It’s too early to write off Hong Kong!
2024 kicked off with my annual mission to the Asian Financial Forum in January and, in addition to leading a 3 day program for AFF delegates, I spent a full two weeks in Hong Kong catching up with local investors, business partners and friends who provided some unique on-the-ground perspectives. I also spent an interesting […]
Navigating China’s investment potential: Key sectors revealed
China, the global economic powerhouse, faces a complex landscape of shifting consumer behaviours, regional differences and changing global trade dynamics. The aftermath of long and unpredictable Covid lockdowns has impacted consumer confidence, boosting saving and curtailing spending – with the exception of the luxury end of the market. While there are complex economic and market […]
Opportunities for Australian Health-Tech in Asia
Opportunities in Asia for Leading-edge Australian Health-Tech Companies The healthcare industry in Asia has seen rapid growth in recent years, driven by an ageing population, an increase in chronic diseases, and a growing demand for high-quality medical services. According to McKinsey, the healthcare market in Asia is expected to reach US$4.5 trillion by 2023, making […]
China and the Global South
It’s important to observe that, whilst our media generally focuses on the trading relationship between China and the West, there has been a dramatic surge in Chinese exports to the ‘Global South’, which includes: Turkey India Indonesia Vietnam Thailand Malaysia Philippines Brazil Mexico According to one observer, Chen Feng, “China divides the external export cycle […]
China’s $18 Trillion Economy
Whilst China’s economy is facing a period of extreme turbulence as a result of Covid lockdowns and geopolitical factors, it’s worth remembering the very strong position it found itself in at the end of 2021 (following a period of 8.1% growth which exceeded most expectations) and the sectors that are likely to propel the domestic […]
INVESTING IN CHINA
Back in the early 2000s, I was introduced to Shifeng Ke, a Chinese based fund manager who at the time worked for Martin Currie Investment Management Group, a well known scottish group and the first foreign fund manager to offer a unit trust which invested solely in local China A shares (The Martin Currie China A Share […]
THE END OF THE BEGINNING
Trying to place recent developments in the context of the growth of modern China, I believe we have reached a point which will one day be described by historians as ‘the end of the beginning’. After 30 years of adopting a ‘growth at any cost’ model, seeking to lift millions of people out of poverty, […]
LESSONS FROM SCANDINAVIA
After many years of following the fortunes and failures of foreign companies in Asia, there is one region of the world that stands out to me for their consistent success: Skandinavia. It’s hard to argue that the likes of Ikea, Nokia, Maersk, Kone, Lego, Bang & Olufsen, Volvo and Equinor are over-achievers throughout the world, […]
Asian Diversity
It’s good to hear SMEs talking about their “Asian Strategy” again, but the use of these words alone suggest that they have a lot of detailed, analytical and strategic work to do before they will be anywhere near ready to launch their business into this fast growing and highly diverse region, representing more than half […]
People First
It is often forgotten that relationships between different countries exist on at least 3 levels: Level 1 – Government to GovernmentThis usually receives the most attention, at least from the media, but it should be remembered that Governments and leaders come and go, and attitudes, policies and personalities change faster than it might appear from […]