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Category: General

Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest General Retail news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • CE China makes debut

    CE China makes debut

    Brings together local and international retailers and suppliers.

    The CE China exhibition launched in Shenzhen this week, created by the organisers of the annual IFA Berlin exhibition, has brought together retailers including Alibaba and Amazon China with leading Chinese and international manufacturers for a unique exhibition concept.

    There were over 150 exhibitors for the three-day event, concluding today (April 22) across an exhibition area of over 15,000 square metres at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center.

    According to Jens Heithecker (pictured below), the executive director of IFA at Messe Berlin, this new exhibition is designed to provide Chinese consumers and members of the trade with a local and international experience.

    Jens-Heithecker

    “Welcome to the very first edition of the new CE China trade show and you can see it is a retail brand show – this means we have Chinese retailers as well as Chinese brands and global brands from around the world here in one place. This is the newest show for the Chinese market, but with clear influence to the Asian markets as well.

    “We are proud that some of our largest exhibitors the very first year of the show are retailers such as Alibaba, Suning, Gome and Amazon China. In addition to this, from the industry side the dominating booths are from Bosch, Siemens, Karcher, Onkyo emphasising that this is an international show. It is not a trade show with a lot of small booths, it is a brand show that China has not seen so frequently in the past.

    CE China Amazon

    “It is a step for IFA to conquer the Asian market with our own show, but we have also realised in the last couple of months what influence this show has to Berlin. We have much better contact with the Chinese retailers and manufacturers who are better informed about IFA in Berlin.

    “We have also brought the Euronics and Expert buying groups from Europe and they will inform the industry in China that they act differently to other retailers worldwide, the influence is both ways. We bring over international and niche brands that is what the new Chinese middle class is looking for and of course the leading brands worldwide.

    “We have two kinds of trade visitors – the traditional Chinese retailers with central buyers who spread out the products through the shops, but also in this competitive environment of rising online retailers, it is clear that you have to train staff in a better way so the retail shops have better chance to survive.

    “The consumer experience in-store has to be an experience and not only a place to pick up products. And the manufacturers feel as though they need much more brand experience in the retail stores, bringing retailers and manufacturers together to train each other with the newest products for the best sales outcome. That is the basic idea here in China and we look forward to demonstrating how we do it in Europe.

    CE China Siemens

    “The other point, is that here in the region of Shenzhen is the world’s largest hub for the electronics industry which means for all these companies developing, manufacturing and marketing these products they need to understand in a better way to work with international brands and international markets and this is the chance for them to see and learn about at CE China.”

    Dr. Christian Göke, CEO of Messe Berlin added: “As the Asian counterpart of the global IFA trade show, CE China is consciously aligned to the needs of Chinese distributors, and existing retail structures in particular. These distributors are interested in products manufactured by well-known international brands. It will be our task to successfully bring together these companies and distributors at CE China.”

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  • Belgian King praises Indonesia`s economic development

    Belgian King praises Indonesia`s economic development

    “Indonesias economy is remarkable,” King of Belgium Philippe told President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) when they met at the Royal Palace in Brussels, the Belgian capital on April 21, 2016.

    He has followed the economic development of Indonesia closely, and he gave high credit to the progress, King Philippe claimed.

    He particularly expressed his support to the economic deregulation measures carried out by President Jokowi, who is expected to reveal his 12th economic stimulus package aimed at boosting investment and trade, in the very near future.

    Belgium is Indonesias key partner, in terms of trade and investment.

    Total trade between Indonesia and Belgium in 2015 reached US$1.67 billion, while investments amounted to US$7 million.

    The European countrys investments in Indonesia include those in diverse fields, ranging from power generation to the cocoa processing industry.

    Last March, the Belgian government sent a high-profile delegation to Indonesia, headed by Princess Astrid to strengthen bilateral economic relations, particularly in the fields of trade and investment.

    Princess Astrid, as representative of King Philippe, headed a 301-member delegation to Indonesia from March 12 to 18, 2016.

    In total, 127 companies and at least four ministers participated in the economic mission.

    The delegation is the largest-ever Belgian mission to come to Indonesia, and this is a landmark in the growing ties between the two nations, the Belgian government said on its official website.

