The clock ticks for TikTok

I have to admit that I was late to the party with TikTok. It only sprung up on my radar during the Covid lockdowns when my Chinese friends told me they were passing their time at home by watching videos of people dancing, singing and clowning around. I assumed it was only for young people […]

Keeping the peace with ASEAN

A lot was written last week about the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit in Melbourne and there’s no doubt that the ASEAN region represents an important relationship for Australia. Foreign Minister, Penny Wong came into Government promising to improve Australia’s relationship with SE Asia and, after several announcements during the Summit (including A$2 billion to promote business […]

Hong Kong vs Singapore

Let’s be clear, Singapore is a great city. I’ve been going there myself since my late teens and have always been struck by the dynamism, ingenuity and energy of the place and, in particular, the strong and unmistakable national identity that now attaches to all “Singaporeans”. Whilst my current focus is on Hong Kong for […]

Go East!

If you’re involved in the technology business, as a founder, entrepreneur or service provider, you’ll already be aware of the rapid growth of science and technology hubs in Asia, particularly in Japan, China and Korea. In the same way that Silicon Valley has propelled the global domination of US technology over the past 30 years […]

It’s too early to write off Hong Kong!

2024 kicked off with my annual mission to the Asian Financial Forum in January and, in addition to leading a 3 day program for AFF delegates, I spent a full two weeks in Hong Kong catching up with local investors, business partners and friends who provided some unique on-the-ground perspectives. I also spent an interesting […]

Navigating China’s investment potential: Key sectors revealed

China, the global economic powerhouse, faces a complex landscape of shifting consumer behaviours, regional differences and changing global trade dynamics. The aftermath of long and unpredictable Covid lockdowns has impacted consumer confidence, boosting saving and curtailing spending – with the exception of the luxury end of the market. While there are complex economic and market […]

Opportunities for Australian Health-Tech in Asia

Opportunities in Asia for Leading-edge Australian Health-Tech Companies The healthcare industry in Asia has seen rapid growth in recent years, driven by an ageing population, an increase in chronic diseases, and a growing demand for high-quality medical services. According to McKinsey, the healthcare market in Asia is expected to reach US$4.5 trillion by 2023, making […]

China and the Global South

It’s important to observe that, whilst our media generally focuses on the trading relationship between China and the West, there has been a dramatic surge in Chinese exports to the ‘Global South’, which includes: Turkey India Indonesia Vietnam Thailand Malaysia Philippines Brazil Mexico According to one observer, Chen Feng, “China divides the external export cycle […]

China’s $18 Trillion Economy

Whilst China’s economy is facing a period of extreme turbulence as a result of Covid lockdowns and geopolitical factors, it’s worth remembering the very strong position it found itself in at the end of 2021 (following a period of 8.1% growth which exceeded most expectations) and the sectors that are likely to propel the domestic […]

INVESTING IN CHINA

Back in the early 2000s, I was introduced to Shifeng Ke, a Chinese based fund manager who at the time worked for Martin Currie Investment Management Group, a well known scottish group and the first foreign fund manager to offer a unit trust which invested solely in local China A shares (The Martin Currie China A Share […]