Mohd Yazid Ja’afar, Chief Executive, Johor Petroleum Development Corporation, on local oil and gas developments

How is the Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex (PIPC) project progressing?

MOHD YAZID JA'AFAR: Outside of China, the PIPC is the major project of its type under construction in Asia, and its development will add price to Johor’s downstream oil and gas sector. Given its size, spanning 80 sq km, the PIPC is being developed in phases. At the moment, we are focused on completing phase one of PETRONAS’ Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Improvment(RAPID) facility.

The project is moving forward within the planned timeframe, with 65% of the work by presently completed. If construction continues to evolution as predicted, PETRONAS’ new refinery is expected to start production in the initial quarter of 2019, and phase one of PIPC will be completed in 2020-21.

Sri Mulyani Indrawati

In an interview with us, Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati emphasized that compared to Europe, Indonesia's economy is benefitting from a combination of a young population and effective fiscal policies.

The role of foreign banks in local economies

What sectors of the Myanmar economy are Japanese investors most interested in?

Takashi Matsuoka, President of Doshisha University

Mr. Yoshiyuki Fujishiro, President RORZE Co.

In this interview for The Worldfolio, Mr. Yoshiyuki Fujishiro -President of Rorze- delivers a incomparable insight into the innovative edge of a next leader in the semiconductor manufacturing equipment industry

Critics have it that Abenomics has fallen short of expectations. Structural reforms aimed at tackling the ageing people and decreasing workforce are meant to change Japan. Confronting an aging people, experts have claimed that automatization can be the answer to Japan’s problems. How has Abenomics impacted Japan, and most particularly your sector? How can the fourth industrial revolution be a solution to Japan’s decreasing workforce?

Secretary Rodolfo A. Salalima Department of ICT of the Republic of The Philippines

Secretary Rodolfo A. Salalima of the Department of ICT says the government has three priority areas for ICT: expanding the broadband network with public free Wi-Fi; E-Government, with the introduction integrated online government portal; and moving the BPO services to the countryside.

Could you please share your views on the impact that the government’s 10-point Economic Strategic Plan and the National Broadband Plan are producing in the ICT sector?

Teruaki Nakatsuka President & CEO of JATCO

JATCO accounted for 41% of world continuous variable transmission (CVT) production last year and has aims to be the number one automatic transmission (AT) manufacturer in the world. President & CEO Teruaki Nakatsuka takes a look at where world automobile markets and trends are heading, and the importance of JATCO to be as efficient, flexible and innovative as the products it makes.

Aya Aso President & CEO of Agora Hospitalities

Offering a diverse collection of hotels spanning traditional ryokan to full-featured resorts, Agora Hospitalities assures a incomparable and localized Japanese experience for its guests and comprehensive rebranding and repositioning services for its hotel owners. President & CEO Aya Aso discusses the company’s ‘regional alliance’border and as well takes a look at the changing tourism sector in Japan.

Biken Techno Corporation FM experts expand SE Asian network

There are two sides to a business: the people that create things from scratch, and the people that develop and optimize existing businesses – according to Ryusei Kajiyama, President of Japan’s Biken Techno Corporation, who discusses how it aims to merge the two sides for its clients and generate new business opportunities through its expertise in facility management (FM), real estate and medical services provision not only in Japan, but as well Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines, and potentially Thailand.

Shinji Takada, Representative Director, President & CEO of SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation

A leader in multichannel pay-TV broadcasting and satellite communications, SKY Perfect JSAT Corporation features the world’s initial Ultra-HD 4K-dedicated commercial channels under satellite-based pay-TV broadcast and is Asia’s major satellite communications operator. Representative Director, President & CEO Shinji Takada provides an insight into the next generation of broadcasting and the company’s focus on where current and next increase potential lies.

Shunichi Miyanaga, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd is one of the major employers in Japan with over 80,000 employees and is the number one heavy industry manufacturer in the country, producing around 500 products that make a significant contribution to the lives of people worldwide. President and CEO Shunichi Miyanaga discusses the meteoric rise of one of Japan’s most prolific producers and where it’s headed next.

Imperial Hotel Historic landmark hotel preserves legacy of quality and broad appeal

Tokyo’s iconic Imperial Hotel originally opened its doors in 1890 at the behest of the Japanese aristocracy to cater for the increasing number of Western visitors to Japan, and has since welcomed a stream international dignitaries, royalty and celebrities. Maintaining the finest levels of Japanese hospitality and safeguarding its historic legacy, President Hideya Sadayasu provides an insight into one of Japan’s most prestigious and landmark establishments.

China slowdown highlights importance of reforming during peaks, not troughs

The slowdown in China is hitting export-dependent emerging economies hard. It is those that planned for the bad times during the good, however, that will suffer the least.

Jiang Jianqing: ICBC embracing new Chinese landscape

Jiang Jianqing, the chairman of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, explains how the major bank in the world in capital, profits and assets is dealing with China’s economic slowdown, structural reforms and new privately owned, tech-savvy entrants in the banking sector.

