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Tag: asia

  • MyIX to finalise deal with Netflix next month

    MyIX to finalise deal with Netflix next month

    The Malaysia Internet Exchange (MyIX) will finalise its deal with America’s popular online entertainment company, Netflix, to provide its video and movie content in Malaysia by end-August, says chairman Chiew Kok Hin.

    The non-profit MyIX is the first neutral Internet Exchange where local Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and content providers connect to exchange Internet traffic.

    He said with the deal entered into with the entertainment company, neighbouring countries such as Indonesia could also obtain the content from Malaysia at a nominal fee, hence paving the way for the country to become a content hub in future.

    “We hope with the sealed deal, we can attract other international players to come to Malaysia in the future as we are working to position the country as a regional Internet exchange gateway,” he said.

    Netflix is a popular online American entertainment company that provides a range of videos and movies and is also the world’s ninth-largest Internet company by revenue (US$8.83bil).

    Chiew added that with the country being positioned as an Internet exchange gateway, it would attract South-East Asian countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia to make Malaysia their content hub.

    “It will bring the content nearer to us, and neighbouring countries will not only save cost but also improve on content quality,” he said.

    Since MyIX’s inception in 2006, it has closed deals with various parties including Alibaba and Yahoo.

    Chiew also said the cost to bring the content had dropped over the years, allowing telecommunication companies (telcos) to reduce their pricing and offer more data and bandwith to their clients.

    “With this in effect (cost reduction), the pricing set by telcos is being monitored by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to ensure it is fairly set,” he said.

    As for the Internet speed in the country, Chiew, who is also AIMS Data Centre Sdn Bhd chief executive officer, said overall, the speed offered to Malaysian Internet users was satisfactory.

    However, there still remained certain areas in the country that did not have receive good Internet coverage.

    “Telcos have taken steps to widen their connectivity but it is acknowledged that there are still obstacles in providing fast Internet speed nationwide,” he said.

    The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) early this year mentioned at an international conference that the accelerated 5 Generation (5G) schedule, which would enable 3GPP-based large-scale trials and deployments as early as 2019, would be commercialised worldwide by 2020.

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  • Citilink Adds Another A320 to its’ Fleet

    Citilink Adds Another A320 to its’ Fleet

    Indonesia’s flag carrier’s low cost subsidiary, Citilink Indonesia, has acquired a new aircraft that will alow it to operate extra services during the upcoming Eid holiday period.

    The Airbus A320 aircraft, which arrived from Hamburg, Germany on Thursday, is the 35th new aircraft acquired by the airline, said the Executive Director for Citilink Indonesia, Albert Burhan, through a press conference in Jakarta.

    “The addition of the new aircraft is reflective of the company’s growth in the first quarter (Q1) of 2015, which would also support Citilink’s ambition to expand its’ reach and stake in the domestic aviation industry,” said Burhan.

    “The arrival of this aircraft will also enable is to operate more services in light of the upcoming Ramadhan peak season,” said Burhan, before adding that Citilink plans to add up to 16 more flights per day between June 1 to June 15, 2015.

    It is known that extra services will be added to Citilink’s existing services between Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta Airport and Jogjakarta, Solo, Malang, Batam, Bali, and Medan’s Kuala Namu airport.

    Burhan explained in the press conference that Citilink needs to have at least 50 aircraft in order to get a bigger chunk of the domestic, low-cost aviation market. Citilink’s fleet, he continued, will grow to around 40 units by the end if the year, which will allow it to meet its’ target of delivering services to 11,2 million passengers annually – up from 7,6 million in 2014.

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  • Globe launches Future Makers 2019 accelerator

    Globe launches Future Makers 2019 accelerator

    The Philippines’ Globe Telecom has launched the latest round of its accelerator program for startups working to tackle some of the market’s most challenging social problems.

    The Globe Future Makers 2019 program will be open to all Philippine-based individuals, groups, or organizations with solutions that use technology to achieve wide-scale positive impact.

