IMA ASIA

MEMBER LOG IN
Linkedin

Asean

Asean, Asia Pacific, Market

Is India the New China +1?

/

Is India the New China +1? June 26, 2024 India is attracting interest as investors’ eyes shift away from China and Vietnam. ‘Only the most attractive destinations are attracting attention from investors. In Asia, that’s India. My old firm began in China 25 years ago and it was only China until 10 years ago. Now, they’ve laid off half the China team and doubled the India team.’ India’s manufacturing sector is growing, with a blue-collar boom and white-collar recession. ‘For the first time in India, which is predominantly a service economy, you’re seeing a slowdown in services and growth in manufacturing, thanks to Modi’s “Made in India” and “China Plus One.”’ Why it matters: Investments in manufacturing are surging. ‘India is one of our fastest-growing markets. We’re looking to double down. Our CEO is now looking at moving more global roles into this part of the world.’ By the numbers: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the fastest growing sector, contributing 34% of India’s total manufacturing and 130 million jobs. ‘SMEs are India’s engine of growth. Obviously, there are challenges, but this segment is our biggest goldmine.’ Yes, but India will not replace China. ‘For the past 15 years, I have been hearing that India would be the next big thing, but this time it might be true. However, it is not the next China; there is only one China.’ Government regulations and lack of clarity on investment policies often make shifting operations from China to India hard. ‘While there are a lot of “eye-opening” opportunities, the restrictions are “eye-watering”. We spent two years just to incorporate an office.’ India’s consumer market has been an enigma for MNCs for decades. Not everyone has the skill or the stamina for it, but those who do can reap rich rewards. Our latest report, Ten Insights on India Consumer Markets, reveals what it takes to succeed in this highly competitive market. Dive deeper. Deepen your understanding & explore the implications for business and strategy in our latest Asia Brief. Log In to access our latest reports. LOG IN Not yet a member?Contact us to learn more. You might also find these insights valuable Asean Asia Pacific China Geopolitics Japan Leadership Market Strategy Team-Building Bridging the Protectionist Gap in China August 22, 2024/ Bridging the Protectionist Gap in China August 22, 2024 Signs of rising protectionism amidst the country’s push for self-sufficiency are… Read More Japan: Back on the Radar August 21, 2024/ Japan: Back on the Radar May 8, 2025 Japan is looking positive. ‘There is a surge in consumption; people are… Read More Asia’s Geopolitical Balancing Act August 13, 2024/ Asia’s Geopolitical Balancing Act August 13, 2024 As rising geopolitical tensions – notably China versus the US, and Russia versus… Read More Load More End of Content.

Asean, Asia Pacific, Market, Strategy

AI: A Regulatory Rubik’s Cube in Asia

/

AI: A Regulatory Rubik’s Cube in Asia June 20, 2024 Governments across Asia are setting the foundation for AI governance. ‘ASEAN is coming out with a digital economy framework. They also have gone into digital partnerships with individual countries.’ Singapore stands out in its approach to AI. ‘Singapore took the lead in creating a foundational framework for ASEAN data management. They built a structure and developed the first generative AI governance framework globally. This is fantastic for our strategic deployment of AI.’ Go deeper: Each country is moving in a different direction. ‘We see a fragmented approach to creating an AI ecosystem in Asia. Each country is going its own way.’ ‘India feels that any new AI regulations or control would adversely impact their IT workforce. Korea will regulate AI at least on high-risk countries. Japan will not come out with a strategy or even regulate AI. On the other hand, Thailand is working on a law governing AI.’ Divergent approaches across Asia may mirror what happened with data privacy laws. ‘The EU created the GDPR, becoming the reference law for all Asian countries. But what each country finally implemented was something totally different from GDPR.’ The EU has created the AI Act, and each Asian country may try to convert it into something local. ‘When you localise, you end up having different regulations in each country. That’s the biggest challenge we have from a compliance perspective.’ The bottom line: Fragmentation may slow AI’s implementation across Asia. ‘AI is the next productivity improvement frontier. But the largest challenge is the fragmented approach to AI.’ Deepen your understanding & explore the implications for business and strategy in our latest Asia Brief. Log In to access our latest reports. LOG IN Not yet a member?Contact us to learn more. You might also find these insights valuable Asean Asia Pacific China Geopolitics Japan Leadership Market Strategy Team-Building Bridging the Protectionist Gap in China August 22, 2024/ Bridging the Protectionist Gap in China August 22, 2024 Signs of rising protectionism amidst the country’s push for self-sufficiency are… Read More Japan: Back on the Radar August 21, 2024/ Japan: Back on the Radar May 8, 2025 Japan is looking positive. ‘There is a surge in consumption; people are… Read More Asia’s Geopolitical Balancing Act August 13, 2024/ Asia’s Geopolitical Balancing Act August 13, 2024 As rising geopolitical tensions – notably China versus the US, and Russia versus… Read More Load More End of Content.

