China has made a rapid economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, which seems to have moved European investors from favouring offshoring to rediscovering their appetite for the country. European companies are seeking to increase their exposure in China and move their supply chains onshore in the country, according to a report from the EU Chamber of Commerce in China published in June 2021. The European Business in China Business Confidence Survey 2021 finds that 59% of Eur

McKinsey highlights five growth levers for emerging ASEAN and show how they could boost recovery in countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia Emerging ASEAN (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam) began the crisis at a disadvantage, and COVID-19 exposed and often heightened their challenges. Larger, developed nations generally have the resources and infrastructure to weather the pandemic’s impact. Some emerging ASEAN countries were unable to mount stimulus pr

China preliminary data for April (release by Major Products & by Country/Region) and below TDM insight by John W. Miller, Chief Economic Analyst - Trade Data Monitor For years, economists marveled at China’s history-shaping growth in manufacturing exports. But as this April’s trade data from Beijing illustrates, it’s time to start paying more attention to the ballooning of shipments to China. Chinese imports in April increased 43.1% year-on-year to $221.1 billion, the biggest

China is perhaps one of the most unprecedented stories of economic development in recent history. In the last 25 years, the country’s economy rapidly expanded, lifting more people out of poverty than anywhere else in the world. But all this wouldn’t have been possible without another outstanding story: the emergence of China from the periphery of world trade to becoming a global trade titan. Genesis of a trade transformation While the rise of China as an export powerhouse be

According to a new report from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) economic growth in developing Asia is set to rebound to 7.3% this year, supported by a healthy global recovery and early progress on coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines, The projected resurgence follows a 0.2% contraction last year, according to ADB’s flagship economic publication, Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2021, released today. The region’s growth is forecast to moderate to 5.3% in 2022. Excluding the

Only 12 per cent of the 345 US firms surveyed by the American Chamber of Commerce in China said the investment environment was deteriorating This represented the lowest proportion since the question was first introduced in the 2012 survey As China-US relations face some uncertainties, a survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China) said that most US companies expect a rosy year for their business growth in the world's second-largest economy, citing China'

Some interesting insights and conclusions on vulnerability in manufacturing by Investment Monitor. The Vulnerability Index looks at which locations would be hit hardest if their manufacturing sector experienced a downturn. Globally, manufacturing has faced a challenging year in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. From supply chain breakdowns, workforce restrictions and unprecedented volatility in demand, manufacturing has indisputably been impacted. This has had a ripple effec

Asian markets are seeing a robust resilience through the current covid, trade wars & associated economic turbulence. With strong intra regional trade, developing local economies, free trade agreements, booming e-commerce and China +1 Asia Pacific economies offer fantastic opportunities through domestic and international growth but remain complex to access and in many cases language and bureaucratic red tape can be key factors to deter international FDI and market access. We

Interesting perspectives on China +1, an often misunderstood economic & trade reality that is based on high value market growth in SE Asia and no longer just based on cheap labour and manufacturing costs. Increasingly, Chinese companies are finding the region an appealing alternative to compensate for their loss in market growth elsewhere, say Dr Lau Kong Cheen and Dr Vanessa Liu. There is a concept among the business community known as the “China Plus One (+1)” strategy wher

“Reshoring was just something nice, a nice idea, mostly for companies that should never have outsourced to a country like China,” The Trump administration wants to reduce American dependence on overseas supply lines by encouraging ‘reshoring’ But returning manufacturers often face old infrastructure, underdeveloped networks and poor labour pools As the United States awakens to its supply-chain vulnerabilities amid heightened pressure on companies to “reshore” from China, it i

Advances in production technology and a trend towards shorter supply chains make a return to “business as usual” highly unlikely. By David East and Martin G. Kaspar The impact of the pandemic on both global trade and foreign direct investment (FDI) has been dramatic. Even now, as some countries begin easing their restrictions to breathe life back into their flailing economies, the full effects of this virus are yet to be fully understood.  Certainly, this pandemic has acceler

An interesting move that will see auto manufacturing return to Singapore after 40 years also underlining its investments in the regions leading ride-hailing firm Grab Hyundai Motor Co. will manufacture electric vehicles in Singapore starting in 2022, the Straits Times reported. The Seoul-based automaker will produce 30,000 electric cars a year at the Singapore plant, with as many as 6,000 set to be sold in the city-state, the newspaper said, citing Teo Hock Seng, executive ch

KUALA LUMPUR (July 16): Malaysia recorded RM37.4 billion worth of approved investments in the manufacturing, services and primary sectors in the first quarter (1Q) of this year, of which 70.4% or RM26.3 billion comprised direct domestic investment (DDI). In a statement today, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) said the top five sources of foreign direct investment (FDI) were Switzerland with RM2.7 billion investment, Singapore (RM2.1 billion), the United St

Seven companies to relocate facilities to Indonesia, invest $850m President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo announced on Tuesday that seven foreign companies had confirmed plans to relocate production facilities to Indonesia, mostly from China, an encouraging signal for the country’s investment climate amid the pandemic. The relocation of factories of the seven companies, which include South Korean industrial conglomerate LG and Japanese electronics giant Panasonic, is estimated to brin

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

The International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) is identifying Japanese companies seeking to relocate their operations from China that can be invited to invest in Malaysia. Senior Minister cum Miti Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said this followed Japan’s decision to help its manufacturers shift production out of China or relocate their operations to other countries in response to the Covid-19 impact. “Miti will strive to convince Japanese investors to use Malaysi

The government will reduce trade restrictions and red tape to facilitate the import and export process during the COVID-19 outbreak. Starting April 20, the customs department will reduce customs duties for businesses operating with the Myanmar Automated Cargo Clearance System (MACCS). Paperwork will also be streamlined, with an electronic version of Form D for preferential tariff treatment in Asean to be issued to simplify procedures between all the Asean countries. VIEW ART

An impressive 59% was in the Eastern Economic Corridor, with China outreaching Japan to become the biggest international investor in Thailand. Thailand remained an investment destination for international investors last year, as reflected in the overall value of investment promotion requests in 2019, released by the Board of Investment (BOI) today, which exceed a 750 billion baht goal. An impressive 59% was in the Eastern Economic Corridor, with China outreaching Japan to bec