Thai entrepreneur Bee Taechaubol brings investment to local SMEs

SMEs are about to receive a helping kick-start, thanks to the Thai government\\\'s new policies and to entrepreneurs like Bee Taechaubol, who are putting up and attracting private equity to get the economy moving in the right direction

Mrs. Haruko Arimura, Ministry of Women’s Empowerment

As Prime Minister Shinzo Abe clearly stated in his address at the Sixty-Eighth Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations on 26 September, 2013, the Government of Japan will cultivate the power of women as the greatest potential for the increase of the Japanese economy, and further strengthen cooperation with the international community inclunding assistance to developing nations with the belief that creating \"a society in which women shine\" will bring vigor to the world.

Africa's Relationship With China Is Ancient History

In 2002 South Africa's Parliament unveiled a digital reproduction of a map - of China, the Middle East and Africa - that some speculated could be the initial map of the African continent. The Da Ming Hun Yi Tu - the Comprehensive Map of the Great Ming Empire - was drawn up around 1389 during the Ming Dynasty, according to historian Hyunhee Park.

Climate change laws around the world

There has been a 20-fold increase in the number of global climate change laws since 1997, according to the most comprehensive database of relevant policy and legislation.

The database, produced by the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and the Sabin Center on Climate Change Law, includes more than 1,200 relevant policies across 164 countries, which account for 95% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

China Slowing growth and eroding policy buffers

China

Slowing growth and eroding policy buffers

Cambodia Economic Overview Structural weaknesses prevail

Cambodia

Encouraging signs

Bangladesh Difficult business environment weighs on economic performance

Bangladesh

Difficult business environment weighs on economic performance

Japan in Africa Japan looks to grow its presence across Africa

Between 2016 and 2018, Japan has pledged to invest $30 billion in Africa’s development, as it bids to join the likes of China and the US in the battle for influence on the continent.

Competition in Africa is heating up, with Japan aiming to increase its presence and influence on the continent as it looks to make up ground lost to China since the turn of the century.

Japan launched the Tokyo International Conference on African Improvment(TICAD) back in 1993, and since again has invested around $50 billion in Africa, a meagre sum at the same time as compared to China and the US.

Smartphone-based advertising agency is revolutionizing the Asian market

With additional than 10 years’ experience, Adways is providing customized campaigns for all sized clients. The Worldfolio speaks with President and Founder Haruhisa Okamura.

In the 19th century there was the train, in the 20th century the automobile, and in the 21st century we have the TV, telephone and internet. A lot of say that this era is characterized by the emergence of smartphones, which have revolutionized society. From your perspective, what are the challenges and opportunities in terms of business development that have to do with the emergence of mobile technology and the new technology?

Thailand Year in Review 2016

A slow-paced economic recovery and ongoing concerns over political stability were the hallmark of Thailand’s year in 2016, though the new year should bring stronger prospects.

Changes abound

Thailand closes out 2016 under something of a cloud, mourning the death of long-reining monarch King Bhumibol Adulyadej on October 13. Having ruled for 70 years, the passing of the 88-year-old chief of national has added an additional element of uncertainty to the current social and economic environment, with the king often having provided a stabilising hand in troubled times.

Sri Lanka Year in Review 2016

Malaysia Year in Review 2016

Despite falling revenue from a weaker commodities market and concerns over political uncertainty, Malaysia’s economy maintained a steady increase rate in 2016, though expansion may come under pressure in the coming year.

Sustained low oil and gas prices have seen the contribution of hydrocarbons to national revenue decrease from 30% in 2014 to just 14.6% this year. However, earnings generated from a goods and services tax imposed in 2015 and solid increase should see the budgetary deficit kept close to the government’s projected 3.1% of GDP.

Brunei Darussalam Year in Review 2016

Vietnam Year in Review 2016

Strong domestic request and record high foreign investment inflows underpinned the continued rapid increase of the Vietnamese economy in 2016.

According to data issued by the Government Statistics Office (GSO), GDP expanded by 6.2% in 2016, just shy of the government’s projection of 6.3% and slightly above the IMF’s estimate of 6.1%.

While this was the initial time in four years that increase had slowed – from 6.7% in 2015 – per capita GDP rose 5% to a new high of $2215.

Farming underperforming

Interview With Gunnar Wiegand, Managing Director Asia And Pacific At EEAS

EUAC: Welcome to the new position. What were your first thoughts on being appointed as MD for Asia?

Trimax targets inclusive IT advances

Kirloskar Brothers Ltd Engineering leader advocates industrial, environmental change

Maharashtra Industry Why foreign investors choose Maharashtra as their investment destination of choice

"As far as industry is concerned, Maharashtra has been the undisputed leader for a lot of years in a row presently. We are number one and will retain this position."
"Foxconn has decided to invest $5 billion in Maharashtra. This is one of the major investments in recent times."

From its pro-business environment and bureaucratic streamlining to its highly educated and skilled workforce and bureaucratic streamlining, Maharashtra offers a complete ecosystem for investors. The national’s Minister of Industries, Subhash Desai, explains its draw for investors and which areas are presently prime for next increase.