminal groups. It also damages economic growth by undermining both business’s revenue and their incentive to innovate. Counterfeit and pirated products tend to be shipped by virtually every means of transport. In

A new treaty aims to turn the idea of cross-border paperless trade into a reality Feb 20 marks the entry into force of a new international agreement promoting paperless trade, a timely reminder of how the COVID-19 pandemic has brought digital solutions to regional development challenges into the limelight. Paperless trade across borders has proven an effective way to mitigate trade disruptions since the onset of the crisis, enabling commerce to continue while limiting physica

We are delighted to announce a new partnership between Dentsu Tracking and KW Group to lead development in the Asia Pacific region. Dentsu Tracking is committed to assist governments and the private sector in the digitisation of supply chains in the region and to support the fight against illicit trade through collaboration with ministries of finance, customs, and enforcement bodies. The company fully supports the regional development of trade digitisation as a driver for eco

Pandemic has further exposed weaknesses throughout the region and in the online world that allow shady operators to thrive - Article from Jan 18th Bangkok Post Not only has the Covid-19 pandemic exposed flaws in social and health systems, disrupted supply chains and taken at least 38,000 lives across Southeast Asia, it has also shed light on the growing problem of illicit trade in the region. Smuggling, counterfeiting and related illegal activities rob the global economy of U

South Africa may have banned cigarettes and alcohol during its lockdown but, for some, the good times kept rolling. While the rules were meant to help manage the health impact of the coronavirus pandemic — reducing alcohol-related trauma cases and cutting pressure on hospitals — they’ve allowed illegal traders to gain a foothold in the market. Tobacco and alcohol products remained readily available through the black market from when the ban first kicked in with the shutdown f

CAIRO – 25 August 2020: Egypt will establish an electronic system for the first time to track goods until the final release stage, and to deal in customs with goods contracted with a modern e-commerce system, with the possibility of pre-clearance and payment of customs duties before the arrival of the goods, Minister of Finance Mohamed Ma’it commented after the approval of the House of Representatives on the draft customs law on Monday. According to a statement from the Minis

By Nick Redfearn, Rouse - COVID-19 has caused some shifts in IP infringement patterns, including magnifying existing trends. As a result of changes in trade, Southeast Asia (the 10 ASEAN nations) have now become China’s largest trading partner[1]. Southeast Asia received over USD350 billion in exports in 2019 and overtook the EU in 2020. Exports to Southeast Asia have been rising every year thanks to China’s Belt & Road initiative. China’s definition of the ‘Road’ is the sea

Lead Generation, Virtual Site Tours, Webinars, Sales & Marketing Representation, Training & Development across the APAC region? KW Group have a 10 year track record in market access, trade & investment across the Asia Pacific region from our HQ in Malaysia at the heart of Asia. We understand that to establish in the region you need a long term vision and commitment of the highest quality combined with local networks. We support governments, IPAs, free trade zones, technologie

Hundreds arrested in crackdown on terrorist routes in Southeast Asia - More than 130 human trafficking victims rescued in Operation Maharlika III SINGAPORE: An INTERPOL-led operation codenamed ‘Maharlika III’ saw law enforcement from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines (BIMP) deploy to strategic points along known terrorist transit routes in Southeast Asia in a series of simultaneous law enforcement and border control actions. The coordinated move – from 24 Februa

Dear friends and colleagues In partnership with our co-host Shanghai APMEN Operational Centre we announce the postponement of GTDW China Trade Development Forum 2020 which was planned for June 16-18, Shanghai Pudong www.kwglobaltrade.com During this challenging time, the health and well-being of our colleagues, clients and partners around the globe are our primary concerns. The Forum will move forward in Shanghai Pudong as originally planned, at a later date to be confirmed.

RETAIL and Trade Brand Advocacy (RTBA) said the travel restrictions, movement control order (MCO) and tighter scrutiny by enforcement agencies at border checkpoints and expressways have done nothing to disrupt the illicit trade supply chain in Malaysia. “Recent feedback from industries and enforcement agencies indicated that instances of illicit trade in Malaysia remain high as syndicates and perpetrators utilise innovative ways to circumvent the more intense spotlight cast b

4th GTDW Anti Illicit Trade, Brand & IPR Protection Conference & Expo, 16-18 June, Shanghai | 4th 反非法贸易，品牌和知识产权保护会议 | 全球贸易发展周-中国论坛 | 2020年6月16日至18 - 20.02 Presented in partnership with Quality Brands Protection Committee, China (QBPC) Join heads of brand protection, IPR, Customs, Police, Judiciary & Technology as they come together to discuss critical security aspects of brand protection, market integrity, counterfeiting, product smuggling and diversion, illicit threats and c

AGENDA ENGLISH | AGENDA CHINESE 4TH GTDW Anti Illicit Trade, Brand & IPR Protection Conference & Exhibition, 16-18 June, Shanghai Pudong | 4th 反非法贸易，品牌和知识产权保护会议| 全球贸易发展周-中国论坛| 2020年6月16日至18 - We have confirmed with our local partners and advisory council to proceed with the China program, 16-18 June, Intercontinental, Shanghai Pudong. The event is Co-hosted with APMEN上海亚太示范电子口岸网络运行中心(SAOC)主任 and partners include Quality Brands Protection Committee, China (QBPC) 中国外商投资企业协会优质品牌

Interesting article that gives some perspectives on one of the worlds largest areas for illicit trade. The lack of Track & Trace Systems shows that there are huge opportunities in the region to collaborate between technologies and major stakeholders to limit the effects of counterfeits, fakes and associated crime and illicit financial flows. In partnership with Quality Brands Protection Committee, China (QBPC) We look forward to covering much of this topic at The 4th GTDW Ant

Hong Kong customs has uncovered HK$85 million worth of smuggled cigarettes in the largest seizure of its kind in two decades, after authorities acted on intelligence indicating a syndicate was shipping the haul into the city in four containers. Some 31 million cigarettes were stashed in the containers from Yokohama in Japan. They were then shipped through different ports in South Korea, Vietnam and mainland China, according to Lee Hoi-man, deputy head of the Revenue and Gener