South-east Asia's fintech ecosystem is growing

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Local Markets ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Electronic Payments ◽  
Foreign Companies ◽  
Digital Infrastructure ◽  
Local Companies ◽  
Financial Technology

Subject Expansion of fintech in South-east Asia. Significance South-east Asia is primed for a rapid expansion of financial technology ('fintech'), despite a lack of both digital infrastructure and region-wide regulation. The region is seeing growing demand for electronic payments. Impacts As fintech develops across South-east Asia, acquisitions of smaller local companies by large players will increase. In many local markets, foreign companies will be forced to rely on local fintech providers. New regulations could provide opportunities for new forms of digital protectionism. Malaysia is well positioned to be a leader in Islamic fintech.

Pandemic dampens South-east Asia's digital agenda

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Healthcare Education ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Digital Infrastructure ◽  
Digital Development

Significance Although internet use in the region fell slightly after lockdown conditions were lifted, it is still above pre-pandemic levels. Yet the region’s digital divide is extensive. Within ASEAN, only Singapore is considered to have fully developed digital infrastructure, with its financial, healthcare, education and transport sectors digitised. Impacts ASEAN’s attempt, led by Thailand, to formulate common rules on digital taxes and content verification will falter. The pandemic will make Cambodia and Laos more dependent on Chinese aid for digital development. Japan and Australia are set to become important technology partners to South-east Asia.

Western tech firms will expand in South-east Asia

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
East Asia ◽  
Trade Agreement ◽  
Cloud Services ◽  
Infrastructure Investment ◽  
The Internet ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Us South ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Digital Infrastructure

Significance Although several countries, including Thailand and Vietnam, also have laws which restrict the internet -- and affect foreign tech companies through data localisation and other requirements -- Western companies are inclined to downplay this aspect of the region’s tech sector. Impacts The new US infrastructure plan, which has USD65bn earmarked for digital infrastructure investment, may dampen US tech investment overseas. A potential US-South-east Asia digital trade agreement would not prioritise human rights. US and Chinese firms will compete for cloud services contracts in the region.

Washington will engage more with South-east Asia

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
East Asia ◽  
The United States ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
National Unity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Set Up

Significance She addressed two key issues during her trip: tensions in post-coup Myanmar and China’s growing regional footprint. Shortly after she left the region, the United States announced that it would donate unused COVID-19 vaccines abroad, including to South-east Asia. Impacts Washington will tighten its sanctions on the Myanmar military while supporting ASEAN’s five-point plan to ease the country’s crisis. The National Unity Government, a parallel administration to Myanmar’s junta set up by its opponents, will try to attract greater US backing. Manila and Washington may extend negotiations over renewing their Visiting Forces Agreement to prevent the pact expiring in August.

Parts of South-east Asia may adopt nuclear post-2030

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Energy Development ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Electricity Grid ◽  
Renewable Energy Development

Significance It is the only country in South-east Asia with a large-scale nuclear plant, although this was never loaded with fuel. Other countries in the region have tentative plans to develop nuclear power programmes. Impacts The current absence of nuclear power programmes will help avert the diversion of capital from renewable energy development in the region. South-east Asian countries with small, non-power reactors, built for research, will try to maintain these facilities. Across the region, the need for electricity grid investment will increase as more decentralised generation sources are deployed.

London will deepen engagement with South-east Asia

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
East Asia ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Aircraft Carrier ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Defence Cooperation

Significance The United Kingdom eyes a strategic tilt to the Indo-Pacific, with South-east Asia a key focus because of its economic dynamism and the convening power of ASEAN. The aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth will deploy to the Indo-Pacific for six months later this year. Impacts The United Kingdom’s view of China as a systemic challenger makes a trade pact between the two countries unlikely. UK efforts to conclude a trade deal with India will be frustrated by Delhi’s protectionist approach. London will pursue closer defence cooperation with Tokyo.

South-east Asia digital controls hit connectivity plan

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Authoritarian Regimes ◽  
Political Support ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Donor Funding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Digital Integration

Significance It seeks to accelerate recovery from COVID-19 by capitalising on the rise in internet use and digital trade during the pandemic. However, new restrictive laws on internet use in several countries run counter to these regional digital integration goals. Impacts Beijing will give technical and political support to countries such as Cambodia seeking to replicate the Great Firewall on a smaller scale. Authoritarian regimes will use internet controls to advance their commercial interests. Western donor funding for digital projects could be halted.

