Asia Business Council

14/06/2024

Digital industries are crucial for the advancement and success of developing Asian economies. However, without building digital talent, these countries risk falling behind. Developing Asia must address soft infrastructure gaps through education, vocational training, entrepreneurship, and R&D, to help its workforce thrive in a digitized economy. Executive Director Janet Pau suggests a “digital Peace Corps” that enables young tech-savvy graduates and professionals to facilitate digital and AI knowledge transfer and capacity building in needed sectors and for less-educated workers.

For the full article:

Cooperation among the Global South has enabled developing economies to help each other through knowledge and technology transfers. Using this approach to address the digital infrastructure gap and build a highly skilled workforce can keep emerging countries from falling further behind.

30/05/2024

A new report, Asian Supply Chain Champions in a New World of Trade, by the Asia Business Council, featuring the Asia Manufacturing Diversification Index, assesses the preparedness of ten emerging Asian economies vis-à-vis China in a new world of global trade, as multinational businesses look to adopt “China-plus-one” or even “China-plus-many” strategies in export manufacturing, and intra-Asian trade continues to soar. It offers a strategic roadmap for countries aiming to increase their investment appeal by identifying new growth opportunities and overcoming obstacles in the face of global supply chain shifts and escalating trade tensions. Overall, China maintains its lead in manufacturing, with India, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam following suit. To excel in an ever-changing global trade landscape, emerging Asian countries could both play a growing role in labor-intensive manufacturing, as well as develop capabilities for the more technology-intensive manufacturing of the future. Winning factors include labor availability and productivity at a competitive cost; capacity for innovation and digital readiness for cutting-edge, AI-enabled manufacturing; domestic market potential balanced with trade openness; and adaptability to stricter environmental and social protection regulations globally.

For the full report: https://lnkd.in/gXiucsBa

26/09/2023

Pleased to share our latest collaboration with McKinsey & Co. on business strategies for Asian businesses in a new era. The article's analysis draws from collective insights of CEOs and Chairpersons around Asia on how they adapt their strategies to give major trends: changing world order, technological innovation, demographics, energy and resources, and financial capitalization.

Asian business leaders are optimistic about a new era, but most see the need for major strategic change.

16/05/2023

https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3220592/amid-slower-growth-hong-kongs-economy-must-change-alongside-mainland-china Hong Kong's economy has benefited from global market capitalism for decades. But supply chain de-risking, protectionism, and China's shift toward domestic consumption mean Hong Kong must change too, writes Executive Director Janet Pau. Efforts to correct unbalanced growth, bring distributional justice, and generate higher-quality growth can help put Hong Kong on a more prosperous path.

Hong Kong has long been a service-based economy reliant on finance, tourism, trade logistics and professional services. But as the Chinese economy shifts towards domestic consumption, Hong Kong must change too, to maintain healthy economic and job growth

11/04/2023

https://asiabusinesscouncil.org/2023/03/14/cities-asias-catalysts-for-net-zero/ Can cities be Asia's catalysts for decarbonization? The Asia Business Council's latest research explores how urban areas can leverage their roles as financial centers and incubators of innovation to solve climate change.

Asian cities are significant contributors to climate change. Cities in the region are also hubs of economic activity, centers of financial capital and talent, and incubators of innovation and progress. The report offers frameworks, recommendations, and case studies to illustrate how cities could lev...

29/11/2022

https://www.cpjobs.com/hk/job/program-analyst-associate-3936302 The Asia Business Council is hiring a Program Analyst/Associate in Hong Kong to assist with its growing research and event programs! See the link for more details and to apply.

ASIA BUSINESS COUNCIL is recruiting a Program Analyst/Associate. Learn more of the job description and apply online now.

20/10/2022

https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3196332/asia-climate-change-and-economic-uncertainty-can-be-addressed-together As Asian economies face recession worries, some think it's time to put climate change on the back burner - but climate resilience goes hand-in-hand with economic growth. For the South China Morning Post, Executive Director Janet Pau laid out steps businesses and governments can take to address climate change and economic uncertainty together.

Read more about the Asia Business Council Statement on Climate Action and Sustainable Growth here: https://asiabusinesscouncil.org/2022/07/07/asia-business-council-statement-on-climate-action-and-sustainable-growth/

As Asian economies face recession worries, many are putting climate action on the back burner – but climate resilience goes hand in hand with economic stability. Setting ambitious energy and sustainability targets supports green growth.

17/06/2022

The industrial metaverse is growing, and could form the building blocks of the next-generation internet. But we must ensure it is open and available to all, writes Program Associate Colleen Howe.

More companies are collaborating to explore how the metaverse could make operations more efficient, which could form the building blocks of the next-generation internet. Just as the internet allows information and innovations to be shared across borders, the world will benefit most from having an op...