    Some 25 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and business contracts between business associations of both countries were signed during Princess Astrids visit to Jakarta.

    Jokowi and Princess Astrid, during their meeting at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, on March 15, 2016, agreed that the two nations should step up economic cooperation.

    The President expressed his optimism that Belgiums largest economic mission to Indonesia would help strengthen bilateral relations between both countries.

    The Head of State also called for expanding interactions between the business communities of both nations, and for expanding market access for Indonesian products, such as footwear, rubber, textiles, electronics and furniture, to enter Belgium.

    He also invited Belgian investors to start businesses in strategic sectors in Indonesia, such as infrastructure, telecommunications, the film industry, and raw materials.

    However, in the meeting with the Belgian King in Brussels, President Jokowi conveyed Indonesias worries on several discriminative measures from EU countries to Indonesian Crude Palm Oil products.

    “I believe Belgium will not take those discriminatory measures,” the President said.

    He also expressed his appreciation and gratitude for the decision to select Indonesia as the guest country for the 2017 Europalia Festival, as well as for the invitation to attend the inauguration of the festival.

    “The festival is an opportunity for Indonesia to show the richness of its culture. I hope Your Majesty will support us for the success of the event,” President Jokowi, who was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno L.P. Marsudi, Minister of Trade Thomas Lembong, and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, said.

    Coinciding with the Presidents visit, a round-table meeting was organized and attended by CEOs of 15 Belgian companies in Brussels on April 21.

    Many people in the audience expressed interest in gaining insights into infrastructure development in Indonesia.

    Head of the Indonesian Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Franky Sibarani and Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) Roesan Roslani briefed them on the progress of infrastructure development projects, such as seaports, toll roads, and airports.

    Most of the participating companies have invested in Indonesia and planned to expand their investments.

    “For instance, a company that produces steel fiber expanded its investment worth US$50 million in Karawang; a knife manufacturing company has planned to open a new plant in Bekasi; and a retail company has planned to expand its network,” Sibarani revealed.

    Belgiums investment in the country reached $132 million during the 2010-2015 period, placing the nation in the 27th position on the list of Indonesias foreign investors, according to the BKPM data.

    The European countrys investment commitment during the same period was recorded at $213.5 million comprising 64 projects.

    Furthermore, the BKPM identified a Belgian firm, which is keen to invest US$574.5 million, or some Rp7.1 trillion, in seaport development.

    The Belgian company had contacted a state-owned seaport operator to express its interest, Sibarani stated.

    “The company has also urged the investment board to facilitate its plan, including coordinating with other related ministries or institutions,” he remarked.

    Meanwhile, Trade Minister Thomas Lembong stated that a series of economic policy packages issued by the government had made Indonesia a favorite investment destination.

    “The policy packages have made Indonesia more attractive to foreign investors,” Thomas Lembong, accompanying President Jokowi on a European tour that covers Germany, Britain, Belgium, and the Netherlands, said.

    The policy packages had boosted trade cooperation between Indonesia and European countries, the minister believed.

    The Indonesian government has issued 11 economic policy packages over the past several months marked by massive deregulation.

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  • Prince Albert of Monaco appreciates Wonderful indonesia

    Prince Albert of Monaco appreciates Wonderful indonesia

    Prince Albert II of Monaco appreciated Wonderful Indonesia, Indonesia’s tourism promotion branding initiative, during an Indonesia-Monaco Friendship Night in Monte Carlo on April 20.

    The Tourism Ministry Secretary, Ukus Kuswara, said in Monaco on Saturday that Monaco’s head of state expressed his appreciation for the campaign when he attended the friendship night, where cultural and arts performances were the highlight.

    Apart from Prince Albert II, the friendship night, an initiative of the Indonesian tourism ministry and the Indonesian Embassy in Paris, was also attended by government officials, the head of state palace, the head of Monaco Economic Agency, industrialists and tourism business players of the kingdom state.

    The tourism ministry presented the Paulus Surya Orchestra & Vocalia from Semarang, Central Java, featuring 10 musicians and five dancers. Dressed in Bali’s exotic costumes, they danced to traditional music as audiences joined the revelries, shaking their heads, their bodies jiving to keep up with the tempo.

