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Asia Briefing publishes articles, magazines, and guides on doing business in Asia.
It has been produced by Dezan Shira and Associates since 1999.
The European Chamber of Commerce in China (EU Chamber) has released its European Business in China Business Confidence Survey 2022, based on insights from 620 European companies doing business in China, 79 percent of which have been doing so for over 10 years. As revealed in the EU Chamber survey report, 60 percent of European companies said that doing business is to some extent becoming “more difficult” in 2022, compared with 47 percent in 2021. In addition to COVID-19 prevention and control measures, the impact of the Russian-Ukraine conflict has been felt all over the world. This, among other concerns, are the top challenges to European companies in China. We examine the key points made in the report.
A little-known aspect of China’s Belt and Road Initiative has been the use of casino developments to spur much needed infrastructure. Beijing knows the behavioral aspects of its people well, and it is noticeable that on both the Cambodia and Laos borders, sufficiently close to China (where gambling is illegal) to attract mainland Chinese tourists, casinos began to be established over ten years ago. What is surprising though is that the income from this has generally be recycled into active infrastructure projects with real value.
The US government recently approved a 24-month tariff exemption for solar panels from four Southeast Asian countries: Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Thailand to meet national renewable electricity demand. Vietnam Briefing looks at the opportunities and how Vietnam’s solar panel manufacturing is likely to benefit in the long term.
New provisions released by China’s cybersecurity authority clarify how companies can transfer personal information overseas by using a streamlined “standard contract” procedure. Under the PIPL, companies are restricted from exporting personal information outside of China without prior approval or signing a contract with the overseas recipient. The new provisions will greatly facilitate cross-border data transfer for foreign companies and multinationals handling small amounts of data. We explain the contract requirements for China data transfer.
The top 7 states in India based on ease of doing business parameters are Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Punjab, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu as per the Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP) 2020 report released by the central government on June 30. Findings in this fifth edition of the report are completely based on multilingual feedback from users at ground level. Andhra Pradesh (1) and Telangana (3) featured among the top performing states in the 2019 BRAP report as well. Such reports can thus provide foreign investors with trackable data and showcase the consistency of respective states on delivering on key policy measures based on proposed reforms.
Da Nang continues to remain high on the list for foreign investors looking to invest in the Central Region and even Vietnam. After Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the city has emerged as an attractive investment destination and serves as a gateway to the Central Region, which is rapidly industrializing. Vietnam Briefing examines Da Nang’s top growth drivers and competitive industries underlining the reasons why it remains an attractive investment destination.
Impact of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act on Vietnam Exports to the US
Mergers and Acquisitions in India – New Issue of India Briefing Magazine Out Now
Indonesia Makes Changes for the Disbursement of Old Age Security Funds
Updates on India's FTAs in 2022
Azerbaijan’s Caspian Baku Port To Expand Cargo Traffic Infrastructure & Transshipment
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived yesterday (Tuesday, July 5) in the Mongolian capital, Ulaan Baatar, for talks with his Mongolian counterpart, Battsetseg Batmunkh, as well as with the President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh and the chairman of State Great Khural, Gombojavyn Zandanshatar. Arctic gas transit to China and increased Russia-China rail capacity are on the agenda.
Azerbaijan is considering the implementation of numerous projects to boost Baku Ports freight cargo transshipments. Cargo traffic growth along the East-West Corridor (from China to Europe), the Port of Baku and the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), are seeing greater demand, while freight movement from China, Central Asia and the Black Sea basin to the EU countries and back via TITR through Azerbaijan’s territory, has been updated, which means a rise in cargo flows from China to Europe through Azerbaijan.
While the EU has closed its borders and ports with Russia, they may have misjudged the connectivity implications. Rather than EU-China freight passing EU-Russia-Kazakhstan-China, with that route now disconnected, the alternative southern route EU-Georgia/Turkey-Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan-China has now come to the fore. The issue here for the EU is that Russia is a powerful Caspian Sea nation and a member of the Caspian Littoral States group, which includes the “Caspian Five” – Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan.
It’s been a heavy week for geopolitics as G7 meetings, followed by the BRICS and NATO summits are showcasing how the world is shifting and a new global order beginning to emerge with clear divisions between East and West. There have been developments in Central Asia too, with an important Caspian Sea summit that paves the way for future influence over EU-Asia trade routes, as well as connectivity developments in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, with the latter also embroiled in separatist problems to its Western borders. Finally, we complete the week with our BRI global round up which is full of opinion concerning the G7’s US$600 billion anticipated infrastructure spend.
Employees in Indonesia will not have to wait until the age of 56 to withdraw their JHT / old age security funds. We discuss the new criteria.
Increase in Social Insurance Rates for Foreign Employees in Vietnam
Singapore to Implement New Points System for Employment Pass Applicants From 2023
Assessing the Current Human Resources Talent Pool in ASEAN
Indonesia’s President Becomes First Asian Leader to Visit Ukraine and Russia, Since Conflict
Philippines and South Korea to Sign Free Trade Agreement
Smart Cities Cooperation: Indonesia and Finland
New draft provisions clarify how companies can export personal information by signing a "standard contract".
China’s Cloud Computing Market: Developments and Opportunities for Foreign Players
GDPR Versus PIPL - Key Differences and Implications for Compliance in China
New Specifications for Cross-Border Processing of Personal Information for MNCs
EU Chamber Business Confidence Survey for Foreign Companies in China: Key Observations
Belt and Road Weekly Investor Intelligence #88
China Coronavirus Updates: Latest Developments and Business Advisory
It has been five years since the roll-out of India's GST indirect tax regime.
Electric Vehicle Industry in India: Why Foreign Investors Should Pay Attention
India’s New Plastic Waste Management Rules Effective from July 1, 2022
India Extends GST Compensation Cess Levy till March 2026
Mergers and Acquisitions in India – New Issue of India Briefing Magazine Out Now
Updates on India's FTAs in 2022
Top 7 States for Investment in India: Findings from the Business Reforms Action Plan 2020
Vietnam Briefing highlights the recent tariff exemption of Vietnamese solar panels by the US and opportunities for solar panel manufacturers.
Why Manufacturing is Driving Vietnam’s Growth
Vietnam's Solar Industry: Bright Prospects for Investors
Renewables in Vietnam: Current Opportunities and Future Outlook
Impact of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act on Vietnam Exports to the US
Why Da Nang Remains Attractive for Foreign Investors
Vietnam Approves National Strategy on Foreign Investment: Decision 667
Russia Insisting Payment For Gas Supplies To Be Made In Rubles Only
Putin Visits Turkmenistan, Discusses Trade & Attends The Caspian Summit
Spitzbergen Becomes Unlikely Arctic Russian Sanctions Battleground
European Road Network Completely Cut From Russian Route Maps
Azerbaijan’s Caspian Baku Port To Expand Cargo Traffic Infrastructure & Transshipment
NATO's Strategic Concept 2022 Views 75% Of The BRICS Economies A Security Threat – Analysis
Kyrgyz Government Proposes Route For China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway