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Tag: asia

  • Saigon-Hanoi ranks 7th among world’s busiest air routes

    Saigon-Hanoi ranks 7th among world’s busiest air routes

    The country’s aviation market is growing at the third fastest pace in Asia-Pacific as air travel has become more affordable. About 4.1 million passengers are estimated to fly from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi this year, putting the route among the world’s most busiest, according to the U.K.-based air travel company OAG.

    Latest data from the company showed that the northbound route came in at the seventh place in the list of global busiest air routes, up five spots from a year ago.

    The route accounts for about 35 percent of the country’s air traffic, with up to 700 daily flights carrying passengers.

    Huge numbers of passengers traveling between the two largest cities have also strained Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City.

    Lai Xuan Thanh, director of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam, said that there were times dozens of flights had to fly around, waiting for 15-60 minutes before they could land.

    The airport is expected to handle 31 million passengers this year, far beyond its maximum capacity of 25 million.

    Thanh said that the situation is likely to worsen in the next four years as domestic carriers plan to expand to meet the local travel boom.

    National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, low-cost Jetstar Pacific and VietJet Air, and newly-founded Vietstar had raised the total number of airplanes to 141 by the end of the third quarter, up 50 percent against five years ago.

    They are planning to expand their fleets to a combined 263 aircraft by 2020. Vietstar has not been licensed to fly.

    To handle the problem of overcrowded airports, authorities are considering increasing the number of night flights and putting a cap on the number of new planes local airlines can buy.

    Vietnam’s aviation market is growing at the third fastest pace in the Asia-Pacific region, according to the aviation administration.

    It is estimated that the number of passengers, including international ones, in 2016 will jump by 29 percent to hit about 52.2 million.

  • Baiduri receives ‘Bank of The Year’ award

    Baiduri receives ‘Bank of The Year’ award

    Baiduri Bank received the coveted Bank of The Year award from The Banker magazine, during an award ceremony in London.

    This achievement marks the fourth international banking award this year for Baiduri Bank. This is also the eleventh time that the bank has received this particular award. The Banker’s 17th annual Bank of The Year awards were presented at a gala black-tie dinner at the Hilton London Bankside, London on Wednesday, December 7. On hand to receive the award was Ti Eng Hui, Deputy CEO of Baiduri Bank.

    This year, The Banker Awards took on a special meaning as it celebrated it’s 90th anniversary, making The Banker the longest running international banking title in the world.

    The Bank of The Year awards goes beyond data and figures as it looks for evidence of banks setting new standards for their local industries.

    The recognition of being named Bank of the Year in the country by The Banker is testament to the strong management, sound business model and prudent risk approach of the bank.

    Speaking on receiving the accolade, Ti Eng Hui said, “We are proud to be recognised as the Bank of the Year for Brunei from The Banker for the 11th time.

    Ti Eng Hui (centre), Deputy CEO of Baiduri Bank, after receiving the ‘Bank of The Year 2016’ award. - BAIDURI BANK

    Ti Eng Hui (centre), Deputy CEO of Baiduri Bank, after receiving the ‘Bank of The Year 2016’ award. –

    “We are delighted to conclude 2016 with this wonderful achievement. This year, we have made strides in the banking industry through our innovation and strong commitment, but it is because of our faithful employees as well as our loyal customers and partners that we are able to be the bank we are today.”

    The Banker Awards was attended by representatives from 149 countries, a reflection on the importance and significance banks put on winning The Banker’s Bank of The Year awards.

    In 2016, Baiduri Bank received three other international awards, the ‘Domestic Retail Bank Brunei 2016’ from the Asian Banking and Finance magazine, the ‘Best Banking Group 2016’ from World Finance magazine and the ‘World’s Best Emerging Markets Bank in Asia-Pacific for Brunei 2016’ from Global Finance.

    Baiduri Bank is proud to be associated with these leading international banking awards, the bank said in a statement.

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  • Former Petronas regional marketing head to Pizza Hut as CMO

    Former Petronas regional marketing head to Pizza Hut as CMO

    QSR Brands, one of the largest quick service restaurants operator in Malaysia as well as a leading brand in the Southeast Asia region, is promoting Merrill Pereyra to chief executive officer.   Along with Pereyra’s promotion, it is also appointing Jean Ler as chief marketing officer for Pizza Hut Malaysia.