    A medley of European songs, including the O Bambino Caro, a favorite of the mother of Prince Albert II, mesmerized the audience. Besides the orchestra, Indonesian textiles were also displayed by noted designer Oscar Lawalata.

    Oscar Lawalata displayed 60 personal classic textile collections from various regions in Indonesia.

    After the Wonderful Indonesia program, the event continued with a business meeting between the two countries.

    The Indonesian delegation was led by Kuswara, accompanied by Hirmansyah Sambudhy Thaib, the chairman of the working group for development acceleration of 10 national tourism destinations.

    On the Monaco side, the event was attended by the country’s businessmen and industrialists who were offered investment cooperation and a chance to visit Indonesia. They were offered investment opportunities in Indonesia’s Tourism Special Economic Zone, now being developed in 10 tourism destinations.

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  • Why Retailers Should Care About Google’s Eddystone Beacon Upgrade

    Why Retailers Should Care About Google’s Eddystone Beacon Upgrade

    Beacons have been mired in a no man’s land of emerging technologies ever since they came onto the scene, and their lethargic progress can’t be chalked up to any single deficiency. Developers don’t know all their use cases; retailers aren’t quite sure how to deploy them; shoppers can’t trust that the push notifications aren’t collecting information that’s only sent back to the merchant in question.

    At the very least, Google’s latest upgrade to its Eddystone platform promises to address that last one.

    Google — or Alphabet as the kids say these days — announced a new security protocol for its beacon format on Thursday (April 14) that goes by the name of Ephemeral IDs (EID). While that’s not a very sexy sentence for merchants on the hunt for new ways to create sticky experiences for in-store customers, the technology behind the EID protocol might.

    Instead of previously available security standards that variously had sensors and devices automatically and periodically scan their environments for all potential communicable nodes, EID uses a more targeted and personal approach. Sensors on the platform broadcast encrypted keys that autonomously change as frequently as every other second, depending on the owner’s preference, and only devices with access to that same platform can decrypt the key. Without proper access, there’s no way to unscramble the eight-bit identifier code and no way for snoopers to eavesdrop on digital conversations.

    Best of all, since the EID changes so often, Google says that there’s little to no chance it can be falsely reproduced or the signal tracked over time.

    While this still might not be enough to get retailers’ motors going, it’s important to note that EID protocols don’t require consumers to authorize apps or verify that the inanimate beacon is communicating the right information to the right users; during installation, retailers set the access parameters themselves. Yossi Matias, vice president of engineering at Google, told Wired that this EID update achieves something in beacon technology that’s eluded researchers from the outset: enhanced security without increased friction.

    “It’s very easy to provide security layers which compromise the user experience,” Matias said. “These are very easy to deploy from a technology point of view and are very bad experiences. The real challenge from a technology perspective is how to keep things simple but also add a security layer on top of everything.”

    The Eddystone EID protocol is already seeing some real-world use. Google touted how in Hong Kong, the part-art studio, part-retail mall K11 is employing EID-upgraded beacons to deliver information on installations and targeted promotions as soon as customers come within a certain range of sensors. Stateside, Washington, D.C.-based Monumental Sports has rolled out Eddystone’s newest update to sensors all over the Verizon Center, allowing personalized updates on seat upgrades and secure transactions within a crowded (both physically and digitally) 18,000-seat stadium.

    Matias himself has seen success with a somewhat new use case for beacons: personal belongings tracking.

    “As we started this project, my favorite use case was the suitcase, since I travel so much,” he told Wired. “You can think about many benefits; my favorite one was getting a notification once it’s near the carousel, so I don’t need to waste time watching other bags … But the question is: How can I do that knowing that I’m the only one that can recognize my suitcase and that it’s not recognized by anyone else’s mobile device?”

    It’ll likely take time to build up confidence in both consumers and retailers that a technology they can’t see is actually doing a better job of securing their data than all the previous architectures that have promised the same thing. But if beacons are ever going to work in the brick-and-mortar world, EID doesn’t seem like such a bad place to start.

    Or, in the case of beacons: a place to start again.

  • Garuda Indonesia to receive 14 Airbus A330neo jets

    Garuda Indonesia to receive 14 Airbus A330neo jets

    Garuda Indonesia has confirmed an order with Airbus for the purchase of 14 A330-900neo, the new re-engined version of the best-selling A330 widebody airliner, to support the company’s growth and business expansion in the future.