Prospects for South-east Asia in 2022

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Vaccination Rates ◽  
Thai Government ◽  
The Military

Significance Meanwhile, the Myanmar junta and the military-aligned Thai government are under pressure from opponents, and the Philippines is gearing up for elections. With COVID-19 vaccination rates varying greatly, some countries in the region are better placed than others to revive their pandemic-hit economies.

scholarly journals The contribution of human resource development managers to organisational branding in the hotel industry in India and South East Asia (ISEA): a dynamic capabilities perspective

2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-153
Author(s):  
Adebayo Serge Francois Koukpaki ◽  
Kweku Adams ◽  
Adegboyega Oyedijo
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
Human Resource Development ◽  
Human Resource ◽  
Dynamic Capabilities ◽  
Hotel Industry ◽  
Resource Development ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Quality Service ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Dynamic Capabilities Perspective

PurposeThis research explores the significant contribution of human resource development (HRD) managers in building organisational brands in the hotel industry through the lenses of dynamic capabilities for sustaining competitiveness.Design/methodology/approachUsing a qualitative case study design, this study deployed a semi-structured interview research method. It used a purposive sample of 20 HRD managers across twenty different hotels in India and South East Asia (ISEA) to explore their contribution to organisational brands. The data was analysed using thematic analysis.FindingsThe findings show the significance of HRD in building organisational brands. From a dynamic capabilities perspective, it was found that HRD has an impact on fostering brand awareness culture; HRD functional branding enhances the creation and sustaining of quality service culture; functional branding of HRD helps differentiate the brand and quality service, for product development and innovation by linking talent development and growth of key competencies and capabilities; brand training and behavioural training directly influence the right behaviour knowledge and effective communication that is translated into the enhancement of guest experience; and finally, organisational branding through branding culture and employer branding creates organisational wealth.Originality/valueThe authors propose a new conceptual framework for the branding of the Heroes to reclaim the HRD's splendour in the realm of other functions in the hotel industry in ISEA contexts. While the authors do not claim an external generalisability, we believe that an analytical application of this framework could be relevant in similar environments. The study also claims that HRD practitioners could use parallel literature repertoires from brand management discourse to value their strategic contributions in building and maintaining their reputational position at the board level. Practical implications and further research are discussed.

Nationalistic appeals and consumer boycotts in China, 1900-1949

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 503-524
Author(s):  
Tony Yan ◽  
Michael R. Hyman
Keyword(s):  
Historical Data ◽  
Historical Analysis ◽  
Marketing Strategies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
National Brands ◽  
Foreign Companies ◽  
Social Events ◽  
Consumer Boycotts ◽  
Local Companies ◽  
Foreign Brands

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore how nationalistic appeals may affect consumers’ perception and purchasing of targeted brands. Qualitative historical data from old China (1900–1949) reveal that social movement groups can adopt nationalistic appeals assisted by meaning framing – defined as a creative interpretation of symbols, designs, behaviors, social events and cultural identities to serve social and political goals – to shape consumers’ attitudes toward foreign brands. After examining the mechanisms and processes underlying consumer boycotts from 1900 to 1949, the responsive strategies of affected foreign companies are illustrated. Design/methodology/approach Critical historical research method is applied to historical data and historical “traces” from China’s corporate documents, memoirs, posters, advertisements, newspapers and secondhand sources documenting Chinese boycotts from 1900 to 1949. Findings Consumers may pursue interests beyond economic interests. Nationalistic appeals can mobilize consumer boycotts against foreign brands that were perceived to support or relate to targeted countries. Political framing of certain events shapes consumers’ perceptions and concomitant brand choices. Research limitations/implications Although differences between historical and current contexts may require tailoring past marketing strategies to current conditions, past strategies can inform current and future strategies. Practical implications Strategies adopted by foreign companies in old China (1900–1949) can help contemporary companies design effective marketing strategies for a hostile marketplace infused with nationalistic appeals and competing interests. Social implications Although local companies can adopt economic or political nationalism to realize their economic goals, it represents a double-edged sword that can harm national brands. Originality/value A historical analysis of nationalistic business appeals in pre-1949 China can inform the counterstrategies modern companies adopt to overcome consumer boycotts.

Accounting graduate readiness for work: a case study of South East Asia

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Duc Phan ◽  
Prem Yapa ◽  
Ha Thanh Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Accounting Education ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Performance Expectation ◽  
Expectation Gap ◽  
Big Four

PurposeThis paper compares and contrasts graduate accountant skills and employers' expectations in South East Asia (SEA).Design/methodology/approachWe analyse the employers' expectation performance gap (EPG) in three countries – Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam – to provide a reflection on current professional accounting development in SEA. The study relies on data derived from multiple sources including job advertisements, CIMA “ready for business” project, Glassdoor website and other secondary data sources.FindingsThe findings indicate that over recent decades, the changing nature of the economy, state, and interest of the business sector (including the “Big Four”) have led to the wider adoption of professional accountancy qualifications. The findings suggest that graduates should be equipped with active learning activities such as project-based and work-integrated training to fill the expectation gaps between local university educators and employers.Research limitations/implicationsDrawing upon a literature review of professional accounting education, we use the results of the documentations and secondary analysis to describe the performance expectation gap of accounting education in SEA.Originality/valueThe study indicates a large discrepancy between the teachings in accounting education and employer requirements in Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia and propose different methods to fill this employability gap in South East Asia.

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