    The technology can include devices, platforms, hardware, or software. The solution developed must be a functional product or service that has been working for at least two years, and be able to address one or more of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

    Successful applicants will receive technology support from Globe Telecom as well as access to mentorship, collaboration and related support from industry partners.

    The Globe Future Makers program was first introduced in 2017 with the goal of helping encourage businesses to use technology for social good. This year’s event is being jointly implemented by Philippines’ based crowdfunding website and community for social projects The Spark Project.

    “Globe Future Makers offers a unique opportunity for our small enterprises using digital technology to scale up and test if their businesses are replicable in global markets. We encourage social innovators and startups to participate in GFM 2019.”

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  • Korean retailer launches do-not-disturb shopping service

    Korean retailer launches do-not-disturb shopping service

    Lotte Department Store, one of South Korea’s country’s major department-store chain operators, will introduce a do-not-disturb shopping service it dubs ‘shop-alone’.

    Aimed at customers who do not wish to be approached by sales clerks and other employees – a bugbear of many consumers used to shopping in many Asian countries – has been inspired by the Covid-19 crisis and social-distancing practices.

    Customers will be able to shop alone without any offer of assistance from staff if they carry a ‘shop-alone’ sticker or bag ring available near stores’ information desks or escalators.

    The do-not-disturb shopping service is the brainchild of new, young staff born after the 1980s, and will be tested at Lotte Department Store’s flagship Young Plaza, and the company’s Jamsil branch starting today.

    For VIP customers, a personal-shopping consultant will be available for reservations, made via Lotte Department Store’s smartphone app, after they choose an item of interest.

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  • Vietjet eyes 15 pct stake sale

    Vietjet eyes 15 pct stake sale

    Budget carrier Vietjet Air plans to sell a 15 percent stake in a private placement.

    It plans to sell 81 million shares at the average price of at least the last 10 sessions on the stock market but has not disclosed the timing or buyer’s identity.

    As of Tuesday, the average figure was VND115,700 ($5.02), putting the value of the deal at over VND9.3 trillion ($403 million). There will be a lock-up period of one to three years when the shares cannot be sold.

    Vietjet also plans to issue $300 million worth of international bonds on the Singapore Exchange this year.

    So far this year it has raised a total of VND2 trillion via bonds.

    In the first quarter it reported a post-tax profit of VND123 billion against a loss of VND989 billion in the same period last year.

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  • AirAsia X to end Mauritius flights in late 1Q17

    AirAsia X to end Mauritius flights in late 1Q17

    AirAsia X (D7, Kuala Lumpur Int’l) has announced its withdrawal from the African market with effect from March 25 of this year.

    Arik De, Chief Head of Commercial for AirAsia (AK, Kuala Lumpur Int’l), told Panapress in a statement that the decision to end flights to Mauritius was based on the need to deploy capacity to its strongest markets.

    “The suspension of the Mauritius route is a part of the company’s big plan in network restructuring aimed at improving operational efficiencies in term of aircraft utilizations,” it said. “It is also to accelerate capacity growth in AirAsia X key markets of Australia, China, Taiwan, Japan and Korea.”

    AirAsia X began flights to the Indian Ocean island in October last year using A330-300 equipment. Insofar as competition to Kuala Lumpur Int’l is concerned, it came up against Air Mauritius (MK, Mauritius).

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  • Rice exports surge to new record

    Rice exports surge to new record

    According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam set a new record in rice export revenue in the first nine months of 2023 thanks to price increases.

    The ministry has reported that the country earned US$3.66 billion from exporting rice in the period, up 40.4% year-on-year.

    The result was attributed to the increasing price of Vietnamese export rice, and the decreasing rice supplies in many markets during the reviewed period, it said.

    Vietnam’s average price of exported rice in the first three quarters reached $553 per tonne, a 14% increase over the same period in the previous year.