    The deal was signed at a ceremony in London in the presence of the President of Indonesia, His Excellency Joko Widodo and British Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. David Cameron MP.

    Garuda Indonesia plans to use the A330neo to develop its medium and long haul network, with the aircraft offering cutting edge technology along with more efficient operations. The order replaces and extends an existing order for seven A330-300 aircraft, and the A330neo will be delivered from 2019 onwards.

    “We are pleased to announce that we continue our long-standing relationship with Airbus. Both Garuda Indonesia and Airbus fully understand the aim of the deal as a long-term strategy to win the global challenge,” said Arif Wibowo, CEO of Garuda Indonesia.

    Arif explained, “The A330neo represents a more-efficient future for Garuda Indonesia. This order restructuring is believed to support our continued commitment to deliver the most modern, comfortable and excellent air travel service to all customers as well as to strengthen the sustained positive growth and business expansion of the company.

    “Furthermore, we are confident that this latest technology aircraft will support us to compete better in the industry.”

    Prime Minister David Cameron said: “This deal underlines the increasing importance of our ties with Indonesia – a fast growing economy and set to become the seventh largest in the world by 2030.

    “We are the fifth biggest investor in Indonesia and our relationship has more untapped potential. We want to encourage more British businesses to seize on these opportunities and we will continue to support them by banging the drum for British skills and expertise.”
    Airbus Chief Operating Officer Tom Williams said: “We are delighted to welcome Garuda Indonesia as a new customer for the A330neo.

    “The A330neo will bring a range of benefits from unbeatable operating economics including significant reductions in fuel consumption, lower maintenance costs and extended range capability. The aircraft will have Airbus’ all new Airspace cabin which will ensure the A330 continues to be a benchmark for passengers and airlines alike.”

    The deal is the latest milestone in a long standing partnership dating back more than 30 years, when the airline took delivery of its first Airbus A300.

    The A330-800neo and the A330-900neo are two new members of the Airbus Widebody Family with first deliveries scheduled to start in Q4 2017. The A330neo incorporates latest generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, aerodynamic enhancements and new cabin features. Benefitting from the unbeatable economics, versatility and high reliability of the A330, the A330neo reduces fuel consumption by 14% per seat, making it the most cost efficient, long range widebody aircraft on the market.

    In addition to greater fuel savings, A330neo operators will also benefit from a range increase of up to 400 nautical miles and all the operational commonality advantages of the Airbus Family.

  • Garuda Indonesia Denpasar Aims for 10% Growth

    Garuda Indonesia Denpasar Aims for 10% Growth

    PT Garuda Indonesia (Persero) Tbk. Denpasar Branch Office has targeted a 10 percent growth this year compared to 2015.

    Micky Irfandi, General Manager of Garuda Indonesia Denpasar Branch Office, said he is optimistic of achieving the target through a wide range of efforts, though he admitted that Q1 2016 sales has yet to show any positive signal.

    “In Q1 2016, we actually saw a decrease of 14 percent compared to the same period last year. One of the factor that affected the decrease was unstable global economy, which has made people and companies or agencies to be more efficient,” Micky said, Monday, April 18, 2016.

    Based on the data of Bali Statistic Agency, the number international departure from I Gusti Ngurah Rai airport in February 2016 was 2,423 flight departures. The figure was down by 2.73 from previous month of 2,491 flights.

    For domestic flights, the number of aircraft departed from I Gusti Ngurah Rai airport in February 2016 was 3,067 flight departures, or fell by 7.15 percent compared to the previous month of 3,303 flight departures.

    Moreover, Micky went on, another factor which has affected the growth figure was fuel price decrease which has forced his company to readjust ticket prices.

    “Fuel price decrease has resulted in lower ticket prices and it has reduced our revenue compared to previous figure,” Micky said.

    Garuda continues to launch various promotional efforts to attract foreigners to travel to Bali in line with the company’s support for the government program of 20 foreign tourist visits by 2019.

    “We continue to carry out various efforts to support the government programs also by opening new routes recently and increasing the number of seats for Denpasar-Hong Kong route. The route was previously using 737-800 aircraft with a capacity of 162 seats; we replaced it with A333 aircraft with 251 seats and adding 89 seats,” he explained.