    Ler will head up marketing, including brand management, innovations and consumer insights to rejuvenate the Pizza Hut brand in Malaysia. She will look to strengthen the relevance and connection to consumers by bringing them delicious products, renewed marketing communications and exciting enhanced experiences.

    Ler has a marketing career that spans 20 years across various reputable local and multinational food & beverage companies. She was most recently regional head of Marketing for Petronas Lubricants AsiaPac following various positions of increased responsibility at Dutch Lady and KraftFoods/Mondelez where she successfully regained market leadership position for the Dairy and Biscuits portfolio of the respective brands.

    Meanwhile, CEO Pereyra joined QSR Brands in June 2016 as COO to further shape the company’s growth story in the region. His current CEO role includes leadership of KFC and Pizza Hut in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, and Cambodia. His promotion follows the departure of Rohan St. George who helmed QSR Brands from 2013 to 2016.

    With over 25 years of years of innovative and energetic leadership in the Middle East, South Pacific, Australia and Asia, Pereyra is renowned for leveraging global resources, capabilities, and relationships to promote growth of brands in new markets. He has a successful track record in setting up new businesses in six countries, in developing and implementing strategic business plans as well as fast tracking high potential employees to leadership positions.

    Over the last 30 years, Pereyra has assumed senior leadership, sales and marketing positions at various leading quick service restaurants such as Domino’s, Healthy Habits and McDonald’s. In his last two roles, he was CEO of Domino’s and managing director of Healthy Habits in Australia. Prior to that, he spent 23 years at McDonald’s in four different countries.

    Eric Leong has also been appointed as GM for Pizza Hut and will oversee the planning, coordinating, and managing field activities including restaurant and delivery management, quality assurance, and implementing special projects. This is in line with Pizza Hut’s drive for superior customer service and operational efficiencies to cement a solid foundation for ambitious business growth.

    He brings more than 27 years of experience in the food and beverage industry, with extensive experience in sales and retail. Prior to joining Pizza Hut Malaysia, he was the managing director at Minor Food Group Singapore, which is part of Minor International, one of the largest leisure, F&B and retail companies in the Asia Pacific.

    He was also supervising director and general manager at Berjaya Corporation Berhad in 2012, holding both portfolios comprising Papa John’s Pizza Malaysia and Philippines, as well as Wendy’s Malaysia.

    Both Ler and Leong witll report to  Pereyra in his new role as CEO.

    Pereyra said, “At the heart of everything we do at QSR Brands, is our consumers. This is something Eric and Jean truly understand and embody. They both bring a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to Pizza Hut.” “I look forward to working closely with them to deliver our plans for 2017 and beyond to improve our brand value and provide Malaysians with new and exciting dining experiences that appeal to their tastes and hearts.”

    This year Pizza Hut celebrates its 35th anniversary in Malaysia

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  • Samsung Vietnam reports massive loss following Galaxy Note 7 scandal

    Samsung Vietnam reports massive loss following Galaxy Note 7 scandal

    Samsung was forced to recall 2.5 million units globally. Samsung Electronics Vietnam (SEV), which produces the notorious Galaxy Note 7 in northern Vietnam, has reported a loss in the third quarter, coinciding with the withdrawal of the latest model of its smart phone.

    SEV, based in the northern province of Bac Ninh, incurred a loss of $122.6 million in the third quarter, down sharply from a net profit of $490 million a year ago, according to a recent statement from parent company Samsung Electronics.

    Samsung’s profits were hit following battery explosions on the Galaxy Note 7, causing the firm to suspend global sales and withdraw the smart phone from the market.

    A representative from SEV said the affects of the scandal were inevitable but declined to give further comment.

    In October, Samsung Vietnam said it had no plan to lay off employees in 2016 as a result of the parent company’s crisis and predicted the value of its exports would grow further from last year’s $32.7 billion.

    From January-September, SEV made a net profit of $1.04 billion, down 18.7 percent on-year.

