Asia in Focus
Activity Overview
Episode publication activity over the past year
Episodes
Bangladesh in transition: from crisis to caretaker government
27 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the past few weeks, we have seen a tectonic shift in Bangladesh’s political landscape. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina – who ruled for the ...
Thailand’s power shift: Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s path forward
27 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the past few weeks, Thailand has undergone a dramatic political transition with the appointment of Paetongtarn Shinawatra as the new prime minister...
Vietnam: a new dawn, or business as usual?
31 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Investors in Asia are still processing the news of the sudden passing of Vietnam’s long-serving leader, Communist Party Secretary General Secretary ...
China’s Third Plenum 2024: reaffirming the country’s long-term vision
26 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) wrapped up on 18 July in Beijing. It comes at a critical...
Indian elections: the BJP loses its majority – what’s next for business?
18 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi secured a third term, but his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unexpectedly lost its parliamentary majority after sign...
Vietnam’s anti-corruption drive: are we at fever pitch?
27 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Vietnam’s anti-corruption drive, dubbed the “burning furnace,” started in 2016 but has intensified since 2021. Many senior officials in the c...
US-China relations ahead of the 2024 US election
15 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This April has seen a surge in bilateral contacts between the US and China, from the Xi-Biden phone call to Janet Yellen and Antony Blinken’s visits...
US election 2024: the possible outcomes and global implications
26 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In a busy election year, the most high-profile race in 2024 is undoubtedly the rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump a...
Indonesia elections 2024: predictable unpredictability
19 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Indonesia will announce the official results of its presidential elections on March 20. Pro-business defence minister Prabowo Subianto looks set to wi...
India Elections 2024: risks and opportunities from the world's largest election
18 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Asia In Focus, Angela Mancini, Partner, speaks with Khalid Shah, Analyst, about how businesses operating in India can prepare for t...
Indonesia Elections 2024: A year of red herrings?
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Indonesia just closed its presidential candidate registration on 25 October 2023. After much anticipation, voters finally have confirmation that there...
Garbage in, goldmine out: Can ‘bad data’ help businesses achieve regulatory compliance?
20 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After the US Department of Justice (DOJ) updated its guidelines for compliance in 2020 to include the use of data analytics, many companies have been ...
Digital sovereignty in Asia: Navigating a Brave New World
06 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Multiple data leaks in recent years have prompted governments across the region to scrutinise the processing and flow of information within and beyond...
India rising: Unravelling the complexities of an emerging powerhouse
12 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Talk of India’s economic rise has been around for the last decade. Its skilled workforce, coupled with low labour and production costs, makes it an ...
Thailand’s post-election scenarios: Bloodless revolution or contested control?
25 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Thailand held its general elections recently on 14 May, where the opposition beat the incumbent pro-military coalition. Surprisingly, it was the progr...
Thailand’s upcoming general elections: Stable victory or civil unrest?
10 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Thailand will be holding its general elections less than a week, on 14 May. This upcoming election is shaping up to be the most competitive one since ...
Vietnam’s anti-corruption drive: is there a silver lining?
28 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Communist Party of Vietnam has been on an aggressive anti-corruption drive. Earlier this year, in a move unprecedented in recent Vietnamese politi...
The outlook for China in 2023: a mix of hope and concern
06 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
China’s reopening after three years of zero-COVID policy has been one of the most discussed topics for international companies recently. The policy ...
Key takeaways from China’s historic CPC National Congress
04 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Few National Congresses of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in history seem to have generated as much global media attention and market response as ...
The new geopolitics in the Pacific Islands region
17 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Pacific Islands are gaining attention amid the great power rivalry. All sides are stepping up their engagement with the region to expand influence...
Sri Lanka: Navigating the economic crisis has implications for other emerging markets
26 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Sri Lanka still faces political uncertainty and deep economic turmoil. Global attention remains on the country. Economies with the potential for simil...
Malaysia: Political stability is an issue, but not the whole story of doing business
13 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
The shape of things to come following Pelosi’s Taiwan visit
18 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Vietnam: Immense opportunities in a complex market
26 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Despite the global headwinds, Vietnam continues to offer a strong value proposition for investors, and has continued to attract keen investor interest...
The future of the global supply chain: China and South-East Asia
13 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Rising concerns in the context of geopolitical tensions and COVID-19 have intensified the focus on global supply chains. Judging by the numerous headl...
The end of Shanghai lockdown: What’s next for businesses in China?
22 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Over the past few months, China's COVID control measures - as highlighted by the Shanghai lockdown - have not only created new operational disruptions...
Biden’s first presidential visit to Asia: Key takeaways for businesses
31 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
US president Joe Biden’s inaugural trip to Asia reflects an acceleration in geopolitical shifts in recent years. With geopolitics increasingly resha...
Philippine presidential election: What does a return to history mean for businesses?
20 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The recent Philippine presidential election saw Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr – the son and namesake of the late long-time dictator – winnin...
Asia Pacific: A look ahead at 2022
29 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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” w...
Asia‘s geopolitical dynamics
17 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Angela Mancini, Partner, speaks to Andrew Gilholm, Global Issues lead for Asia Pacific, about Asia’s geopolitical dynamics and some of the key big p...
International companies in Myanmar: The case for responsible resilience
29 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Against the backdrop of all that’s happening in Myanmar, exiting the country is definitely an option. But should international companies make the ha...
The Global Insight - AUKUS -- what‘s the sub-text?