    Micky added that Garuda is also mulling on increasing flight frequency of Denpasar-Beijing and Denpasar-Shanghai routes from three flights per week to four or five flights.

  • LFC sponsor Garuda in 14-plane order with Airbus

    LFC sponsor Garuda in 14-plane order with Airbus

    Liverpool FC training kit sponsor Garuda Indonesia has confirmed an order with Airbus for 14 A330-900 aircraft.

    The planes, the new re-engined version of the best-selling A330 widebody airliner, will support growth and business expansion for the Indonesian airline.

    The deal was signed at a ceremony in London in the presence of the President of Indonesia, His Excellency Joko Widodo, and British Prime Minister, David Cameron MP.

    Garuda Indonesia plans to use the aircraft to develop its medium and long haul network, with the planes offering cutting edge technology along with more efficient operations.

    Airbus employs more than 6,000 staff at its Broughton plant, near Chester, making wings for all its commercial aircraft .

    The order replaces and extends an existing order for seven A330-300 aircraft, and the A330neo (new engine option) will be delivered from 2019 onwards.

    “We are pleased to announce that we continue our long-standing relationship with Airbus. Both Garuda Indonesia and Airbus fully understand the aim of the deal as a long-term strategy to win the global challenge,” said Arif Wibowo, chief executive of Garuda Indonesia.

    He explained, “The A330neo represents a more-efficient future for Garuda Indonesia. This order restructuring is believed to support our continued commitment to deliver the most modern, comfortable and excellent air travel service to all customers as well as to strengthen the sustained positive growth and business expansion of the company.

    “Furthermore, we are confident that this latest technology aircraft will support us to compete better in the industry.”

    Prime Minister David Cameron said: “This deal underlines the increasing importance of our ties with Indonesia – a fast growing economy and set to become the seventh largest in the world by 2030.

    “We are the fifth biggest investor in Indonesia and our relationship has more untapped potential. We want to encourage more British businesses to seize on these opportunities and we will continue to support them by banging the drum for British skills and expertise.”

    Airbus chief operating officer Tom Williams said: “We are delighted to welcome Garuda Indonesia as a new customer for the A330neo.

    “The A330neo will bring a range of benefits from unbeatable operating economics including significant reductions in fuel consumption, lower maintenance costs and extended range capability.

    “The aircraft will have Airbus’ all new Airspace cabin which will ensure the A330 continues to be a benchmark for passengers and airlines alike.”

    The deal is the latest milestone in a long-standing partnership dating back more than 30 years, when the airline took delivery of its first Airbus A300.

    The A330-800neo and the A330-900neo are two new members of the Airbus widebody family with first deliveries scheduled to start in the fourth quarter of 2017.

    The A330neo incorporates latest generation Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines, aerodynamic enhancements and new cabin features.

    It reduces fuel consumption by 14% per seat, making it the most cost-efficient, long range widebody aircraft on the market.

    Garuda Indonesia is already rated a five star airline in terms of comfort and passenger services.

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  • Garuda signs 1 billion pound deal with Roll Roys

    Garuda signs 1 billion pound deal with Roll Roys

    The nations flag carrier PT Garuda Indonesia and British aircraft engine maker Roll Roys signed a 1 billion pound cooperation agreement here on Tuesday.

    “The results of the meeting between President Jokowi (Joko Widodo) and Prime Minister David Cameron included the agreement between Garuda and Roll Roys worth 1 billion poundsterling,” British Ambassador to Indonesia Moazzam Malik said here on Tuesday.

    Garuda would buy 14 units of aircraft produced in Britain and other European countries, Moazzam said after the meeting between Jokowi and Cameron.

    The units to be produced in Britain will use Roll Roys engines, he said.

    Under the agreement, Garuda would send mechanics and technicians for training in Roll Roys.

    The ambassador said that Jokowi and Cameron also discussed issue of extremism, adding that Cameron asked Indonesia to play a greater international role in controlling radicalism.

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  • Vice President Opens Inacraft 2016

    Vice President Opens Inacraft 2016

    Vice President Jusuf Kalla has opened Indonesian handicraft expo Inacraft 2016 held from today to April 24, 2016 in Jakarta Convention Center, Senayan, Jakarta.

