Region

In Asia Briefing Magazine’s first issue of 2014, we provide a country-by-country introduction to how payroll and social insurance systems work in China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, India and Singapore. We also compare three distinct models companies use to manage their payroll across various countries with external vendors, and explain the differences among three main models: country-by-country, managed, and integrated models while highlighting some benefits and drawbacks of each.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank’s private sector lending arm, has announced that it is planning to launch an IFC Asia Fund with a US$1-1.5 billion target. Since the 1980s, the IFC has invested in emerging market private equity funds, and in 2000 created a group dedicated to investments in funds. Since then, […]

Sri Lanka is aiming to be a US$100 billion economy by 2016. Sri Lankan Central Bank Governor Nivard Cabraal has revealed that the Sri Lankan economy grew by 7.25 per cent during 2013, and has outlined five “hubs” that will help propel the country towards being a US$100 billion economy. These include reforms in the […]

Dec. 13 – The Japan-ASEAN summit takes place today in Tokyo, with China – who is not attending – likely to be playing the role of the bogeyman at the meetings. China is involved with serious diplomatic and political tensions with both Japan and several ASEAN members, with the Philippines, Japan and Vietnam in particular very […]

  Dec. 5 – A report released last week by Moody’s Investor Service entitled Asian Credit is Stable, Despite Strengthening Headwinds projects that the overall credit quality of sovereigns, corporations and financial institutions in Asia Pacific will be stable over the next 12 months. According to the report, telecommunications companies, property developers, utility companies and refiners […]

In this issue, we examine the different tax rates in 13 Asian jurisdictions – the 10 countries of ASEAN, plus China, India and Hong Kong. We examine the on-the-ground tax rates that each of these countries levy as well as residency triggers, available tax incentives for the foreign investor, and important compliance issues.

Nov. 19 – The Malaysian government has announced that it will implement a new Goods and Services Tax (GST) beginning April 1, 2015. The initial rate is expected to be 6 percent which will be the lowest amongst ASEAN countries and much lower than the VAT rates in the European Union. The tax was announced […]

Nov. 19 – When looking to expand your manufacturing business into Vietnam, there are a variety of key issues for which extra attention needs to be paid. You need to be aware of not just your potential location, but also what establishing a presence in that location means – specifically with regard to different zone […]

The recently-leaked Trans-Pacific Partnership documents by Wikileaks and accompanying commentary from Julian Assange show that they have no understanding of international trade, changing global dynamics, or how democracy works.

Nov. 12 – The Commonwealth Business Forum (CBF) begins today in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and will last until the 14th of November. The Forum is titled “Partnering for Wealth Creation and Social Development: The Commonwealth, Indian Ocean and SAARC.” The CBF is co-organized by the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) and the government of Sri Lanka. […]