    The South Korean giant also runs Samsung Electronics Vietnam Thai Nguyen in the northern province of Thai Nguyen and a number of other subsidiaries, which reported significant growth in the Southeast Asian nation in the third quarter.

    Phone exports are significant to Vietnam’s exports, with the value of 2015 shipments up by 27.8 percent at $30.17 billion, or 19 percent of the country’s total exports, customs data show.

    Just weeks after the roll-out of the Galaxy Note 7 “phablet” in September, Samsung was forced to recall 2.5 million units globally following complaints its battery was exploding while charging.

    With images of charred phones flooding social media, the unprecedented recall was a humiliation for a firm that prides itself as an icon of innovation and quality, and the timing of the crisis could not have been worse.

  • Vietnam’s textile exports fray to 10-year slump in 2016

    Vietnam’s textile exports fray to 10-year slump in 2016

    A strong Vietnamese dong and sluggish demand from key markets have dragged on textile exports this year. Vietnam’s exports of textiles and garments are projected to increase by 7 percent this year to $29 billion, according to Vinatex, the country’s top textiles manufacturer, far below the trade ministry’s previously-targeted $31 billion and the lowest growth in the last decade.

    Customs statistics show that Vietnamese textiles and garment exports hit about $21.56 billion from January to November, up 4.6 percent from the same period last year.

    Vietnam, the world’s fifth largest garment exporter, has maintained double-digit growth, ranging on average from 10 percent to 36 percent, since 2001 when the country earned $2.2 billion from exporting textiles and garments.

    The investment ministry, in a recent report, attributed the downturn to sluggish demand from key markets, including the U.S., the European Union and Japan.

    Customs figures show that from January to November this year, Vietnam’s textiles and garment shipments to the U.S., which accounted for 47.9 percent of the total during the period, edged up 4.7 percent from a year ago to about $10.33 billion.

    Besides, the State Bank of Vietnam has so far this year managed to keep the dong from weakening against other major currencies, said clothing exporters, adding that a stronger dong was the final straw that broke the camel’s back for their businesses.

    Garment exporters are also faced with increasingly intense competition from outsourcing hubs Cambodia and Bangladesh, which are currently subject to import tariff breaks in the U.S. market. Market access for Vietnam’s clothing in the U.S. is limited by an average tariff of about 11.1 percent, with tariffs on some textile and apparel products nearing 30 percent.

    About 85 percent of Vietnamese enterprises in the textile industry are focused on labor-intensive cutting and sewing, making the country an outsourcing hub for foreign fashion companies, said Le Tien Truong, chief executive of Vinatex.

    However, foreign investors are eying emerging hubs such as Myanmar, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka where labor costs are lower than in Vietnam.

    Vietnam has four regional minimum wage brackets currently ranging from VND2.4 million to 3.5 million (from $105 to $154). The regional minimum wage has increased by about 12-15 percent on a yearly basis between 2014 and 2016, and is forecast to go up by 7.3 percent next year.

    Vietnam’s exports rose an estimated 6.7 percent on-year in the first nine months to $128 billion, well below the 10 percent growth target set by the government.

    The economy, widely seen as among the most resilient in a turbulent Asia, expanded by 5.92 percent from January to September, much lower than 6.53 percent a year ago, said the General Statistics Office.

    The annual growth forecast for this year has been lowered to between 6.2 and 6.5 percent from the 6.7 percent previously targeted, according to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

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  • Fierce competition takes heavy toll on smartphone market in Bangkok

    Fierce competition takes heavy toll on smartphone market in Bangkok

    Thailand’s increasingly crowded smartphone market has wreaked havoc on handset companies’ profit last year, with Japan’s Sharp Corp becoming the latest victim to be quietly forced out of the market.

    Chinese handset maker ZTE Corporation, meanwhile, disputed rumours that the company has decided to pull out of the Thai smartphone market due to stiff competition.

    However, industry veterans believed more intense competition is around the corner this year.

    Sharp confirmed that the company is now inactive in the Thai smartphone market without providing a reason after resuming its presence here just one month ago through Commtiva Technology, a Taiwan-based distributor of wireless communication products.