Asean, Market, Strategy

Is Vietnam Losing its Lustre?

/

Is Vietnam Losing its Lustre? May 12, 2025 China’s personal data controls, supply chain challenges, and the decoupling of US companies kicked off the idea of China Plus One. Vietnam holds pride of place as Asia’s number one preferred alternative to China. But moving to a ‘plus one’ has not been that easy. ‘Moving some operations out of China is part of our global resiliency strategy. But, it’s been a struggle when we try to pick up our shop and move it elsewhere. We are finding that it’s not as easy as we had thought. China has a very well-oiled machine.’ Vietnam may have reached its limits as skilled talent has become scarce. ‘There is a talent shortage in Vietnam. A big company comes in and sucks up all the engineers, so there isn’t much left for anyone else.’ Corruption allegations, tangled regulations, and infrastructure under pressure from high growth are damaging Vietnam’s reputation as China’s Plus One. ‘Vietnam is one country which keeps me awake at night. Every day they announce something new. The worst part is that there is no consultation before new regulations come out.’ Yes, but… ‘Our view of Vietnam is positive. They’ve just reached a point where they grew too fast, but it has inherent strengths in its economy. Challenges related to the infrastructure and bureaucracy are much easier to handle in Vietnam than in India or Indonesia.’ What’s next: Is Vietnam Ready for Business? will be a topic of discussion at our upcoming Strategy Evening, April 17. Contact us to learn more. Deepen your understanding & explore the implications for business and strategy in our latest Asia Brief. Log In to access our latest reports. LOG IN Not yet a member?Contact us to learn more. You might also find these insights valuable Asean Asia Pacific China Geopolitics Japan Leadership Market Strategy Team-Building Is Vietnam Losing its Lustre? May 12, 2025/No CommentsRead More Bridging the Protectionist Gap in China August 22, 2024/ Bridging the Protectionist Gap in China August 22, 2024 Signs of rising protectionism amidst the country’s push for self-sufficiency are… Read More Japan: Back on the Radar August 21, 2024/ Japan: Back on the Radar May 8, 2025 Japan is looking positive. ‘There is a surge in consumption; people are… Read More Load More End of Content.

Asean, Market, Strategy

Indonesia’s Promise: CEOs are confident but cautious

/

Indonesia’s Promise: CEOs are confident but cautious May 21, 2025 ‘So long as they maintain political stability and reasonably good government, Indonesia will get money for investment. They’ve got consumers who want more of everything.’ ‘Prabowo will win, which wouldn’t necessarily be bad for business.’ ‘The government has a big bet on downstreaming minerals into manufacturing. It won’t work unless they clear up all the other problems that go on in manufacturing.’   Chinese investment fueled a 27% jump in FDI into Indonesia last year, and per capita income is on track to soon reach middle-income country status of US$7,000 – when demand for consumer products takes off. However, shadows remain on the economic outlook tied to uncertainties surrounding the upcoming elections, persistent corruption, and problematic industrial policies. Dive deeper.Explore the implications for business and strategy. Log in for the full Forum Insight. Join the peer-group discussion at upcoming Forum events. LOG IN Not yet a member?Contact us to learn more. You might also find these insights valuable Asean Asia Pacific China Forecast Geopolitics Japan Leadership Market Strategy Team-Building Indonesia’s Promise: CEOs are confident but cautious May 21, 2025/No CommentsRead More Executive Insights on Asia’s Growth Outlook May 21, 2025/No Comments Executive Insights on Asia’s Growth Outlook May 21, 2025 ‘Southeast Asia seems to be the exception to the gloomy global… Read More Executive Insights on Geopolitical Risks in Asia May 21, 2025/No Comments Executive Insights on Geopolitical Risks in Asia May 21, 2025 As the prospect of a potential “Trump 2” presidency looms,… Read More Load More End of Content.

Scroll to Top