Asia in Focus

Sri Lanka: Navigating the economic crisis has implications for other emerging markets

Sri Lanka still faces political uncertainty and deep economic turmoil. Global attention remains on the country. Economies with the potential for similar issues see its plans to manage debt with international creditors and set for IMF bailout to be replicable, and – despite the challenges – there are still opportunities in Sri Lanka for international businesses.

Join Angela Mancini, Partner, as she talks with Steve Wilford, Partner based in Singapore, and Khalid Bashir Shah, Analyst based in Delhi. They discuss the most recent developments in Sri Lanka and its outlook, what the country’s trajectory means for similar economies, and how companies should learn from the crisis to harness opportunities in key industries and mitigate risks.

For more discussions on the Asia market, please subscribe to our Asia In Focus podcast series.

If you are looking for more analysis on other issues from our experts all over the world, please visit Control Risks’ Our Thinking section.

Malaysia: Political stability is an issue, but not the whole story of doing business

The imprisonment of Malaysia's former Prime Minister Najib Razak made headlines recently. The scandal tied directly to him is not just a personal blow, but also affects the prospects of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), Malaysia’s leading political party. While political stability is a perennial issue in Malaysia, it remains a well-placed investment destination for companies looking for opportunities, especially in the sectors that are on the rise.

Listen here as Angela Mancini, Partner, and Harrison Cheng, Director, discuss the impacts of Najib’s jailing on Malaysia’s political spectrum and governance standards as the 2023 elections approach. They will look at the country’s investment climate and the promising industries, as well as the key challenges for investors and operators.

For more discussions on South-East Asia, please listen to our podcasts about Vietnam and the supply chain diversification.

If you are looking for more analysis on other issues from our experts all over the world, please visit Control Risks’ Our Thinking section.

The shape of things to come following Pelosi’s Taiwan visit

A few weeks after Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, media attention started to dwindle, but the ripple effect is long-lasting. Pelosi's trip may have ushered in a new normal of increased US-China tensions, growing actions and countermeasures around Taiwan and more broadly, and a deepening dilemma for businesses. From security to supply chain, the risk exposure is greater than what companies may have expected.

Please join Angela Mancini, Partner, as she talks with Andrew Gilholm, Director of Analysis for China and North Asia, on the outlook of the regional and global impacts following Pelosi’s visit, the top issues faced by businesses in the long term, and what organisations should do to mitigate existing and emerging risks.

For more written analysis around this, read our article on the various geopolitical flashpoints in the Northeast Asia region.

If you are looking for more analysis on other issues from our experts all over the world, please visit Control Risks’ Our Thinking section.

Vietnam: Immense opportunities in a complex market

Despite the global headwinds, Vietnam continues to offer a strong value proposition for investors, and has continued to attract keen investor interest with its strong growth story. However, Vietnam is also known for its opaque regulatory and political landscape.

Join Angela Mancini, Partner, as she discusses with Stephen Norris, Partner and lead analyst for Southeast Asia, and Linh Nguyen, Associate Director, about the challenges that foreign companies face in the country, what they should be doing to mitigate those risks, the opportunities and growth sectors that lie ahead, and finally, can Vietnam really replace China in global supply chains?

Read our article on the great supply chain relocation where we explained how companies can expand operations into Southeast Asia in light of China’s COVID-19-related disruptions, or listen to our discussion on this topic in our podcast episode, The future of the global supply chain: China and South-East Asia.

If you are looking for more of such analysis and insights from our experts all over the world, please visit Our Thinking section.

The future of the global supply chain: China and South-East Asia

Rising concerns in the context of geopolitical tensions and COVID-19 have intensified the focus on global supply chains. Judging by the numerous headlines and discussions about diversification from China to South-East Asia, it would appear that the supply chain landscape is in the process of being completely reshaped. But in fact, many businesses underestimate not only how reliant on China their supply chains are, but also the operational challenges in South-East Asia, a region known for its diversity.

Angela Mancini, Partner, speaks with Julia Coym, Director based in Shanghai, and Harrison Cheng, Associate Director based in Singapore. Referring to field observations and experience in supporting clients, they discuss the changing supply chain landscape in China, the opportunities and risks of running supply chains in South-East Asia, and what businesses should be considering no matter which market they will focus on in the future.

Read further analysis here on the great supply chain relocation.

If you are looking for more of such analysis and insights from our experts all over the world, please visit Our Thinking section.

The end of Shanghai lockdown: What’s next for businesses in China?

Over the past few months, China's COVID control measures - as highlighted by the Shanghai lockdown - have not only created new operational disruptions for companies, but also amplified the underlying and long standing challenges of operating in China. With life now returning to normal in Shanghai, it’s time for companies to shift their focus from short-term COVID response to the longer-term challenges of doing business in China.

Angela Mancini, Partner, and Yifei Zhang, General Manager for East China, discuss the lessons that should be learnt from the Shanghai lockdown, the prospects of China’s next zero-COVID chapter, and what organisations should focus on and prepare for right now.

Read further analysis here on the impacts of China lockdowns.

If you are looking for more of such analysis and insights from our experts all over the world, please visit Our Thinking section.

Biden’s first presidential visit to Asia: Key takeaways for businesses

US president Joe Biden’s inaugural trip to Asia reflects an acceleration in geopolitical shifts in recent years. With geopolitics increasingly reshaping the regional environment, how will business be affected by these changes?

Angela Mancini, Partner, speaks to Andrew Gilholm, Principal and Director of Analysis for Greater China and North Asia. They discuss the big-picture significance of the visit, the future of the flashpoints in the region, and what business should do to strengthen resilience against the potential risks.

Read further analysis here on the updated geopolitical landscape in Northeast Asia.

If you are looking for more of such analysis and insights from our experts all over the world, please visit Our Thinking section.

Philippine presidential election: What does a return to history mean for businesses?

The recent Philippine presidential election saw Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr – the son and namesake of the late long-time dictator – winning convincingly by a landslide, but what does this mean for the Philippines and for businesses in the country?  

Join Angela Mancini, Partner, as she discusses with Dereck Aw, Senior Analyst and lead analyst for the Philippines, and Charlie Warren, Partner and Head of Business Intelligence for Southeast Asia, about the impact of this election outcome, the concerns of businesses and investors on the ground, how business outlook might change, and what businesses should be considering right now. 

Read more about what Dereck has written in his analysis about the Philippine election, from which much of the conversation in this podcast is based on. 

If you are looking for more of such analysis and insights from our experts all over the world, please visit Our Thinking section. 

Asia Pacific: A look ahead at 2022

All eyes are on Asia Pacific as it emerges from the pandemic, but questions remain as to how fast its recovery will be and what the “new normal” will look like. COVID-19 has created a backdrop for a rise in state intervention in several parts of the region. 2022 is poised to kick start the decade where transition dynamics, climate risk and climate action raise major implementation challenges for Asian economies and businesses. With many of the world's supply chains originating in Asia, risks of supply chain disruption remain high.

However, opportunities abound for companies that understand these operational nuances and have the skills to navigate the growing plethora of ESG-related regulation, the nativist backlashes, and the geopolitical tensions. In this podcast, Angela Mancini speaks to our panel of experts from China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and India as they discuss the key risks to businesses in Asia Pacific in 2022, as well as the key opportunities for growth.

Asia‘s geopolitical dynamics

Angela Mancini, Partner, speaks to Andrew Gilholm, Global Issues lead for Asia Pacific, about Asia’s geopolitical dynamics and some of the key big picture issues that are keeping our clients awake at night. They discuss the key themes in Asia as we head into 2022, US-China dynamics, and China.