    Oran Rungsereechaitrakul, former marketing manager of Commtiva (Thailand), said the company had just been verbally informed by its parent firm Commtiva that the group stopped selling Sharp mobile phones from Dec 30 last year.

    Lorna Liang, country manager for device of ZTE Thailand, said the company remains strongly committed to the Thai market despite facing fierce competition.

    “We are continuing business as usual. We have set long-term strategic plans to expand our presence in Thailand after entering the country less than two years ago,” she said.

    ZTE will still focus on the smartphone segment priced 3,000-7,000 baht apiece, where it has a particularly strong presence in Thailand, through distribution channels with mobile operators and retail shops.

    ZTE will roll out 2-3 smartphone models by March.

    Ms Liang also threatened to take legal action against those who spread or publish rumours regarding the company’s alleged business closure before checking with the company, saying spreading false information will cause consumers to lose trust and confidence in the company.

    According to internal reports by Huawei and Oppo, Samsung is clearly dominating the local smartphone market with a 40% share, followed by Apple with an estimated share of less than 15%, with Chinese brands Oppo and Huawei having a 12% and 8% market share, respectively.

    The growth of Oppo was particularly impressive as it rose quickly to become the third largest smartphone brand in Thailand in terms of sales volume for 2016.

    Consumers in this massive market are rapidly being won over by Chinese and household brands that incorporate much of the functionality of an Apple iPhone or Samsung Galaxy, but at a fraction of the price.

    Handset makers are also facing an undeniable shift in consumption trends in the digital lifestyle age.

    Samsung stayed on top of Thailand’s smartphone market last year, despite being battered by the Galaxy Note7 recall and increased competition from China.

    The Korean company recalled the Note7 in September last year after reports of overheating lithium-ion batteries. Replacement phones also ran into similar problems, leading the company to halt production of the smartphone in October.

    Samsung will continue facing stiff competition from Apple in the high-end smartphone market, while simultaneously facing pressure at the lower-end from Chinese makers.

    Overall, the Thai handset market grew by only 2% to 22 million units in 2016 — the smartphone industry’s slowest growth rate for a year.

    Chinese brands Oppo, Huawei and Vivo posted strong growth rates in sales even as Samsung and Apple saw their volumes drop. Other smaller players and newcomers like Asustek, Motorola, Lenovo, ZTE and France’s Wiko will pose competition to the giants this year, which would need to take measures to survive in the market.

    Taiwan’s HTC has already been forced out of the Thai smartphone market, while Sony and LG announced they will sell selective models here.

    Pairoj Thavornsapanant, assistant managing director of TG Cellular World, a leading mobile distributor, said product design and quality as well as strong sales and distribution networks are becoming critical for smartphone companies to succeed and survive in the country’s mature market.

    “Consumer acceptance of a smartphone brand is another vital factor in business success,” he said, adding that consumer acceptance is expected to take 3-5 years.

    Leo Zhao, sales director of Oppo (Thailand), said the local smartphone market has already reached a mature stage as the smartphone has become a must-have device in the digital era.

    Thailand’s smartphone market is expected to grow at the same pace as last year’s 2-3% to reach 25 million units in 2017, he said.

    Mr Zhao said the handset replacement cycle will be faster with Thais expected to replace their mobile phones every 10 months this year, compared with 12-15 months in 2016, because consumers take advantage more quickly of smartphone advances.

    The middle to high-end markets will continue growing faster than the entry smartphone market because consumers prefer superior user experience, faster connection and high-end specifications.

    High-end smartphones priced over 15,000 baht accounted for 6% of total sales in 2016, up from 3.5% in 2015.

    Entry level smartphones priced below 4,000 baht made up 40% of total sales last year, down from 50% in 2015.

    “Thailand’s smartphone industry will see more consolidation over the next few years and there will be less than 10 survivors in the local market,” said Mr Zhao.

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  • Standard Chartered to Exit Thai Retail Banking Next Year

    Standard Chartered to Exit Thai Retail Banking Next Year

    Standard Chartered Plc plans to transfer its Thai retail-banking business to Thailand’s Tisco Financial Group Pcl next year, exiting an operation that the U.K. lender said lacked the scale to generate adequate returns.