01 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The announcement of AUKUS generated many dramatic headlines, but with the passing of time, it's clear that the underlying geopolitics are more importa...
Malaysia: Is there an end to the political and healthcare crisis?
02 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Malaysia’s tumultuous politics has left many asking about the country’s political and economic outlook in the coming months. Dane Chamorro, Partne...
What does China’s data crackdown mean for investors and MNCs?
26 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Beijing’s probe into Didi Global has sent shockwaves through investors and multinationals with operations in or exposure to China. Many are left won...
What lies ahead for South Asia’s post-pandemic recovery
28 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
South Asia has been hard hit by a second wave of COVID-19 infections over the past few months, with India alone registering over 140,000 deaths since ...
ESG values and valuations
17 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join Control Risks’ Partner Steve Wilford for a conversation about environmental, social and governance (ESG) in Asia with Reema Bhattacharya, Rosie...
Vietnam: A continuing success story?
19 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As the only ASEAN economy to achieve positive economic growth in 2020, Vietnam’s potential as an investment destination is evident. However, Vietnam...
Myanmar coup
12 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Since Myanmar’s Tatmadaw (military) overthrew the civilian government and took power on 1 February, a civil disobedience movement has rapidly grown....
Foreign direct investment in Indonesia
08 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
6 months after the new job creation law was passed, what progress has been made and what does it mean for business? Join Control Risks' Partner Dane C...
China's 14th Five-Year Plan
10 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join Control Risks' Partner Dane Chamorro, as he discusses with Andrew Gilholm, Principal and Director of the analysis practice for Greater China and ...
Digital risk in Asia
08 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join Control Risks' Partner Dane Chamorro, as he discusses the digital risk in Asia with Jim Fitzsimmons, Principal in the Cyber Security Consulting t...
Supply chain in Asia
29 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Join Control Risks' Partner Dane Chamorro, as he discusses geopolitics and geoeconomic in Asia supply chain with Andrew Gilholm, Principal and Directo...
China's self-sufficiency in technology
23 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Join Control Risks' Partner Dane Chamorro, as he discusses China’s plan for self-sufficiency in technology with Carly Ramsey, Control Risks’ head ...
Will Indonesia’s new jobs bill invite more foreign investment?
26 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The government in Indonesia has just passed a controversial jobs creation bill, the “Omnibus Law”, which has sparked widespread demonstrations in ...
Risk in Thailand
24 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Join Control Risks' Partner, Dane Chamorro, for a discussion with Harrison Cheng, Associate Director, about the current risk landscape for investors i...
The changing investment environment
16 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What are the implications of Covid-19 on private market investors? Join Control Risks experts Charlie Warren, Henry Smith and John Seddon for a discus...
Tracing the evolution of US-China relations
27 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How did we get here? The relationship between the US and China has been frustrating politicians and business people for well over a decade. Control Ri...
A tale of two countries: opposition Singapore and Malaysia
14 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Join Control Risks' Partner, Dane Chamorro, for discussion with Harrison Cheng, Associate Director in our Southeast Asia political analysis team, abou...
Looking ahead in the Philippines
26 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Long referred to as the "Sick Man of Asia" for its less than impressive economic performance and often volatile politics, the Philippines has shown re...
2020 Risk Map Update Asia Pacific
22 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Join Charles Hecker as he chats with a panel of our experts -- Andrew Gilholm, Reema Bhattacharya and Harrison Cheng -- about how our Top 5 Risks for ...
When emerging markets stop growing: Bangladesh and COVID-19
19 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Bangladesh has come a long way in the past decade, achieving record growth that has averaged between 6-8% in the past five years. This has made Bangla...
Beyond the great firewall – the evolution of cyber risk in Asia
12 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Though China’s cyber laws may be the most well-known, governments across the Asia Pacific – such as those in India, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand...
Economic trends across Asia
09 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Asia was the first region to experience the Covid-19 virus, but the economic effects have varied widely across the region. Northeast Asia, Korea and T...
India’s new economic era?
29 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi this month announced a financial assistance package totalling INR 20 trillion (USD 265bn) to help mitigate the ...
Compliance and third party due diligence
27 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Rosie Hawes, Partner in Control Risks' Compliance, Forensics and Intelligence practice in Greater China and North Asia, discusses the importance of su...
The Supply Chain Episode 3: Compliance and third party due diligence
27 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Rosie Hawes, Partner in Control Risks' Compliance, Forensics and Intelligence practice in Greater China and North Asia, discusses the importance of su...
COVID-19: How data analytics can help businesses in crisis
22 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The COVID-19 pandemic has seen governments and organisations turn to data for their decision-making like never before, reflecting not only the increas...
COVID-19: Vietnam’s formula for investment growth
15 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
If there has been a winner in South-East Asia in terms of foreign investment over the last five years, it is undoubtedly Vietnam. The country’s econ...
Business ethics during an economic downturn
08 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Dane Chamorro chats to Andrew Macintosh, who leads Control Risks’ Asia Pacific forensics and investigations practice. Fraud and corporate malfeasanc...
COVID-19: How COVID-19 has changed China’s operating environment
01 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Dane Chamorro and Kent Kedl – two of our partners based in Singapore and Shanghai – discuss China, its growth prospects in the wake of COVID-19, a...
COVID-19: Opportunities and obstacles for Asian markets
24 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Dane Chamorro and Steve Wilford, two of our partners based in Singapore, discuss the opportunities and obstacles in key Asian markets as businesses re...