Thailand is betting big on the casino industry
On January 2025, the Thai government approved the Entertainment Complex Bill from the Ministry of Finance that legalizes casino operations in the country. Gambling has long been prohibited in Thailand, and the measure received pushback from the general public as... Read More →
Japan’s outward FDI under geopolitical uncertainty
Japanese firms continue to internationalize through greenfield investments, mergers and acquisitions, and equity investments, placing the country as among the top 10 sources of global outward foreign direct investments (OFDI) since the 1990s. Japan peaked as the third-largest source of... Read More →
Brazil confronts a fiscal crossroads
Brazil managed a big reduction in the budget deficit of the central government in 2024. Last year, the country reported a primary deficit of BRL 45 billion (USD 7.9 billion) which is equivalent to 0.36 per cent of the country’s... Read More →
Will Japan see a Renaissance in the semiconductor race?
Semiconductors are indispensable to modern life for aiding advancements in finance, telecommunications, and healthcare, among others. These are crucial components of most devices that make modern life comfortable, including mobile phones and vehicles. As the fourth most traded good overall,... Read More →
Islamic finance in Malaysia is sweetening with maturity
The recently released Belanjawan 2025 carries the plan of Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, to allocate MYR 100 million (USD 22.22 million) towards Islamic finance to foster greater financial innovation. This indicates a strong dedication from the government to deepen... Read More →
Latin America amid the US’ intensified trade war
March saw the implementation of additional trade duties made by US President Donald Trump, staring with the 25 per cent tariff on Mexican and Canadian products along with an extra 10 per cent tariff on Chinese goods. Trump also threatened... Read More →
Is Japan’s steel immune to Trump’s tariff game?
President Donald Trump’s return to office led to the imposition of more tariffs on US trade partners under the guise of ensuring “fair” trade while boosting the domestic economy. This has raised concerns about retaliation from affected countries and higher... Read More →
The cost of keeping a strong US dollar: A double-edged sword
The US dollar is the backbone of global finance that drives trade and commodities and serves as the world’s go-to reserve currency. However, with the Federal Reserve’s shift in policy tone and growing geopolitical uncertainties, its dominance is being tested... Read More →
Following the path of Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor
Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) pertains to the special economic zone that consists of three provinces: Chachoengsao, Chonburi, and Rayong, which is being developed as the next-generation manufacturing and business centre of the country. The passage of the EEC Act... Read More →
Navigating Japan’s Sustainable Finance Landscape
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that global warming could surpass 1.5°C above preindustrial levels, a threshold estimated to hold potentially catastrophic consequences, including extreme heatwaves, floods, and erratic precipitation patterns. As one of the world’s most industrialized nations,... Read More →