    The net asset value is about 5.5 billion baht ($153 million), according to a stock exchange filing by Tisco on Thursday, which didn’t disclose a price for the deal. Tisco shares climbed to a record.

    Standard Chartered will continue to operate corporate, institutional and commercial banking businesses in Thailand, but the small size of the retail operation made it “increasingly difficult to achieve the returns that we aspire to,” the lender’s Thai head, Plakorn Wanglee, said in a press release.

    “It’s very tough to survive in Thailand’s retail-banking business for small players with very fierce competition,” Isara Ordeedolchest, an analyst at SCB Securities in Bangkok, said by phone. “The outlook for banks should improve significantly in 2017 as a consumption recovery and higher government spending will spur economic growth.”

    The Asia-focused Standard Chartered is targeting a turnaround after last year posting its first annual pretax loss since 1989. In a sign that the Thai operations were not a bright spot, the bank in February recorded a $126 million goodwill impairment on its business in the country.

    One unit of Tisco Financial, Tisco Bank Pcl, will take over operations including personal lending, mortgages and deposits, while another, All-Ways Co., will take over the credit-card business, the exchange filing said. The deal is subject to approvals.

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  • Hanoi announces transport plan to 2030

    Hanoi announces transport plan to 2030

    According to the plan, from now to 2030 Hanoi will develop a system of highways with 4-8 lanes linking Hanoi-Lang Son, Hanoi-HCM City, Hanoi – Thai Nguyen, Ha Noi – Hai Phong, Hanoi – Ha Long, Hanoi – Hoa Binh, Tay Bac – Highway 5, Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh Highway, and turn Thang Long Boulevard and Phap Van – Cau Gie Highway into urban highways.

    From now until 2030 Hanoi will also complete its belt roads and build 18 bridges crossing the rivers of Red, Duong, Day and Da.

    The city will give priority to developing public transport systems, which aims to serve up to 50-55% of the travel demand in the inlying areas and 40% in the suburbs.

    The plan also specifies that about 33,237 hectares of land will be devoted to traffic system development and the total funding needed for this plan is estimated at over $55 billion.

    The capital is expected to come from the state budget, ODA loans, and from private investors through transport projects in the forms of BT (build-transfer), BOT (build-operate-transfer), PPP (public private partnership), and BOO (build-own-operate).

    The capital city of Hanoi was extended in accordance with Resolution No. 15/2008/NQ-QH12 on May 29, 2008 of the National Assembly with a total area of more than 3,344 sq.km. However, its transportation system has fallen short of requirements for urban development at present and for the future.

    In late 2012, Hanoi submitted to the Ministry of Construction a Master Transport Plan for 2030, with a vision to 2050, and the master plan was approved by the prime minister on March 31, 2016.

    Accordingly, the population of Hanoi is forecast to grow to 7.44 million by 2020, around 9.2 million by 2030, and 10.8 million by 2050. The plan sets a target to increase the public transit share to over 30-35% by 2020, 50% by 2030, and 70% after 2030.

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  • Dusit International signs flagship project in Myanmar

    Dusit International signs flagship project in Myanmar

    Leading global hospitality company Dusit International has signed a management agreement with Myanmar V-Pile Group to operate the Dusit Thani Yangon, according to a statement on 13 December.

    Located just 15 minutes by car from Yangon International Airport, and approximately 20 minutes’ drive from the city’s main tourist attraction, the Shwedagon Pagoda, the new property sits at the heart of land earmarked by the Myanmar government to become the former capital’s new Central Business District.

    Dusit Thani Yangon will be positioned as a five-star corporate and MICE city hotel within a pioneering mixed-use development incorporating a convention centre, offices, retail and residential units. The hotel will comprise 338 rooms and feature one all-day-dining restaurant, one specialty Thai restaurant, and one rooftop restaurant and bar. Meeting facilities will include a 400-seat ballroom with adjoining conference rooms. Guests will also have access to a swimming pool, spa and gym.

