infrastructure

Dr. Amitendu Palit's picture

BRI and FOIP: Politicizing Investments

The Asia-Pacific Region (APR) is experiencing a surge of connectivity initiatives. China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is now accompanied by the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP). There is also the upcoming Asia-Africa Growth Corridor being promoted by Japan and India.

Dr. Jean-Marc F. Blanchard's picture

Japan’s Infrastructure Competition with China and its Implications for Southeast Asian Businesses

Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo’s late October 2018 visit to China and the 10th Mekong Japan summit that preceded this trip focused renewed spotlight on Japan-China cooperation and competition.

MNCs in the News-2018-08-17

China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) reported that inward foreign direct investment (FDI) over the first seven months of 2018 grew 5.5 percent year-over-year (YOY) with strong growth in inward FDI (IFDI) in high-tech industries. MOFCOM noted that there was major growth in IFDI from countries such as the United Kingdom (UK), South Korea, and Japan over the first seven months of 2018 YOY. Hundreds of Google employees raise concerns internally about the firm’s plans to produce a censored search engine for China. China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) takes over Total’s stake in Iran’s South Pars Phase II project as Total must abandon it due to re-imposition of United States (US) sanctions. Japanese regulators investigating Apple over allegations that it unfairly pressured Yahoo Japan to slow the expansion of online games platform. Japan makes economic cooperation with the Indo-Pacific region a diplomatic priority in attempt to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative. South Korea places ban on over 20,000 BMWs after more than 30 engines caught fire this year due to faulty hardware. South Korean Prime Minister calls for increased cooperation with Qatar especially in infrastructure projects.

Dr. Jean-Marc F. Blanchard's picture

Dirty Foreign Direct Investment? Chinese Outward FDI and Pollution Pathologies

In the 1970s, Tokyo adopted a conscious strategy to encourage outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) by Japanese firms as a way to mitigate the poisonous pollution flowing from Japan’s economic miracle.

Mr. Naoyuki Haraoka's picture

Infrastructure for Global Value Chains

The nature of the utilization of global value chains (GVCs) is a key element in determining the type of activity of multinational enterprises (MNEs). At the most primitive stage, trade in agricultural, mineral, or light-industrial products is dominant and relatively slow paced. Thus, there is little time sensitivity. At the second stage, business operations are more sophisticated and time sensitive.

MNCs in the News-2016-07-22

Inward FDI into China grew slowly over the first six months of 2016 year-over-year. The Permanent Court of Arbitration’s unfavorable ruling against China’s South China Sea claims sparks protests and boycott calls against American “icons” in China to the chagrin of the Chinese government. A Chinese consortium’s effort to buy the entire Opera Software company falls apart reportedly due to a failure to get sufficient Chinese government approvals. Japanese official travels to Singapore to tout the advantages of Japan high speed rail system for the Malaysia-Singapore high-speed rail project. South Korea’s Fair Trust Commission watchdog relaunches investigation into Google Inc.’s requirement that smartphone makers using its Android operating system preload its search engine. Indonesia’s Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) is conducting a roadshow in Guangzhou to tout the country’s improving investment environment. Indonesia is working to help investors surmount problems that hinder them from realizing their investments and has developed special initiatives. The Malaysia Investment Development Authority (MIDA) is working on getting more companies to participate in its principle hub scheme. Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister calls on his country to be more selective in its FDI attraction efforts and to work on getting better FDI.

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