    The Philippines was the largest buyer of Vietnamese rice products in the first eight months, accounting for 40.3% of the total rice export. China and Indonesia ranked second and third, accounting for 13.5% and 12.4%, respectively.

    According to Vice General Director of the Export-Import Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade Tran Thanh Hai, the price of exported rice is expected to remain high until the end of this year due to the continued demand for rice imports in major consuming markets such as the Philippines, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Africa. This is coupled with the limited supply of rice from leading rice exporters like India and Pakistan.

    President of the Vietnam Food Association (VFA) Nguyen Ngoc Nam stressed that there is ample room for rice exports to grow, especially as the Philippines needs to import an additional 1.1 million tonnes, while Indonesia plans to buy 2.3 million tonnes by the end of the year.

    China’s demand for rice imports is also forecast to increase in the remaining months of the year, Nam said.

    Rice exporters are advised to have appropriate strategies to ensure the ability to meet exports.

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  • Bali`s economy grew by 6.24 percent in 2016

    Bali`s economy grew by 6.24 percent in 2016

    Balis economy registered a growth of 6.24 percent in 2016, a 0.20 percent increase as compared to 6.04 percent recorded in the previous year.

    The increase was sustained by a high growth of nine percent registered in the health services and social activities sector.

    “This was followed by an 8.91 percent growth in the education sector as well as a rise of 6.04 percent in the information and communication sector,” Head of the Bali Bureau for Statistics Adi Nugroho stated in Denpasar, Bali, on Monday.

    He further noted that each of the three sectors contributed significantly to the islands economic growth.

    Meanwhile, the highest expenditure came from household expenses, recorded at 48.30 percent in 2016, indicating a 6.69 percent increase as compared to the previous year.

    Balis economy, calculated on the basis of the gross domestic product (GDP), had reached Rp195.38 trillion in 2016 based on the constant price of Rp137.19 trillion and regional GDP recorded at Rp46.52 million.

    Nugroho added that looking at the islands GDP economic structure based on the work fields, it is dominated by three main activities comprising food and beverage provision, at 22.82 percent; agriculture, forestry, and fishery, at 14.74 percent; and transportation and storage, at 9.48 percent.

    The bureaus head stated that Balis economic growth in the fourth quarter of 2016 was noted at 5.47 percent as compared to the same period in 2015 (year-on-year).

    Growth was recorded in almost all sectors except for electricity and gas provision, which experienced a decrease of 1.63 percent.

    The highest growth came from the information and communication sector, at 9.15 percent; followed by finance services, at 9.08 percent; and insurance services, at 8.92 percent.

    Balis economic structure in the fourth quarter of 2016 was still dominated by three sectors comprising accommodation and food services, with 22.52 percent; agriculture, forestry, and fishery, with 15.07 percent; and transportation and storage, with 9.25 percent.

    Compared to the same period in 2015, all three sectors indicated an increase of between three and six percent.

    The main growth contributors were agriculture, forestry, and fishery, with 2.92 percent, and construction, with 1.69 percent, Nugroho noted.

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  • Feasibility report ready for Vietnam’s $58 billion high-speed railroad

    Feasibility report ready for Vietnam’s $58 billion high-speed railroad

    Vietnam’s north-south high-speed railway is expected to cost $58 billion, according to a feasibility report released at a meeting Tuesday.

    The 1,545-kilometer route from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City will have double standard-gauge tracks of 1.435-m width and 23 stations, according to a consultancy consortium comprising Vietnamese firms TEDI, TRICC and TEDIS.

    It will adopt the distributed traction technology used by Japanese high-speed trains.

    Sixty percent of the tracks will be on viaducts, 10 percent underground and 30 percent on the surface, completely protected by fencing and without a single crossing.

    Two sections – from Hanoi to the central city of Vinh and from the central city of Nha Trang to HCMC – will be built first in 2020-2030 at a cost of $24 billion, and commercial operations are likely to begin in 2032.