    Ms Suphajee Suthumpun, Group CEO of Dusit International, said: “Myanmar is a fast-emerging market and we are delighted to partner with Myanmar V-Pile Group for this very special project. Being one of the first five-star corporate and MICE city hotels within Yangon’s new Central Business District gives us a great opportunity to showcase our unique brand of gracious Thai hospitality in one of the ASEAN Economic Community’s largely untapped markets. This should set us up perfectly for further expansion within the country, including key destinations such as Bagan, Mandalay, and Inle Lake, as well as throughout Southeast Asia in general, where we already have over 20 properties in the pipeline.”

    Dr Sone Han, Chairman of Myanmar V-Pile Group, said, “As Myanmar is the last frontier market in Asia, and the hotel and tourism industry is growing very fast, our group is very excited to commence our first phase of the Secondary Central Business District (Mindhama) project, which will include the five-star Dusit Thani Yangon together with the new, international standard Myanmar Convention Centre. We are delighted to partner with Dusit International, and we believe that Dusit Thani Yangon will very much work in synergy with our Second CBD project while delighting visitors with the gracious hospitality for which Dusit is renowned.”

     

  • Flappy Bird creator lends a wing to Vietnamese startups

    Flappy Bird creator lends a wing to Vietnamese startups

    ‘Just propose those projects to me, no matter how bad it is,’ Nguyen Ha Dong writes on Facebook. The overnight success of mobile game Flappy Bird has turned its creator Nguyen Ha Dong into a star of the local startup scene.

    The game, hailed by the industry as one of the milestones of Vietnam’s startup history, has brought Dong great fame and fortune, all within a short period of time.

    Now Dong is making a pledge to pay it forward and fund Vietnamese startups in the fields of robotics, artificial intelligence, social services, community development and education.

    “Just propose those projects to me, no matter how bad it is,” he wrote on his Facebook page.

    He did not give specific details about mentoring and funding.

    Flappy Bird was released in May 2013 with little fanfare. By February 2014, the sleeper hit topped the charts in more than 100 countries and had been downloaded more than 50 million times. Dong reportedly earned an estimated $50,000 a day.

    The Vietnamese government has seen successes like Flappy Bird as an encouraging sign. It is trying hard to cultivate a startup scene where tech entrepreneurs can create products and services that will go global.

    Unlike the well-developed startup ecosystem in most other countries, where there are venture capitalists and a strong network of entrepreneurs working together, the system in Vietnam is at a fledgling stage, with many funding difficulties.

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  • Ippudo restaurant owner applies for listing

    Ippudo restaurant owner applies for listing

    Ramen restaurant chain Ippudo’s owner is expected to list shares on the Tokyo Stock Exchange as early as March.

    The total market value of the initial offering is projected to be around 30 billion yen (US$259 million).

    Chikaranomoto Holdings has about 60 Ippudo restaurants as well as other brands outside of Japan. It filed an initial listing application in December, which means approval could come next month. The listing is expected to let the group accelerate expansion in domestic and overseas markets.

    Company founder and chairman Shigemi Kawahara opened his first ramen shop in 1985 in Fukuoka Prefecture in southwestern Japan. The company posted group sales of 20.8 billion yen for the year through to March 2016, up 17 per cent from the previous year.

    Ippudo began expanding into foreign markets in 2008, establishing itself first in New York. The chain now has shops in China, France and other countries, and will open its first outlet in Myanmar soon.

    Inspired by New York’s cocktail bars, Chikaranomoto Holdings opened standing-style ramen shops in Tokyo and nearby areas last year, and it plans to open more in Kyushu soon.

    Ippudo also has five branches in the Philippines.

  • Myanmar smartphone shipments up to 26% YoY

    Myanmar smartphone shipments up to 26% YoY

    According to the latest International Data Corporation’s (IDC) Asia/Pacific Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, a total of 2.5 million smartphones were shipped to Myanmar in 2016Q3, reflecting a 26% (year-on-year) YoY growth, IDC said in a statement on 25 December. This has been the strongest YoY growth seen in Myanmar’s budding smartphone market since 2015Q3. Sequentially, shipments declined 10% from 2.7 million in 2016Q2 as soft retail sales and the typhoon season negatively impacted smartphone buying in the country.