    The largest Indonesian handicraft expo is participated by over 1,400 handicraft companies, consist of both manufacturers and exporters from 34 provinces in Indonesia that occupy 1,333 stands.

    The expo has seen an increase in individual participants with 849 stands. There are also 359 agency stands, 117 SOE stands and eight foreign participant stands from Singapore, Japan, Pakistan, Nepal, India and Syria.

    Adopting the theme “From Smart Village to Global Market”, Inacraft tries to facilitate Indonesian handicraft products to step up the level and standard of Indonesian handicraft products.

    The handicrafts being exhibited among others are various textile handicrafts such as batik, weaves, embroideries, songket, ikat weaving and various accessories, wooden handicrafts such as statues, carved furnitures, educational toys, jewelries from gold, silver and gem stones.

    This year, Inacraft provides free shuttle buses from a number of shopping malls and airport to the expo site, among others, Margocity, Mal Taman Anggrek and Sumarecon Mall Bekasi.

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  • TFWA Singapore: conference programme revealed

    TFWA Singapore: conference programme revealed

    TFWA Workshop imageOff-airport duty free developments, millennial travellers and legislative threats to travel retail’s growth will be focal points for discussion at this year’s TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference, 8-12 May.

    The trio of workshops will provide delegates with the vital insight they require to meet the challenges facing their industry.

    Workshop A will look at ambitious off-airport duty free developments, which have gained particular traction in Asia.

    Speakers include Amos Xu of Haikou Meilan Airport Duty Free Shop, Hyunah Ahn from Korea duty free operator Hanwha Galleria Timeworld and Peter Mohn from M1nd-set.

    Workshop B will delve into the hopes and expectations of the ambitious millennial traveller, with speakers including Singapore-based bloggers Uli Chan and Christabel Chua, Grant Fleming from Lagardère Travel Retail and Cheryl Lim from McKinsey who co-authored a report on capturing the Asian millennial traveller.

    Workshop C will pinpoint and discuss current legislative and regulatory threats, packaging regulations and carry-on board rules and specific categories such as alcohol and tobacco to establish ways of safeguarding the industry.

    Speakers include Sarah Branquinho, ETRC president; Andrew Gardiner, Asia Pacific Travel Retail Association board member and chief of retail & Launceston, Australia Pacific Airports (Melbourne); Duty Free World Council president Frank O’Connell and GfK global head of travel & hospitality Laurens van den Oever.

    “With three sessions running simultaneously, there will be plenty of food for thought during what promises to be a highly informative and constructive afternoon,” says TFWA vice president, conferences and research Thom Rankin.

     

  • Singapore retail sales defy predictions, fall 3.2% in February

    Singapore retail sales defy predictions, fall 3.2% in February

    Retail sales in Singapore dropped 3.2 per cent in February from the same month a year ago, defying economists’ predictions for an expansion in consumer spending and providing more evidence of a slowing economy.

    The retail sales contraction followed the revised 7.6 per cent growth in January, said the Department of Statistics yesterday, and was in contrast to the 3.4 per cent increase forecast by 12 economists in a Bloomberg poll. Excluding motor vehicles, retail sales slumped by 9.6 per cent as all but three out of 13 segments that make up the index fell.

    Apart from motor vehicles, higher sales were seen only at mini-marts and convenience stores, as well as for medical goods and toiletries. The total retail sales value in February was estimated at S$3.4 billion. The data came a day after the Monetary Authority of Singapore unexpectedly eased its policy, guiding the local currency to a zero appreciation stance against the currencies of its major trading partners, as the economy registered no growth in the first quarter.

    From the previous month, retail sales rose 1.7 per cent in February; excluding motor vehicles, they fell 1.1 per cent, showed the Department of Statistics data.

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  • China first quarter GDP growth slowest since 2009

    China first quarter GDP growth slowest since 2009

    The pace of China’s economic growth decreased to its lowest since the global financial crisis in the January to March period, official figures show. Gross domestic product expanded 6.7% from the same period a year ago, in line with market expectations but the slowest pace of growth recorded since the first quarter of 2009.

