Singapore’s second-largest developer has a suggestion for the government: re-position the billionaire enclave of Sentosa as a tourism mecca like Bali.Property values at Sentosa Cove, a residential area nestled on a tiny island off the south coast, have been hit particularly hard, with home prices down about 30 percent from the highs seen in 2010.
The ongoing Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that’s taking place all over the world has got investors excited.
As Britain's 29 March departure from the European Union (EU) looms, several major groups have announced they are downsizing their operations or completely shipping out.Here is a snapshot of what's happening:Industry hit hard Japanese car maker Honda announced Tuesday it will close in 2021 its plant in the southwestern English town of Swindon, putting 3,500 jobs at risk.Honda said Brexit was not a factor but the announcement comes after its competitor Nissan decided in February to di
The manufacturing sector has been one of ASEAN’s key economic growth drivers. Already, the region is a global manufacturing hub and is estimated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.6 percent between 2016 to 2020.One key factor propelling demand in this sector is a 640 million strong regionwide consumer base with a growing middle-income segment. Rising incomes which shift consumption trends have also contributed to growth in this sector.
The baht is looking to repeat its performance as one of Asia’s best currencies last year. Monday’s growth data will shed light on a key pillar of its recent strength and may help it stay in pole position at least through the first quarter.After being beaten by only the yen in 2018, the Thai currency has outshone all its regional peers so far in 2019, rising by four percent against the United States (US) dollar.
Southeast Asians are spending more on Valentine’s Day, with new research confirming that the most romantic day of the year is becoming increasingly commercialised.The 2019 Mastercard Love Index released yesterday reveals that Asia Pacific leads the world when it comes to growth in sentimental spending for Valentine’s Day. Compared to 2016, Asians spent 33 percent more on their loved one in 2018 – with the overall number of transactions up by 37 percent.
It was fear of being dominated by a Chinese behemoth that sparked an attempt by large French and German rail companies to join forces to create an European industrial champion.The merger by Alstom and Siemens was vetoed by the European Union (EU) on Thursday, but concerns about the overwhelming power of vast, often state-backed Chinese companies is not limited to the rail industry.Here are some of areas in which Chinese companies control a large piece of the global market.Rail China's st
For most people in Southeast Asia, when the festive season comes around it is an important time where traditions and family come first. Some look forward to spending time with their families; be it with a reunion dinner the night before Chinese New Year or by visiting other family members at their homes. For many others, it is the big Chinese New Year sales that they look forward to.Sales during festive periods is common in the region.
Thailand’s ratification of the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Work in Fishing Convention on 30 January has won it international plaudits – but how well will it be received locally?As the first country in Asia to ratify ILO’s Convention 188, Thailand – the world's third-largest seafood exporter – has received praise for “setting an excellent example” to ensure acceptable living and working conditions for fishermen onboard ships, according to ILO Director-General Guy Ryder.
Vietnam’s shrimp exports are expected to reach more than US$4 billion in value this year aided by free trade agreements.The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) last week said the country was unable to meet its 2018 export target of US$4.8 billion, hitting only US$3.5 billion – a 7.8 percent decrease from 2017.However, the implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and other free-trade agreements later this year is expected to boost exports to 28 E
Lazada’s plans to ramp up expansion in Southeast Asia might spell trouble for the region’s traditional retailers.
The smartphone market is down but not out, with high prices and other factors combining to chill what had previously been a red-hot sector.Fresh surveys show global sales had their worst contraction ever in 2018, and the outlook for 2019 isn't much better.Still, analysts don't see the sun setting any time soon on the smartphone era, seen as a must-have device for many people around the world."They don't have a viable replacement yet," independent Silicon Valley analys