    All sections are expected to be completed and operational by 2040-2045. Transport time from Hanoi to HCMC will be eight hours, while the current train takes 24 hours.

    The speed of the trains on the route would determine the attractiveness of the project, the report said, explaining that if it runs at 200 kilometers an hour, it would only account for 2.7 percent of the transportation share on the Hanoi – Nha Trang section.

    But if it increases to 350 kilometers, the share could reach 14 percent and the railroad could compete with airlines, it said.

    The proposal is for trains to run at 160-200 km speed after the first section is complete, and 350 km when the entire project is finished.

    At the meeting, Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Ngoc Dong said this feasibility report would be considered by authorities before being scrutinized by a European consultancy.

    “The transport ministry will invite bids to select that consultancy.”

    Efficiency unclear

    Experts at the meeting said the consultants need to make the projects’ financials clear.

    It should be divided into smaller sections to improve efficiency instead of the three large sections proposed now, Dr Nguyen Ngoc Long, deputy chairman of the Vietnam Bridge and Road Association, said.

    “Whatever option is selected, the infrastructure must allow a speed of 350 kilometers an hour.”

    Vu Hoai Nam, head of the urban railway faculty at the National University of Civil Engineering, said the feasibility report does not have a risk analysis.

    “If there is no detailed analysis of the ability to recover the investment, clearance and exchange rate fluctuations, the risk will be high.”

    The railroad would impact the passenger shares of airlines, putting pressure on the economy, and that should be taken into account, he added.

    Revived

    The north-south high-speed railroad was recently revived after being rejected by the National Assembly in 2010 due to its $56-billion price tag, which was half of Vietnam’s GDP then.

    If approved by the government now, it will be submitted to the house again next year.

    Experts said it might be more favorably viewed by the NA as well as the public due to Vietnam’s better financial position and greater demand for advanced infrastructure.

    The existing 3,000-kilometer railroad network has not received any major investment since it was built 140 years ago, and does not have the capacity for high speeds.

    Investment in railways currently accounts for only one percent of the transportation sector’s total budget.

    The NA approved a plan earlier this month to upgrade it at a cost of $300 million.

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  • AirAsia and Tinder match to hook fans up with Kpop concert

    AirAsia and Tinder match to hook fans up with Kpop concert

    AirAsia’s inflight magazine travel360.com has matched with social app Tinder to hook fans of Korean pop up to witness South Korean singer Seungri’s first solo concert on 5 August.

    The ticket giveaway contest for “SEUNGRI 2018 1st SOLO TOUR in SEOUL x BC CARD” will run on travel360.com’s Facebook page. It is open to fans in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam until 18 July and a winner from each country will be selected. The contest will also run in South Korea on Tinder until 20 July.

    Besides managing Seungri’s concert sponsorship, advertising, secret party and other activities, Tinder also plans to offer various brand experience to users and aims to raise brand awareness in the social app market in South Korea through various cultural events. Seungri is part of South Korean boy band Big Bang.

    “We are thrilled to partner with Tinder to offer an opportunity of a lifetime to fans in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam to witness Seungri’s first solo concert. We are confident that Tinder and travel360.com are a great match and we look forward to more exciting collaborations in the near future,” AirAsia head of commercial, Spencer Lee, said.

    “Tinder runs the event with Korean star Seungri who has a powerful influence in Asean to take a step closer to users in the region. Tinder will maximise synergy through the partnership with AirAsia, a leading travel, social and lifestyle company,” country manager of Tinder Korea, Lyla Seo, said.

    In April this year, the airline also partnered with Tinder for its “Meet Malaysia” to encourage New Zealanders to visit the country. The campaign rolled out on digital, radio, social media and out-of-home platforms.

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  • Ninja Van expands network in Vietnam

    Ninja Van expands network in Vietnam

    Ninja Van has introduced PUDO (Pick-up Drop-off) franchising into Vietnam, providing local small-cap entrepreneurs a profitable opportunity.