    The world’s second largest economy grew 6.9% last year – its weakest expansion in a quarter century – falling short of Beijing’s target of 7%. But the first quarter number falls within the range of Beijing’s growth target of 6.5% to 7% for 2016.

    Other data for March released by the National Bureau of Statistics suggested that the Chinese economy was stabilising, with industrial output, retail sales and urban fixed-asset investment all beating analyst forecasts.

    Industrial production rose 6.8% from a year earlier following a 5.4% increase in January-February, while retail sales jumped 10.5%. Fixed-asset investment expanded 10.7% in the three months to March period compared to the same period a year ago, beating expectations for a 10.5% rise.

    ‘Robust growth’

    The GDP data comes two days after China’s customs agency said exports increased 11.5% from a year earlier in March, the first positive growth in overseas shipments in nine months. Imports were down a less-than-expected 7.6% following a 13.8% drop in the previous month, while the trade surplus came in at $29.9bn (£21bn; €26.3bn).

    Yuan Banknotes
    China’s central bank says it will target stability in the yuan exchange rateReuters

    Meanwhile, a Chinese deputy central bank governor said the economy had performed robustly in the first quarter but admitted that it faced several headwinds.

    “I’m pretty confident that we are going to have between 6.5% to 7% growth this year,” Yi Gang said. He reiterated that the central bank would target stability in the yuan and not allow the currency to “overshoot” its exchange rate by too much.

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  • Unilever Indonesia set to enjoy stronger performance

    Unilever Indonesia set to enjoy stronger performance

    Unilever Indonesia’s net profit fell 1.2%; however, the media outlet predicts that as the economy now picks up, so too will the multinational’s performance in the country.

    Unilever is the “undisputed leader in bath and shower” in Indonesia, according to market research firm Euromonitor International, and it looks set to maintain and strengthen this position.

    “In addition to heavy investment in new variant launches and promotions, Unilever benefits from its brands also having a good reputation in the marketplace, and the company has an extensive distribution network to also reach consumers in rural areas,” Euromonitor observed in its most recent report on the country.

    Seeking opportunities

    According to Euromonitor, the bath and shower category in Indonesia is currently saturated, so innovation will be key to driving future growth for Unilever.

    “New and creative approaches by manufacturers are crucial to retain customers and develop the consumer base, especially in products with more potential to grow such as body wash/shower gel,” the firm asserts.

    It singles out additional formulation benefits and novel packaging formats as key areas for development in the category up ahead.

    Tackling deforestation

    Indonesia is also one of Unilever’s key regions for its focus on reducing its environmental footprint, which forms a central part of its ongoing Sustainable Living Plan.

    Last year, the company announced that along with Brazil, Indonesia would form the key focus of an ongoing, year-long partnership with WWF International to tackle deforestation.

    These two countries have historically had the highest rates of deforestation in the world and have some of the largest areas of intact forest globally.

    “Stopping deforestation is an urgent priority in tackling climate change. Forests are second only to the oceans as the largest global store of carbon and support 80 percent of terrestrial biodiversity across the globe,” says Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever.

  • Asian retail leaders in Forbes most powerful businesswomen

    Asian retail leaders in Forbes most powerful businesswomen

    Two Asian retail leaders have been added to Forbes magazine’s annual list of 50 most powerful businesswomen in Asia – in The Philippines and Vietnam.

    They are Robina Gokongwei-Pe, the president and COO of Robinsons Retail Holdings, the second-largest multi-format retailer in The Philippines, and chairman/general director Cao Thi Ngoc Dung of Vietnam’s largest jewellery brand, PNJ, which she founded in 1998.

    Robinsons started as a department store in Manila in 1980, expanding into the supermarket business five years later. It entered the DIY business in 1994, the convenience store and specialty store businesses in 2000, and the drug store business in 2012.

    There are six business segments: supermarkets (Robinsons Supermarket and its two new subformats, Robinsons Easymart and Robinsons Selections); department stores (Robinsons Department Store); DIY stores (Handyman Do it Best, True Value, True Home by True Value, and the newly acquired big-box hardware subformat A.M. Builders’ Depot); convenience stores (Ministop); drugstores (South Star Drug and Manson Drug); and specialty stores (from consumer electronics and appliance retailer Robinsons Appliances and Savers Appliances to toys retailer Toys ’R’ Us, one-price-point retailer Daiso Japan, coffee chain Costa Coffee and international fashion brands such as Dorothy Perkins, Topman and Topshop, and international cosmetics brands such as Shiseido).