    “Despite years of hypergrowth in Myanmar’s emerging smartphone market, channels are now starting to lament about a looming slowdown as retail sales show signs of softening, causing inventory buildup across the board,” says Jerome Dominguez, Market Analyst for Mobile Devices, IDC Asia/Pacific.

    IDC maintains a positive outlook for Myanmar’s smartphone market in 2017, although growth is expected to be tamer compared to previous years.

    “IDC expects Myanmar’s smartphone market to grow by 9% this 2017 off the back of relatively low smartphone penetration rate and rising disposable income. This is already a lowered forecast to account for the slower consumer market and political instability in some parts of Myanmar,” adds Dominguez.

    Myanmar’s projected growth for smartphones in 2017 still stands higher than the 6% growth expected in the whole ASEAN region for next year.

    Myanmar Smartphone Vendor and Market Highlights, 2016Q3

    Samsung continued to keep its lead, owing it largely to the good reception of its budget-friendly J-series. Huawei came in at 2nd place and while finishing with a flat quarter, its sales and distribution were still going strong across Myanmar. Vivo spiked last quarter, coming in at 3rd place as it further penetrated tier 2 and tier 3 cities. Xiaomi dropped to the 4th spot although its volume remained high and consumer response stayed positive as it continued to offer smartphones perceived as good value for money. OPPO held the 5th place, maintaining its stronghold in the urban sites of Yangon and Mandalay although its overall shipments dropped quarter-on quarter (QoQ) due to inventory build-up.

    As with many developing countries, low-cost smartphones continue to thrive in Myanmar. In 2016Q3, 89% of smartphone shipments to the country fall below US$225. “Smartphones priced at US$50<US$150 still holds the sweet spot among Myanmar consumers. However, handsets in the US$150<US$250 price band are also on a growth track due to the influx of mid-range handsets from Chinese vendor Vivo,” adds Dominguez.

    Despite being a budget market for devices, Myanmar’s feature phone market remains very small, unlike other emerging markets, accounting for only 20% of total mobile phone shipments in 2016Q3. “Channels in Myanmar are not expecting the feature phone market to pick up anytime soon based on the rather progressive device adoption in the country, where most consumers would typically opt for a smartphone as their first mobile phone,” states Dominguez.

    In terms of screen size preference, smartphones in the <4.5“segment are now starting to diminish as Myanmar consumers go for larger screen sizes. 5” <5.5” handsets continue to gain traction, growing 44% YoY. Phablets (5.5” <6.99”) also saw a huge annual growth of 160% last 2016Q3, particularly driven by the rise in the 5.5”<6” segment. Huawei and Vivo lead the 5” <5.5” band while Xiaomi and Samsung reign supreme in the phablet category. “Myanmar’s increasing appetite for bigger screens is driven by the rising popularity of content consumption on social media, particularly on Facebook,” says Dominguez.

    4G LTE has just been recently introduced to Myanmar but as of October 2016, all 3 telcos have already been able to roll out 4G LTE services. Concurrently, 4G-capable devices have also shown a spike in 2016Q3, growing 41% QoQ, with market leaders Samsung, Huawei, and Xiaomi leading the wave. “IDC has raised its 4G smartphone shipment forecast in Myanmar for 2017 to account for the positive uptake of 4G smartphones in the country and vendor direction to focus on this air interface moving forward,” says Dominguez.

  • Cebu Pacific to hold cabin crew grand recruitment

    Cebu Pacific to hold cabin crew grand recruitment

    The recruitment fairs will be held in the following cities: Manila (Cebu Pacific Building, Pasay City) on January 14; Dumaguete City (La Residencia Almar Hotel, Rizal Blvd., Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental) on January 28; and Tagbilaran City (Metro Centre Hotel and Convention Center, C.P. Garcia Ave., Tagbilaran City, Bohol) on January 29.

    More opportunities for interested applicants will be made available all throughout 2017, as CEB will be conducting more recruitment fairs on later dates at chosen areas in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

    “Last year’s recruitment fair in Manila alone was visited by about 1000 aspiring Juans. This year, we aim to make the fair even bigger by reaching out to more areas in the Philippines. We encourage everyone to take on the challenge to be part of the Philippines’ leading airline and contribute to bringing people together through safe, affordable, reliable and fun-filled air travel,” said Atty. JR Mantaring, CEB Vice President for Corporate Affairs.