    Ninja Van’s Agency Sales Network, the official name for Ninja Van Retail’s revolutionary PUDO business, is now expanding, with over 200 agents entering the network.

    To keep up with the changing pace of the e-commerce market, Ninja Van Vietnam, a fast-growing and leading e-logistics company in the market, is steadily becoming a favorite courier brand. Thanks to its well-built ecosystem, Ninja Van’s agency sales network with PUDO points is expanding its presence across the country, promoting quick and precise delivery to end-users and boosting the revenue of business partners.

    The company has been offering new businesses its agency sales network – PUDO point franchising – to reduce risks in the logistics market. Ninja Van’s agency sales network is an initiative to assist inexperienced partners in launching their first firm, maximizing their profits in the e-logistics market with minimum investment. With more than 200 PUDO points deployed by agents since 2020, the network has grown faster than expected thanks to its appealing policy and high return on investment rate.

    Partners with a small amount of capital for a new business can open a well-prepared branded agent for as little as VND25 million.

    Ninja Van Retail’s team will take all the responsibility for store renovation and support partners from all provinces despite geographical barriers to innovate logistics improvements.Ninja Van Retail provides new partners with important assistance in deploying their first business in e-logistics with standardized operation, relevant to PUDO management and profitable services. One of the most significant features of Ninja Van’s agency sales network is that the PUDO partners will be one of the important links in Ninja Van Retail’s complex technical network and excellent customer services nationwide.

    The team will provide operation training to agency sales network partners, and the PUDO agent will be looked after by Ninja Van’s personnel directly to ensure quality services across the network are synchronized. On the other hand, the team assists PUDO agents in evaluating operation quality on a quarterly basis in order to maximize business effectiveness. Ninja Van’s agency retail network promotes manual threading, reducing agent labor while providing a stable income for partners.

    The investment in Ninja Van franchising is refundable. Ninja Retail’s partners can decrease their financial risk because the franchiser will not impose fines or business pressure on its agents.

    Compared to the previous period in 2021, the scale of e-commerce in Vietnam has increased by 53 percent despite Covid-19, and nearly 60 percent of Vietnamese consumers continue to shop online since social distancing.

    According to VECOM, e-commerce business in Vietnam might be worth $52 billion in 2025. The results confirm the potential of e-commerce in the near future, and PUDO points are expected to be its spine to continue the momentum by 2025.

    One can become a Ninja Van Retail partner by registering here. The joining fee is refundable. Ninja Van Retail will reward agents for expanding with more profitable costs and discounts; agents who refer others will receive VND5 million in cash and a 5 percent commission on income in two months.

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  • Supply Chain Resilience in an Era of Change and Uncertainty

    Supply Chain Resilience in an Era of Change and Uncertainty

    Automation solutions provider Dematic has been running a series of Virtual Showcases all around the world. From 20th August till 10th September, Dematic will bring the series to Asia, with four online sessions focusing on grocery, food & beverage, e-commerce, and industry & spare parts in Asia.

    The theme of the Virtual Showcase Series is Supply Chain Resilience in an Era of Change and Uncertainty.  Supply chain resilience and agility are being elevated to the top of the agenda in these increasingly uncertain times where rapid change is the norm rather than the exception. Companies across Asia are recognizing that optimized supply chains deliver companies the edge in terms of superior customer service levels, reduced costs, increased margins and profitability, and are critical for business continuity  ̶  especially in times of crisis.

    The Dematic Virtual Showcase is the digital way to keep track of the key challenges and opportunities facing supply chains and see how leading companies are implementing innovative automation to capitalise on these in an increasingly hyper-competitive world.

    To find out more and to register your place, visit: https://www.dematic.com/en-au/news-and-events/events/virtualshowcase/.

     

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  • Jollibee Becomes Brunei’s No.1 Fastfood Chain

    Jollibee Becomes Brunei’s No.1 Fastfood Chain

    Chargé d’ Affaires, a.i Pete Raymond V. Delfin of the Philippine Embassy in Brunei Darussalam met with Jollibee Foods Corporation Assistant Vice President Rodel F. Alcantara, and Jollibee Country Head Christina R. Ward at the Embassy on 10 August 2018.