    Robina Gokongwei-Pe is also a director of Cebu Air, JG Summit Holdings, Robinsons Bank Corporation and Robinsons Land Corporation. She is a trustee of the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation, Immaculate Conception Academy Scholarship Fund and the Ramon Magsaysay Awards Foundation, and is also a member of the University of the Philippines Centennial Commission.

    After attending the University of the Philippines-Diliman, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in journalism, from New York University in 1984. Pe joined the Robinsons group in 1984 as a management trainee. She is the daughter of the chairman and CEO of the company, John L Gokongwei Jr.

    Cao Thi Ngoc Dung founded PNJ as a store in 1998, and now has a 17 per cent stake of the company, which has more than 3000 employees in 200 stores. The group grossed $350 million in revenue and made a profit of $23 million in its latest trading year.

    Based in Ho Chi Minh City, PNJ opened its own jewellery factory in October 2012. A VND120 billion (US$ 5.38 million) investment, the factory has the capacity to produce 4 million items a year. PNJ’s national expansion started in 1994 with the establishment of a branch in Hanoi.

    This year’s Asia’s Power Businesswomen list represented 14 countries, with China and Hong Kong dominating (14 women), followed by India (8), Thailand (5) and Japan (4). Australia, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam each had three, while South Korea and The Philippines each had two. Macau, New Zealand and Taiwan had one each. There were 27 newcomers, about a quarter of them from the tech sector.

  • China’s Century 2017 to be hosted in Guangzhou

    China’s Century 2017 to be hosted in Guangzhou

    Erik-Juul-Mortensen-China's-Century-lead The TFWA China’s Century Conference will take place from 7-9th March 2017 in Guangzhou, at the port city’s Four Seasons Hotel. The official host of the event will be Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Co.

    Erik Juul-Mortensen, president TFWA said: “TFWA China’s Century Conference is an essential diary date for anyone interested in the considerable commercial opportunities the Chinese market presents, as well as all those who want to gain a deeper understanding of the Chinese traveller both at home and outside China.”

    The city of Guangzhou – northwest of Hong Kong on the Pearl River – is the third largest city in China and is said to have played ‘a pivotal role in the country’s economic development.’

    CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT

    Its Central Business District, where the event will be located, underwent a major renovation in preparation for the Asian Games of 2010. The city now boasts a rapidly developing international airport, which is home to China Southern Airlines, and connects Guangzhou to the rest of China, Europe, Asia Pacific and beyond.

    A spokesperson from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Co said: “Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Co is delighted to be the Official Host for next year’s TFWA China’s Century Conference.

    “As the premier event for the duty free and travel retail industry in China, the conference brings together all the major companies involved in the market, and we believe Guangzhou is the perfect venue for such a gathering.

    “Our city is one of the historic centres of trade in China and is attracting increasing numbers of business and leisure travellers, partly thanks to the efforts we are making to develop Guangzhou Baiyun as an international hub airport. We are confident this conference will be a big success and we look forward to welcoming delegates to our airport and to this vibrant city.”

    SHANGHAI CONFERENCE DRAWS ALMOST 400 DELEGATES

    The Four Seasons is located in the centre of Guangzhou’s Central Business District, close to the famous landmark Canton Tower. Occupying the top third of the 103-storey Guangzhou International Finance Center, which is one of the world’s tallest skyscrapers, it can truly claim to offer visitors ‘a room with a view’.

    The first TFWA China’s Century Conference took place in 2013 in Beijing. The second conference, which was held in Shanghai in 2015, welcomed 388 delegates including senior executives from numerous airlines, airports and duty free and travel retail operators.

    Over the two days, 120 meetings took place between the industry’s airports, concessionaires and brands. TFWA China’s Century Conferences have featured speakers from leading airports, airlines and retailers, as well as high profile researchers, academics, authors, editors and specialist consultancies.

    TFWA’s unique ONE2ONE meeting service has played a key role in the event’s continuing success, while an exciting social programme with a range of glittering events held in the most impressive venues ensures that there is plenty of opportunity for more informal networking.