    CEB will process the applications on the same day, between 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Acceptance of updated curriculum vitae (CV) with 2×2 photo will be until 1:00 P.M. only. Applicants must possess a dynamic personality, height of at least 5’3” for female, and 5’7” for male, weight that is proportional to height, clear complexion, good eyesight and a catchy smile, among others. Responsibilities include guaranteeing the safety of guests on board the aircraft, and ensuring that guests have a fun and pleasant flying experience.

    The detailed job descriptions and qualifications can also be found on www.cebupacificair.com or CEB’s page on jobstreet.com.ph.

    CEB currently offers flights to a total of 38 domestic and 30 international destinations, operating an extensive network across Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and USA. Its 57-strong fleet is comprised of four Airbus A319, 36 Airbus A320, seven Airbus A330, eight ATR 72-500, and two ATR 72-600 aircraft. Between 2017 and 2021, CEB expects delivery of one more brand-new Airbus A330, 32 Airbus A321neo, and 14 ATR 72-600 aircraft.

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  • Vietnam lottery firms hike prizes amid tough competition

    Vietnam lottery firms hike prizes amid tough competition

    Traditional lottery companies throughout Vietnam’s south have officially raised their top prizes by a third in an effort to compete with a new emerging American-style jackpot.

    Effective January 1, the firms increased their top prizes to VND2 billion (nearly $86,100), up 33.3 percent from VND1.5 billion ($64,600).

    The hike was based on a decision made by the Southern Lottery Council in October of 2016. Prior to that, traditional lottery prizes in Vietnam topped out at VND1.5 billion ($64,600). Companies who sold the numbered tickets have complained that the mega jackpots have eaten up their businesses.

    A manager at a traditional lottery in Ho Chi Minh City told VnExpress in early October that the number of tickets sold in recent months had declined by about 10-30 percent due to competition from Vietlott.

    On Christmas day, Vietlott, the operator of the American-style lottery, announced that two winners had split a $7 million jackpot–the largest to date. The pair represented the seventh and eighth winners of the lottery, which began two months prior.

    Vietnam’s annual average income was around $2,100 in 2015, according to the World Bank.

    Vietnam generally does not allow its citizens to gamble, but lottery tickets are popular across the country.

  • Global device sales set to stay flat until 2018

    Global device sales set to stay flat until 2018

    Worldwide combined shipments of PCs, tablets, ultramobiles and mobile phones are projected to remain flat in 2017 with 2.3 billion units, according to Gartner.

    There were nearly 7 billion phones, tablets and PCs in use in the world by the end of 2016. However, Gartner does not expect any growth in shipments of traditional devices until 2018, when a small increase in ultramobiles and mobile phone shipments is expected.

    “The global devices market is stagnating,” said Ranjit Atwal, research director at Gartner. “Mobile phone shipments are only growing in emerging Asia-Pacific markets, and the PC market is just reaching the bottom of its decline.”

    Atwal said that aside from declining shipment growth for traditional devices, average selling prices are also beginning to stagnate because of market saturation and a slower rate of innovation.

    “Consumers have fewer reasons to upgrade or buy traditional devices,” he said. “They are seeking fresher experiences and applications in emerging categories such as head mounted displays (HMDs), virtual personal assistant (VPA) speakers and wearables.”

    Gartner sees the PC market benefiting from a replacement cycle toward the end of this forecast period, returning to growth in 2018. Increasingly, attractive premium ultramobile prices and functionality will entice buyers as traditional PC sales continue to decline.

    The mobile phone market will also benefit from replacements. There is, however, a difference in replacement activity between mature and emerging markets.

    “People in emerging markets still see smartphones as their main computing device and replace them more regularly than mature markets,” said Atwal.

    Device vendors are increasingly trying to move into faster-growing emerging device categories.

    “This requires a shift from a hardware-focused approach to a richer value-added service approach,” said Atwal.

    “As service-led approaches become even more crucial, hardware providers will have to partner with service providers, as they lack the expertise to deliver the service offerings themselves.”

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