Asia in Focus

This April has seen a surge in bilateral contacts between the US and China, from the Xi-Biden phone call to Janet Yellen and Antony Blinken’s visits to Beijing. Relations between the two countries seem to be entering a holding pattern, as we mentioned in the RiskMap 2024 Top Risks. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are competing to raise the stakes against the

In a busy election year, the most high-profile race in 2024 is undoubtedly the rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump as the two candidates once again vie for the Oval Office. With six months until election day, how the rematch could unfold, and its global implications, are top-of-mind for many businesses. Organisations need to prepare for a range of

Indonesia will announce the official results of its presidential elections on March 20. Pro-business defence minister Prabowo Subianto looks set to win the presidency outright, avoiding a run-off in June. Longtime followers of Indonesia will know Prabowo as a controversial general and the son-in-law of authoritarian President Suharto, who in the late 1990s was banned from the US an

In this episode of Asia In Focus, Angela Mancini, Partner, speaks with Khalid Shah, Analyst, about how businesses operating in India can prepare for the future. India is often regarded as sitting in a geopolitical sweet spot. The country is seen as a rising power on the global stage as well as an ally to several Western states. All eyes will be on the country in April and May 2024

Indonesia just closed its presidential candidate registration on 25 October 2023. After much anticipation, voters finally have confirmation that there will be 3 presidential pairings set for the Valentine’s day vote next year, which is unlikely to produce a winner with a majority of the 200 million votes up for grabs. As current president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is unable to run

After the US Department of Justice (DOJ) updated its guidelines for compliance in 2020 to include the use of data analytics, many companies have been contemplating how to integrate analytics into their compliance and audit programs. While Asian regulators are currently less stringent in their guidance, it is highly likely that others will follow suit, and companies both inside and

Multiple data leaks in recent years have prompted governments across the region to scrutinise the processing and flow of information within and beyond their societies. As technology adoption surges, regulators are increasingly concerned about the implications for national security – and are building national frameworks on how information is being processed. While China is often e

Talk of India’s economic rise has been around for the last decade. Its skilled workforce, coupled with low labour and production costs, makes it an attractive market for investors. India's strategic position also enhances resilience in regional supply chains for neighbouring countries navigating geopolitical tensions. However, there are challenges inherent in this complex market,

Thailand held its general elections recently on 14 May, where the opposition beat the incumbent pro-military coalition. Surprisingly, it was the progressive Move Forward Party that emerged as the largest party, not pre-election favourite Pheu Thai. However, forming the government will be a tricky prospect as the incumbent coalition and the Senate could spoil the party for the oppos

Thailand will be holding its general elections less than a week, on 14 May. This upcoming election is shaping up to be the most competitive one since 2011. In the past, elections have almost always favoured the current opposition party Pheu Thai led by former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. Now, Thaksin – more specifically his daughter – is now back in the spotlight as Pheu Thai tr