    Mr. Alcantara and Ms. Ward paid a courtesy call on Chargé d’ Affaires Delfin to share information on the recent activities being undertaken by Jollibee Brunei.

    The two executives discussed the positive business experiences of Jollibee in the country, having become the no. 1 fastfood chain in Brunei. Mr. Alcantara also said Jollibee’s operation in Brunei is currently the strongest among its international operations.

    Chargé d’ Affaires, a.i. Pete Raymond V. Delfin, during his meeting with Jollibee Foods Corporation Assistant Vice President and Market Head Rodel F. Alcantara, and Jollibee County Head Christina R. Ward at the Philippine Embassy in Brunei Darussalam on 10 August 2018.

    Mr. Alcantara delivered an invitation for Embassy officials to grace the opening of the 17th Jollibee store in Brunei in October 2018.

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  • Vietnam gold bar price increases despite global dip

    Vietnam gold bar price increases despite global dip

    Vietnam gold bar price rose 0.59% to VND85 million (US$3,421.22) per tael Monday morning while global rates inched down.

    Gold ring price held firm at VND83 million per tael. A tael equals 37.5 grams or 1.2 ounces.

    Globally, gold prices eased on Monday, weighed down by a firmer U.S. dollar, while investors looked out for fresh clues on Federal Reserve interest rate cuts.Spot gold fell 0.2% to $2,651.99 per ounce after rising 1% in the previous session. U.S. gold futures lost 0.3% to $2,669.20.

    “The continued momentum of the U.S. currency on reigned-in rate cutting expectations has created an obstacle for the gold price,” said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade.

    Data on Friday showed unchanged U.S. producer prices last month.

    The zero-yielding bullion is preferred in a low-interest rate environment as well as amid periods of economic and geopolitical turmoil.

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  • Grab, Vinasun to negotiate $1.8 million compensation dispute

    Grab, Vinasun to negotiate $1.8 million compensation dispute

    Top taxi firm Vinasun and ride hailing firm Grab have told the court that they’ll negotiate a compensation dispute. The People’s Court of Ho Chi Minh City on Friday approved the litigants’ wish to ‘sit together,’ and temporarily suspended the trial. The suspension of trial is for no longer than a month, and the reopening date will be announced later, the court said.

    “The lawsuit has dragged on for over a year, but the claimant was not able to prove the damage, as well as the causal relationship with Grab’s influence. The defendant is also very worn out wasting time defending a wrong it did not commit,” said Luu Tien Dung, Grab’s lawyer.

    “This is one of the reasons why both sides have decided to negotiate,” he added.

    Vinasun filed the suit against Grab in June last year, accusing the Malaysia-based firm of abusing the Ministry of Transport’s pilot scheme and committing violations.

    It said Grab’s illegal activities were responsible for nearly VND42 billion (nearly $1.8 million) of the VND76 billion ($3.25 million) in losses that it suffered in 2016 and the first half of 2017.

    The trial began last February, but was adjourned a month later to allow for more evidence to be gathered. Grab protested the valuation of Vinasun’s losses.

    Last October, prosecutors asked the court to accept Vinasun’s petition for compensation of nearly VND42 billion (nearly $1.8 million) in one payment, dismissing Grab’s claim that it was a tech firm and not a taxi company.

    Grab responded by sending a letter to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, saying that identifying Grab as a taxi firm would be “a step backwards from Industry 4.0.”

    Under the latest draft of a decree prepared by the Transport Ministry, transport firms offering services with under 9-seater cars should be registered as taxi firms before they can apply ride-hailing technologies.

    This means that Grab and other ride-hailing firms would have to register their services again as taxi businesses and comply with corresponding legal responsibilities regarding their operating licenses, drivers’ profiles and tax duties.

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